On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 10:54 PM, James Milligan <lak...@lake54.com> wrote: > Wow that's had a beating! > > Also the UK hasn't conformed to the EU metric system - 'we' still use > imperial measurments. > > Dell build quality is awful. The repair shop I work at gets more Dell > PCs than anything. I haven't dealt with support yet, thank God! > > James > > On 4 Mar 2009, at 22:49, Alec Wright <ale...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> I bought an inspiron 6400 with ubuntu preloaded back in the ubuntu >> feisty days (about 1.5 years ago). I'm afraid I'm gonna have to agree >> - their build quality is poor, as is their support. I'm not going to >> deny that my laptop does take a bit of a beating being carried to and >> from school every day, but this is a bit ridiculous: the left speaker >> doesnt work, I've had to replace the keyboard after several keys >> stopped working, the clip at the top of the screen jams, the screen's >> hinges wobble, the CD drive keeps falling out, the xD card reader >> doesnt work, the power cable fell apart (had to buy a new one), the >> hard drive failed once - devouring my maths coursework (luckily i had >> an only slightly out of date backup), the battery's at 63% and falling >> of its nominal capacity (55.3 Wh compared to the 86.6 Wh that i payed >> for), the bluetooth doesnt work, the carry bag's disintegrated, and >> the heatsink has a kinder bueno wrapper in it. >> Ok maybe the last one's my fault, but you get the idea >> When i phoned customer suppeort for a replacement hard drive, i think >> i spent a total of about an hour on hold, and got sent from department >> to department... ubuntu support, hardware support, ubuntu support >> again, back to hardware support, please hold, ubuntu support... etc >> etc >> Eventually the replacement hard drive came, in a cardboard box >> sandwiched between two bits of foam. Good thing i'm a techie sort of >> person. I know a lot of people who, if they were given a hard drive in >> a box, wouldnt have a clue what to do with it. >> Perhaps thats because its an ubuntu laptop? The idea that all linux >> users know how to replace a hard drive, upgrade ram, reformat a disk >> or whatever needs to stop if linux is to be accepted by the wider >> community, and not just geeks. >> >> 2009/3/4 David King <linux...@avoura.com>: >>> It is a real shame that Dell no longer sell the 1525 with Ubuntu. I >>> bought one for a friend and she loves it. Now it is either a mini >>> laptop >>> or a much more powerful one, with the mini one being about the same >>> price as the old 1525. >>> >>> Also, off topic, why has Dell gone all American on their UK site, >>> putting lots of weights of laptops in lbs? Everywhere else vendors >>> are >>> describing theirs in kilograms. I doubt if I will ever buy a Dell >>> laptop >>> again. >>> >>> >>> David King >>> >>> >>> Andrew Turner wrote: >>>> Hello, >>>> >>>> Just got myself one of the new Dell Inspiron 15 laptops >>>> (unfortunately >>>> with Vista - they no longer do the Ubuntu pre-installed 1525). >>>> Thought >>>> I'd let the list know that Intrepid runs out out the box with no >>>> problems (wireless, bluetooth, compiz etc all work without any >>>> configuration). >>>> >>>> I seem to remember a thread a while back about getting a refund from >>>> Microsoft for unwanted OEM copies of Windows - can anyone enlighten >>>> me? >>>> >>>> Andrew >>>> >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com >>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk >>> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ >>> >> >> -- >> ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com >> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk >> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ > > -- > ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ >
Dell build has improved recently, apart from the odd cockup. I have a vostro 1400 that I have had for quite a while now, compared to the 640m I had before (Smaller inspiron 6400), it is much better. The base feels like a thick metal, and the plastic top is pretty sturdy. The only issue that I have had, shared with pretty much every dell I had, the keys go shiny far too quickly. Dell's business support is good in my experience, I have never used the consumer support though. The build still isn't quite as good as my thinkpad, but isn't that far off, and certainly better than many. Mj. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
