What is Digg?121 Comments
- mostbanned, on 10/12/2007, -1/+156He also answers some comments from Digg users, like this: "Why didn't you wipe the computer and re-install Windows from scratch?"
His answer, "I agree that this is practicaly the best solution. However, on principle, I think that I shouldn't have to. (For the same reason that I shouldn't have to pick the hair out of my food at a restaurant. It might be the best way to get the hair out of the food, but that's not the point. The point is that it shouldn't be there in the first place.)" - pjh3000, on 10/12/2007, -3/+79*****, you're getting a Dell!
- tallgreen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+43Just run the Dell De-Crapifier!
My boss likes to order dell PCs for our employees for some reason. Old habits die hard I guess. I would complain but the De-Crapifier is fast and painless.
http://www.yorkspace.com/dell-de-crapifier/ - merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -6/+49If you can't afford to buy a PC on your existing credit lines, or with cash, DON'T BUY A PC.
- Recluse, on 10/12/2007, -8/+50I couldn't have said it better myself.
- quanticle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+28Funny, that's exactly what you *don't* get when you buy a pre-built computer. All I got with my previous computer was a set of "recovery Cd's" that simply contained a disk image of the hard drive as it came from the factory. For a situation like this, recovery Cd's are worse than useless.
- wintermute1974, on 10/12/2007, -0/+27Sure, Dell can load their PCs up to the gills with useless software. All I ask is that I get a Windows OS disc so that I can wipe the PC and start fresh.
- merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20Lack of time, and/or expertise.
Not everybody has time to build their own PC, and do their own tech support. You'll understand when you're older.
I work as a programmer 10 hours a day. The last thing I want to do in the few hours I have at home are ***** with my PC. I hardly touch the damn thing as is. I'd rather have someone else fix it if a part dies.
It's not that I can't -- I've built dozens of PCs over the years at work, and the like. Hell, I put together the servers we just deployed. I just don't want to do the same ***** at home. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -9/+27You know something? What you (mostbanned) just wrote is ridiculously obvious. And its amazing to me that companies dont get it. So - by that measure, your observation must be genius.
I work with OEM systems and see this sort of thing, and response, all the time. These generic-box manufacturers are desperate to differentiate themselves from the crowd and consistently resort to cheap gimmicks, and strange crap to do that. In dells defense, they arent nearly as bad as Compaq, who loads their systems with more crap than a cow farm - Dells are pretty lean by comparison, but yeah its relative and both companies live in a world of sludge infested OEM machines.
This is one of the very big reasons I recommend a Macs to my clients - and mostly use Macs myself - they are clean, and they stay clean. Year after year after year.
Now my above comment is just as ridiculously obvious as yours. So from the other angle, why dont consumers get it? I guess it must be genius too. - phoggey, on 10/12/2007, -4/+20"They probably don't even use their own computers... so they have no idea the stress they really cause consumers."
Speaking as person who works at Dell, I don't know a person at the company who uses anything but Dell. Dell pretty much dominates Austin. The coupons we get as employees are huge, we can buy 2 mini towers and a laptop for an equal cost of a computer we could build ourself. Just bought an ultrasharp for less than 200 for my service anniversary to the company.
The employees know about the "bloatware", not a whole lot we can do about it. That area is run by cost-driven salesmen and managers. Heck, when I log into my workstation at work, I even get popup spam about dell stuff. And believe it or not, I work at checking custom images to make sure they have no bloatware or driver issues at dell (business services).
All this aside, saying "Dell is *****" is being ignorant, probably because you've never been to a highschool or college. - actionscripted, on 10/12/2007, -8/+20Dell's not that bad...
In the same way Google isn't evil...
And Hitler had some good ideas...
Screw Dell. Old ladies hate spyware just as much as everyone else -- they just don't know when it's running, what it does, what information it collects, or how to remove it. Dell's strategy sounds like this:
"The grannies won't know how to remove it. Then we'll track their usage habits...it's perfect. Oh hello, Mr. NSA agent. Yea, we're gathering some of her personal data right now...would you like that on Blu-Ray disc like usual? Haha...yea, you're right. ***** Sony." - Maasneotek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Actually Quanticle they barely give you THAT anymore without you paying for an actually install disk. Its all about the "recovery partition" they leave on your hard drive. Your 40GB hard drive is now 32 (if that, considering the inaccuracies of HD space measurement) to make room for the partition that restores your computer to its pristine spyware/ buggy OEM factory fresh state.
