_=DeltaForce=_

Here is the link

http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=588

I think Dell should be Banned from Computing....

LegendKiller

Why? Because they load software that people want? During the configuration of a Dell system you can set whether you want Musicmatch, AOL, or Norton. Furthermore, it's not like Dell does this on purpose. Lastly, if the person doesn't want it, its not hard to get rid of it.

Wow, Dell gets bashed for giving consumers more software. Thats a first.


LK

_=DeltaForce=_

They say that 128mb of Ram is more than Enough to run a PC... Windows XP needs like 128mb to run... My friend bought a system and it was freezing like hell and after upgrading the ram, its just fine... DONT they f****ing know that you cant run with 128mb...

redcolours

thats why its an "option" to upgrade.

i think theyre running a business....

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Mike_N_Ike

Admittedly, it's really frustrating trying to run winxp with 128mb of ram - I had the same problem when I first upgraded to xp. If you're going to blame somebody though, blame Microsoft. They're the ones who came up with the 128 figure for that OS.

I'd rather a company operate that way than try to tell me that I need a GB of ram to run my OS and make that much more money off of me.

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_=DeltaForce=_

well this dell PC had a P4 2.66 ghz, Windows XP and ONLY 128mb RAM!!! It was bought two months ago so its not an old pc..

Jenny

So then buy cheap ram elsewhere? Don't blame them for wanting to make money. Other companies do the same damn thing...

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LegendKiller

As stated, you can upgrade. Its not THEIR FAULT THAT PEOPLE DON'T CHOOSE TO DO THIS.

nickel

he was claiming it was suckage.

people who don't know much about computers just trust these companies to set them up a package deal without having to upgrade.

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ski

Glad somebody said this. Don't assume everybody knows as much about computers as the average person on this board. I have many friends with clueless parents that have and will continue to buy new computers with 128 MB RAM.

I understand your point that people can always take the software off, but if it's the software that people want (what you claim), then they're going to keep it on, right?

Software people want + 128MB RAM = problem

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LPMiller

So, it's the price people pay for having a cheap computer. Like Dell is only one to do this. HP/Compaq sell 128mb Celerom systems through staples all the time. They sell big.

No one is being held hostage here, and if the consumer buying it doesn't know enough to get it with more ram, I have zero sympathy. I research every major purchase I buy, yet people will pick up a PC without checking into the company, the product, nothing. Stupid consumers get what they deserve.

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sbp

If Dell should be banned from computing, what should happened to these other companies who are worse? I feel more comfortable saying go with Dell than some of these other brands like Compaq, Gateway, etc.

DarkFury

Stupid people shouldn't buy computers....

Tell them to box it up and send it back... we don't want their kind roamin' the internet anyways.

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johnnymk

If Windows XP requires more RAM, then Dell should state that fact. There are so many variables and configurations in today's computers that even experts can't solve every problem. This is one that should be remedied by Dell, not others.

And since Dell has Dell Home who caters to your average consumer and Dell Small Business who may be more computer savvy, they should make every effort to instruct buyers of potential problems like this. It's not like they just started selling computers yesterday.

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nickel

you guys are mean

a lot of people blindly buy dental products thinking they will do what the ad or the package says it will, too.
i know the inside scoop because i have an education in that background.
i would offer to help instead of calling them stupid.

HmpDeeHmp

I think there's worse things to be mad at Dell for. All those stupid commercials that Dell kept running with Benjamin Curtis, aka "Steven", were starting to piss me off. "Dude, you're getting a Dell!" was giving me nightmares... I'm so glad he got caught for smoking pot and got yanked from the air...

nickel

well the Dell intern ones weren't much better

DarkFury

Harrumph....

Next you'll complain that they CHARGE too much for adding extra RAM.

You can't have it BOTH ways... so just deal with it.

"Minimal requirements for minimum budgets.... play it safe... SAFE AUTO!!!"

bbrian

Everyone seems to miss the point that microsoft set the minimum requirements for XP, not Dell and Dell is 100% correct in stating 128MB (64MB is the actual MINIMUM, so Dell is following MS' recommendation):
https://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...g/sysreqs.mspx

Usually on the dell pages, dell lists the 512MB of memory as a 'recommended upgrade'

HmpDeeHmp

You've got a good point.

DarkFury

BINGO!!!!



Pretty much that is what I was thinking as well....

nickel

meanie

i knew enough to get the upgrades, but my grandparents didn't.
they shouldn't be told because they don't know any better that they shouldn't get a computer or use the internet.

we should guide them with our expertise.

_=DeltaForce=_

Companies like HP, Compaq, Gateway, Emachines, SONY are sold in retail store like iN bestbuy, circuit city, compusa and they mostly tell you that you may need more ram or something like that.... Dell's most models have 128mb ram. so Dell doesnt care about how slow the system is or something like that. My friend's parents bought a Dell computer and they were complaining that from the begining its so slow and freezing all the time.. Throwing in more Ram fixed the problem.. All dell wants to sell stuff cheap and they dont care how it works... I am sure Dell knows that u need atleast 256mb to Run XP smoothly.. THey got to make it standard and not sell 128mb ram with Windows XP.. AND when u call for support, they just tell you that you need more Ram and another $60 bucks + Labor = TOTAL RIP OFF....

