>> > >>> I just finished installing Gentoo on a Dell Vostro >> >> >> > Now that it's working how do you like the screen, size, etc? That's one >> > of the laptops I've been considering. >> >> >> You just have to admire and honest (Dell) company.... >> > > I had a Dell laptop a few years back. It was the reason for maybe 2 years I > didn't have a PC at all (which is very strange for my life). I think almost > every single component on it broke in a matter of 18-24 months. It was > purchased through a university, and I think the IT department must have > thought I was using it as a frisbee on a regular basis . A friend around > the same time had a different model and it was also a pile. > > Not that N=2 statistics mean anything, of course. Not sure anymore, but > Dell was built on two basic policies: 1) Make profit by cutting out the > middle man (you had to order things directly from Dell) 2) Buy the cheapest > (crappiest) parts in bulk and assemble. > > I'm using Apple now, and aside from an entourage of complaints on the > "assume user is an idiot" (fixed by running Linux) and proprietary hardware > (everything can be hacked), the beast is rock solid. Of course, one of my > friends has the exact same model laptop and he had to ship it back like > three times, so...who knows? > > Then again, the price of Vostros will blow Macbooks out of the water. I > guess you could just buy two Dells and cannibalize one when the > keyboard/powersupply/harddrive/optical drive/usb port/ethernet port/screen > hinge breaks (a short list of my old Dell problems). > > Regards, > daid
I've had the same experience with Acer laptops. I've also had trouble with screen hinges on Dell laptops. - Grant