For what its worth, My roommate bought a dell 2 months ago, and I asked while he was ordering if there was a way to get the computer without all the crap, they said no. Maybe pure installs are a new policy? - zweben, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14"he doesn't have to. He can just buy the system without the preinstall software. Dell gets paid for that software to be on the system, if he doesn't want it, he makes up the difference. What next? Is he going to complain that they actually make him pay for a faster CPU than the default install!? THE HORROR!"
That's somewhat of a good point, but Dell should just find better ways to cut costs than installing that kind of software. - onixxino, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10"With that said, if you actually call into Dell, and request no software preloaded on your system it can be built that way. But a lot people don't know that, because they uninformed, so consider yourself in the know." - Quote from the second email.
Wow, I didn't know this. This should be WRITTEN somewhere in the website when people order it. - deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I love it... Blogs are holding these companies feet to the fire when it comes to anti-customer behavior. You can't just screw someone over anymore and hope they keep their mouth shut about it. I remember an incident with Toshiba where several reps and a supervisor wanted me to pay for the replacement of an LCD screen on a new product. They refused to cover the repair until I mentioned that I am an avid blogger/forum poster and they suddenly were more than happy to fix my problem. I had an UPS RMA box in my hands in less than 24 hours. The moral of the story is, if you're getting screwed over by a giant company make sure they know you're vocal blogger and you have a much better chance of getting your problem fixed.
- Durrok, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13I tend to use sentences put together in a cohesive manner to prove my point. However sometimes flatulence is the only way to get your point across.
- ImpactedColon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Dell customer service has declined dramatically in the last few years, and I have had some hardware failure, but all in all my Dells have been solid. Of course, the junk in them taught me how to reinstall the OS, which was a good thing to learn.
Clarification: Dell DOES NOT ship Windows or software CDs anymore. They used to, but not now. You get a photo on CD-sized paper of what the CD looks like, and says "Why isn't there a CD in here? Why, you don't need one!" Unacceptable. When you buy a computer, you're buying a license for Windows, and I think it is just short of thievery not to ship the software you purchased. After all, they ship the crappy trial software they bloat on CDs.
If you call and say "Where the hell is the software I paid for" they ship it to you overnight, no questions asked. If more people started asking, they'd lose enough money to make including the CD standard practice again.
If I had the time/initiative/motivation, I'd start up a site that told people to demand their software and have Dell finally feel the pinch of stingy service. But, alas, I am too easily distracted. Ooh, look, a bird! *Runs out of the room* - gekkokid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I would like to thank Dell for educating my parents about spyware, they know when it runs now and what it does to the PC; and further-more they understand why i said "don't waste time your with dell" when they wanted a new pc.
I would also like to Thank Dell for making me sound clever when we get cold calls from Dell asking to purchase a extended Warrenty, my usual response is - "why on earth would i want extended warranty? the pc's are so cheap i can throw them away each year and get a new one" - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Then use quotes at least since my Dell didn't come with a text based sarcasm or faint hint of wit detector.
- ntnwwnet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Not everybody knows how. Like the dude in the article mentions, you can't expect Joe Schmoe to build his own car, do you? Even if it does turn out to be cheaper, a "regular" computer user wouldn't know what to do if they did something wrong. They'd just be forced to go buy more parts and try again.
- link470, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5That is an awsome source...I'll remember that for anyone who has a dell. Looks cool. I guess that's how far people will go to remove software they don't want. Props to them.
- krakelohm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Ok I am lost here... why would they charge you for a warranty part... did you stick a coat hanger in the back of the PSU?
- warning9, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7They probably don't even use their own computers... so they have no idea the stress they really cause consumers.
- kwelling12, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6The comment was made from a Dell IP address, thus he was working at dell at the time, thus he is a representative of the company. And he couldn't have been that biased, he did buy a Dell after all.
- jorgefeucht, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6It's hard to build a laptop from scratch, in that case you are stuck with Dell or HP or someone else just as evil
- corrosive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6If you are at work and you tell a customer to ***** off, the customer sees that at the company telling him that. Its obvious you dont have a job, or at least one that doesnt pride itself on customer service.
- shreky, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Trying buying a sony. Spent $1500 and 90% of the pre installed softwares are trialwares. Good thing I know about the free alternatives. Open Office, Kerio firewall and AVG antivirus. The problem is that most people don't know about these and get ripped off.
- ccanni1028, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5You can actually get a disk from them when you order the new system.
