How to Get a Great Deal on a Dell that's Swell
Written: Feb 27 '01 (Updated Feb 27 '01)
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Pros: Very good price for performance, Dell quality and service
Cons: DOA, but diagnosed and fixed quickly, shipping was delayed
The Bottom Line: A great computer at a great price! I love my 19 inch flat screen monitor! Watch for the online deals. They are constantly changing.
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| lokino's Full Review: Dell Dimension 4100 Series |
Aloha! I bought my Dell 4100 system online in October 2000. It has been four months since its arrival and I am very pleased with my purchase. Aside from its initial and very surprising DOA, it has given me no problems since.
From the beginning...
My previous Gateway P5-166 was approaching four years of age and slowing down. Although I was pretty happy with Gateway, extensive research caused me to set my sights on Dell. Dell's performance, quality, reliability and customer support are all very highly regarded in the computer industry. The prices may be slightly higher than elsewhere, but just like cars, all computers are not created equal and one should not buy on price alone.
Once I settled on Dell, I visited the website and began to configure various systems to get an idea of the prices. The beauty of buying through Dell (or other mail-order companies) is that you can customize your system exactly to your needs and wants. You only pay for what you order, and nothing more. Also, I feel that when you order by mail, you get a product that is slightly "fresher." Because computers and their components are constantly being upgraded, buying closer to the source assures you of a computer that has newer technology. If you need guidance, you can get help online or by phone.
There are basically three levels to Dell Desktop computers. There is the high 8100(power user), medium 4100(performance & value) and low L (economy) models. I'd like to add that even the economy models are rated well and may compare favorably to other brands. What I found out by creating various computer configurations is that you can get a better deal if you buy a higher level model and adjust components downwards than to select a lower model and adjust upwards.
I feel that the main reason why I received a good deal was because I was in no rush to make my purchase. After visiting the site several times, over a few months, I noticed that sometimes special offers would appear. For example, sometimes they offered free shipping, which for me in Hawaii, came out to a $100 savings. A little while later, they added a free upgrade to a 19-inch flat screen monitor if I purchased a 17-inch flat screen monitor. That represented about a $200 savings. Because both offers were available at the same time and the expiration date was nearing, I decided to place my order. I had some questions so I called customer service and they were very friendly and helpful. The rep informed me that there are even more choices available to customize your system than is offered online.
I'd like to emphasize that it is beneficial to visit the site several times over a period of weeks or even months if you can wait that long. There are deals that change every few weeks. Sometimes there are no deals, and sometimes there are several. Sometimes they may only offer a free upgrade that you don't even want. The free shipping comes and goes. The difference in timing could amount to several hundred dollars!
I don't want to be a downer but I haven't seen a deal like mine since. Another customer service rep told me that the deal I got was very good and he in fact bought a system at that time. The good news for the consumer is that because the computer industry is currently in a slump (early 2001), these incentive deals may possibly increase.
I guess I should mention the two minor negatives now. First, there was a small delay in my shipment date. They notified me by email that my system would arrive about ten days later than originally planned, however the system did arrive slightly before this later date. This didn't bother me too much as I assumed that with the special deals, they had received more demand than expected.
Now here's a surprise. After reading so much of Dell's vaunted reliability, I set up my system, turned on the computer, and. . . nothing. My brand new computer didn't work! I only heard the hard disk whirring non-stop and there was this mysterious beeping sequence. My heart sank.
I called customer service and they were very helpful. I was given the option to have a repairman come to my home since Dell offers a free one year in-home warranty, however I elected to try and fix it myself with their guidance. The fix was relatively simple--a missing jumper cap--and the computer was up and running the next day after a visit to my local CompUSA. Although somewhat inconvenient and disconcerting, this event actually gave me a sense of accomplishment. My computer has been running well ever since.
Thank you for reading my opinion and if you are planning to buy a new computer, good luck on your purchase. --Lokino :)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1400
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor speed: 801-900
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: CD-RW
Hard Drive (GB): 13-20
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Epinions.com ID:
lokino
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Member: Lance Okino
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Reviews written: 35
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
Being a self-employed math and science tutor, I love helping others to become more knowledgeable.
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