Not for certain add-on components. For example, in the article he mentions very expensive Dell-specific adapters for the new SSDs he wants, as well as some Dell-specific BIOS and driver issues. A techie like me could find a way around that, but a techie like me just bypasses Dell entirely when I’m speccing out and building my own desktop PC.
Dell promises guys like this a middle ground allowing the same level of customisation that I can do, but in reality the options are too confusing. People like him have paid me to order a Dell PC for them.
This guy was obviously long on money, short on technical expertise, and mainly interested in a powerful machine for multimedia production that would work right out of the box. A natural customer for an Apple work rig if ever there was one.
maybe i’m getting too old for the internet, but does anybody else really wish news aggregator websites/blogs would do more than just link to a facebook post/tweet/video plugin that doesn’t work so that those of us who don’t participate in those forums can be in on the story?
Gotcha. Yeah, I always go to the manufacturer for drivers, the Dell packages aren’t always up to date and sometimes they wrap them in Dell system monitoring stuff I don’t want. I’m more likely to default to Dell’s bios, though, just to avoid bricking the system.
Probably right, he’d have been better served with an Apple system. Let’s futzing and worrying about “did I get the right stuff?”
Yikes, that was painful to read - but I guess the moral of the story is taking run-of-the-mill basic IT frustrations that can be reconciled with ten minutes of googling to an international stage can get your ticket bumped up the queue?
I can recommend purchasing surplus Dell workstations as a way to access decent computing power at an affordable level if one is willing to scratch the surface a bit (assumptions about plug-and-play common on big-box store configs may not apply, you may need to learn about VROC keys and other things you never knew existed (and can’t possibly live without!)). Machines like this are being cycled by business with regularity - and offer access to multiple dozens of GB of ECC memory (mainly for CAD work) for pennies compared to an Apple equivalent system, but don’t expect it to boot like like one because it’s designed as a long haul big rig, not a corvette.
Kind of reminds me of the Apple Mac Pro. Very steep entry price, marginal entry-level performance. Apple expects you to pay for the privilege of spending even more money on upgrades.
I clicked that link to Dell and went through the configuration process for that model. It is, to put it succinctly, a nightmare. It’s the kind of thing that should be available through a business purchasing advisor and not public-facing… at least without several layers of “I know what I’m doing” checkboxes.
I feel badly for the guy, mostly because he knew what he needed (a more powerful system that he could use for his specific purposes) and because Dell has set up their online presence in such a way as to allow would-be customers to think that “I need a computer with large huevos” equals “I should purchase a business-class machine”. To the layperson “business class” implies professional/capable, whereas to the nerd/geek/IT-types “business class”, “enterprise class”, etc… mean very different things. But, a layperson wouldn’t know that and shouldn’t be expected to know that. There’s no reason for them to need to know that.
The entire twitter thread makes it abundantly clear that the customer had a desired outcome from purchasing a more powerful computer, but that never once did anyone within the fuster-cluck of the Dell ecosystem take the time to step back and consider what was going on from the customer’s perspective. The Dell reps, from first line to advanced to closer never asked the right questions. That’s on Dell, not on the unfortunate soul that inadvertently walked into the completely unmarked “pros only” section and tried to make a good purchasing decision. Dell failed their customer. Repeatedly. The ignorance belongs to the customer, but the shame is entirely on Dell. And then to offer their “best” resolution as a credit slip… that’s just insulting. Send a prepaid return box for the system, and send the customer a check or a credit card refund for the entire process. Not a store-credit when it’s been made abundantly clear to the customer that the store doesn’t want them.
This is why you hop onto a hardware forum and get advice. Seriously, even my nerdy butt will at least search via Google to see what the general opinion is about a given PC or product before I drop my dime on it. I know it sucks that you have to do that but it’s not like you’re buying a pack of pens from the grocery store, you’re buying something you’re likely not gonna replace for a very long time cause it’s expensive. I don’t feel like blaming Dell that much other than the repair people lying that they weren’t at their home when they’re at home 24/7. Besides that, they’re just needing to read more before they buy.
Dear lord yes. They run cool and quiet and memory handling is much better on the new Apple Silicon Macs.
Having said that, Apple still nickel and dimes you. Out of the box, the MBA is not correctly earthed when plugged into the mains and sitting on a desk, so you get a hum on wired headphones that can only be eliminated by paying £20 for the extension cable.
I was on the Dell website some years ago, playing with configurations, and the total always came up to $0. I put together this absurd system that subtotaled $8000+ but total was $0. Added next day delivery: $0.
During the checkout process, I had to add my credit card and chickened out. What if they actually charged me?! Regret it to this day. Screen shot and returns, you ■■■■■ troll.
While I sympathize with aspects of the person’s story some of it was completely avoidable if they just paid closer attention to what they were buying. I’ve had some absolutely awful Dell workstations over the years but some good ones too. The amount of proprietary lock-in crap is infuriating. I have had much better luck with HP workstations.
Interesting.
I have the opposite experience working with Dell Enterprise the last few years.
My preferred vendor for what we do is Nutanix. And I prefer to run their hypervisor whenever possible.
Yikes. That’s unreal. Assuming the array was still under warranty for parts and service, that’s some shit service.
We’re using Nimble arrays for some stuff connected via ISCSI to Dell servers and they’re good. They ship replacement drives automatically when the arrays call home. I know at a previous place I worked, NetApp did the same thing. Although one time they called me at 3am to let me know that someone was dropping off a drive. I was like… um, please leave it with security, I’ll take care of it in the morning.
It’s a terribly sad story of loneliness and lack of even a single friend to ask for advice.
I cannot read it in any other way.
If that misguided guy is not able to order a sensible computer by himself (not a problem - not everybody needs to be) and does not ask for help or consult any of the umpteen online magazines and forums before committing a serious amount of money, it’s nothing but his (or D-K) fault.
I have a musician friend, she knows zilch about computers, but wanted a serious desktop system to work on some video and audio editing.
In half an hour, though separated by 3000 km, we went through establishing specs, budget, the configuration and purchase of a mid-high end Dell.
She had it at her door in a couple of days, and she could not be happier.
I think he ordered a PowerEdge server tower. Would explain why it takes forever to boot, why it came without WiFi, and why he needs “caddies” to install storage.
I’m always impressed by the build. No screwdriver needed, nice cable management, very well-thought-out case design. Never had a Dell, so can’t compare.
Maybe the margins are still garbage enough at the high end that it isn’t worth dell’s time; but I am slightly surprised that ordering a Precision didn’t trigger some sort of offer of configuration assistance from an upsell specialist/slightly knowledgeable first-line rep.
For actual business purchases(either nontrivial quantity or just established relationship) actual ‘workstation’ line systems tend to be a ‘talk to your rep’ thing; if only for the insufferable pricing haggling and the (quite serious now) “what can you actually deliver in the quantity I need without 3-6 months lead time?” chat. Your rep isn’t necessarily free of perverse incentives to upsell or offload inventory that they want to shift rather than exactly what you want to buy; but they will answer basic questions and hook you up with an actual product specialist if needed.
I would be curious to know if this isn’t triggered as a little chat box if you just try to buy retail because it’s considered not worth the expense; or because Dell sells virtually all their workstation gear either to people who have talked to their rep, not online once-offs, or to techies who don’t want someone hassling them as they configure exactly what they know they want.
