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Question

Dell vs. HP project

Dec 2, 2013 3:52AM PST

I'm currently doing a project in school where I have to compare both Dell's and HP's computers on the criteria of price, reliability, customer support and in terms of what the computer is generally used for. Can you guys give me info on your experience with either one?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Sure. My last HP
Dec 2, 2013 3:59AM PST

Was my last HP. It didn't take long to figure out something wasn't quite right with it and at 3 months the office got me another laptop so I could get with HP to sort it out.

Why I did this because they always restore it to the factory condition.

I started in the morning and set aside the day in case it took a long time. It did take all day.

HP took control of the machine, had me update BIOS and they did a lot more over the link but after 8 hours on the phone they finally caved and sent out a box.

That was the last time this laptop worked moderately well. Upon return I opened the box to find paperwork they had duplicated the issue and swapped the motherboard.

Thinking I was in good shape I tried it and it was still defective plus it was now locking up in 5 minutes. They made it worse!

--> Over the next 6 months I made many calls, filled in many surveys and thought about others that would be devastated if this happened to them. At 9 months it was clear HP was not standing before any warranty or machine and thus it become our last HP.

At the office we have a lot of Dells so while some call them unreliable we never had such trouble with Dell.
Bob

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Answer
re: Dell vs. HP
Dec 2, 2013 4:00AM PST

In my experience they both make reliable desktops, but HP's support is actually worse than nothing. Not only do they not help, but they give you answers that are incorrect. I wouldn't call Dell's support great, but at least they're fairly reasonable. I have a 2001 vintage Dell desktop that still runs and a 2009 HP desktop that still working - neither have had the first hardware problem. I've never bought a laptop from either, but Bob Proffitt will probably tell you of his very bad experience with his HP laptop. Bottom line, I'd go with Dell.
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Good luck.

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Answer
DELL/HP
Dec 2, 2013 4:14AM PST

I'm going with Dell, if for nothing else, service. Hp makes a decent tower from a hardware standpoint but there have been issues with service, it can be a nightmare.

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Dell
Dec 2, 2013 5:59AM PST

I have owned both HP and Dell.
Support wise there is no comparison. HP is a joke and the customer knows more than 90% of the HP techs your stuck with. With Dell/Alienware at least the techs know what the problem is or at least gets you to someone who does know. With their extended warranty when they say next day service that's exactly what they mean.
As for hardware and reliability the nod still goes to Dell/Alienware even though I am sure they both use the same OEM parts most of the time.