And as Nickel said " people who don't know much about computers just trust these companies to set them up a package deal without having to upgrade "That is 100% right cause my friends Parents are not dumb, they both are professors (not related to technology) and they talked to a Dell sales person and that person told them that 128mb is just fine for running windows xp... I know Dell is trying to make a buisness but not like this..

AND 128mb is good just for running WIndows XP, not other applications...

DarkFury

Say hello to the bad guy...

And meet my "lil frien..."

Or you find your "computer smart" friend who'll send you the link to Crucial.com to get more memory (for around $60 as Dell will charge you more like $80 - $100) and let them put it in for free.




Bottom line is... do you want a Computer for $379... or do you want them to charge you $479 up front with the additonal memory. It's your call at that point. Still... you can decide that up front, and people can READ the terms when they buy on the "CUSTOMIZE IT" button instead of just clicking "BUY NOW".

johnnymk

An additional 128 MB of RAM can be gotten for $18 shipped at a Pricewatch link. I figure that Dell probably buys memory by the truckload for no more than $3. Figure about 15 seconds labor when assembling the computer at $2 per hour equals 10 cents. If they charge an additional $20, they are still making money, so $80 is a ripoff.

However, I would never complain if I bought one of the package deals posted on the deals pages. It is practically impossible to build a computer cheaper than what Dell charges for these exceptional deals.

SnowSurfer

um not to be nit picky but the laptop in question from the article had an amd 1800+ processor (dells only run intel processors), did i miss something or would that make it not a dell laptop, so how would it be dell's fault whats loaded on it???????

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_=DeltaForce=_

You guys dont understand What I am Braggin about...

people who don't know much about computers just trust these companies to set them up a package deal without having to upgrade.

Some Old couple could totally trust dell get a P4, 128mb ram, windows xp and its gonna be laggy and slow... When they call Tech support, they just say YOU need more ram and its gonna cost so much + labor. Nice Rip Off

Windows XP with 128mb memory + bunch of applications running = Laggy Piece of Sh*t

Dell should give some kind of warning say windows XP with 128 is gonna be laggy

Instead of Looking From Dell's buisness side, look from the old couple side... You know about computers and so you support dell and tell what u get is what is you pay for but what about others who DONT know about computers and have no idea of what even Ram is...

DarkFury

Honestly, I think it is YOU who doesn't understand...

Ok... would you send a person who has NEVER driven a car down to the dealership and put them in a Manual transmission versus an automatic? Yes... the manual transmission car IS cheaper than the automatic, but it takes some getting used to.

Does the dealer make sure that you KNOW how to drive a stick before you purchase it? It's just a car right? You gotta know what you are doing when you buy it...

I understand what you are saying... however I still don't see it as a VALID point here.

Dell has several computers that you could "buy now" and get more than 128 MB of RAM... Here's an example:

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...=19&l=en&s=dhs

For $719... http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...oc=D46SO&s=dhs


Now your friends, old folks, or whoever else wants a computer... they can buy this system RIGHT NOW without configuring anything and have 256MB of memory in their PC. Now personally, I want more than that (minimum 512MB upwards to 1GB) but that's just me. It will run fine on 256MB...

However, you are gonna PAY $719 plus shipping for that configuration. Now... you come to G|A and spot a "Dell Deal".... this PC has been stripped to the minimums to give you the lowest possible price.. and then they might give you some "extras" to make the deal sweeter. Now you want to complain that they are selling a "below average" PC at a cut rate price.... I just don't get your logic here.

You STILL can't have it both ways... it can be cheap or it can be "fully loaded", but generally it won't be both (unless you are VERY lucky).

So what is the real problem here? People who don't understand computers but do understand the value of a dollar can't afford to buy the right PC for their needs? That's kinda how I am taking your statements.

Sounds to me like the folks you are talking about need to learn more about PCs before they buy... Hell, I get folks at work talkin' to me EVERY DAY about what is the best computer deals out there... and I give them the advice they need to make a SMART decision. However if you want to hand a monkey a gun then don't cry if the monkey ends up shootin' you in the @ss or shoots it's own foot off.

BTW... like I said earlier, them buying a PC with less than adequate RAM is not a terminal mistake. It can be corrected at minimal cost and they STILL can have a great deal otherwise.... so what is the problem with that?

ufcrusher

As others have said, the average user loves the fact that Dell comes preloaded with a bunch of software. Most of the stuff is put on there because the average user wants it and loves the fact that it is included. To sit there and get mad at a company for doing this is stupid. The average customer, who doesnt want the installs, can ask dell NOT to install the extra programs. They will gladly skip it as it saves them time.

As for you RAM issue, the fact that Microsoft says that its more than enough absolves them of some responsibility. Any time you are building a system, you are always told that it is HIGHLY recommended that you increase the RAM. If you choose not to do so, that is at your own peril.

Personally, I hate Dell but that is from the multiple problems I had with 2 top end laptops and the idiotic and useless drivel they claim is tech support. I have no problem with pointing a finger at a real wrong, but this just strikes me as being a bunch of BS.

And yes, the article is a bit confusing as it clealy mentions an AMD notebook at first, but then the writer switches to a Dell to investigate the problem.

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LPMiller

Here you said it - blindly. If you don't plan on knowing the basics of a product you are spending good money on, that's your fault. Period. You don't buy a car and get all pissy because apparently it requires gas. Just like people who use politcal ads to make a decision are stupid, people who spend a few hundred bucks without even trying to know what they actually need are only screwing themselves.