I believe it's $10 for a "restore disk" and $25/30 for a clean XP install disk (home/pro). - smojo12, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@krakelohm
My question exactly. If your computer is under warranty you should not have any problem getting a replacement part for it. I don't think your telling the whole story here. - zweben, on 10/12/2007, -8/+12"This is one of the very big reasons I recommend a Macs to my clients - and mostly use Macs myself - they are clean, and they stay clean. Year after year after year."
Unelss you're obsessed with 3rd party system mods like me and have 7 things in the "Other" section of System Preferences. = P - drizek, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9no reason not to really...
- nuvem, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Bloatware aside, the Inspiron 6000 I got was really quite nice. I find it's best just to wipe and reinstall right off the bat... you get a few extra gigs, and you don't have to worry about backing anything up (because you always forget that one file you really needed).
- MrC539, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3He makes a good argument against building a computer yourself, in my opinion, even if it may cost a couple hundred more. Also, building it yourself takes time and effort, both of which are worth money.
- buryme, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I just love that a front page story has the word "*****" in the title...
- ImpactedColon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Since Dell is not a person, then the only way Dell could call someone that is via an employee, so......yeah they did.
- satori3000, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yeah, Dell support bugs, and their bloat-ware is annoying, but their PCs are good and very aggressively priced. I like my current Inspiron 6000, although I think I'll probably go Alienware next time around as long as they keep the prices low. Thing is that Alienware is Dell as well. Hopefully they won't do the same crap that Dell does with their bloat-ware... anyway, long and short of it is that Dell makes a pretty good product and their hardware support is solid. Too bad the reps aren't so great.
- Kujila, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@thebloom:
Eh, the Inspiron B120 is like $400 on sale, though, and I am a poor white man D: - fohat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Back in the day (Windows versions up to ME), you could choose what you wanted to install (in a limited manner). With the later versions of Windows, XP and 2000, you pretty much don't have any options not to install something during the install process. You can stick the disc in later and remove stuff, but if the "Bloat" you are reffering to includes the help files, system restore space, all the patches you have ever downloaded, etc, then you pretty much have to deal with that after an install.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Dell doesn't have Spyware, they have bloatware. There's a difference.
- fohat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I love my Inspiron 5150, it's a couple years old and still runs great. I've only formatted it once about a year after I got it, and it was for this exact reason. My parents have pretty much the same laptop and it's been great for them too.
- davidirock, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Building your own pc costs more then buying one now days. I did the math a few years ago. If you know where to get cheaper parts post below, I need to know.
- Maasneotek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The topic is in reference to all the extra bundled hoo-haws that Dell gives you when you buy a computer from them. It comes with a whole bunch of utilities and software to:
-Purchase access from 3 or 4 different ISP
-Try before you buy email, paint, image editors, toolbars
-Spyware depending on who defines it.
In essence: lots and lots of stuff that advertisers and companies have paid Dell to put on your computer. Its not all BAD per-se but once you analyze how much of it there is, and how much slower it makes your computer- well, that's enough to anger someone.
This is also the reason why such information is not available on the website. Why offer a link to uninstall the software you were PAID to put in? - Maasneotek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Hmm a lot of times it comes down to cheaper parts of construction vs. warranty and tech support. I remember the day about a year and a half ago when i realized I could make a PC to fit my mothers needs. It was about $200 cheaper than a Dell. Then i realized I didn't want to be my parents tech support, so I ordered them a Dell with a 3 year warranty.
Digg posters should realize that there are some times when BUYING a PREMADE PC is actually a viable option. As cheap as a good video card IS nowadays, my mother doesn't really need to "PWN". - shiftless, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2God, I could never buy a DELL after building my own. Build your own PC. It's easier than you think. You get higher quality parts and you learn something in the process.
- Columcille, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Is it really cheaper these days? I recently bought a Dell, after spending several hours looking through parts for a custom built PC. I've custom built all of mine in the past but decided to go with a Dell this time. Once you consider hardware, OS, and any extras you tack on, I really don't think it can still be said that custom builds are cheaper. It certainly used to be that way, but times have changed.
- isamu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2We have some contractors here working on setting up a new network datacenter as well as on a regular basis for development projects. Heaven forbid one of them connects a laptop and posts a response to some blog site on our behalf, or during a lunch break decides he's going to represent the organization with a message which lacks the professionalism we'd prefer to convey on one of our company provided systems. Bottom line is it isn't an official response so shouldn't be treated as such. Immature? sure, but it's probably not that surprising considering the type of job they're staffing for.
- knightblade2oo4, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3you can't say 'after all' twice in one post. that's like saying 'then he died' then typing a paragraph on his funeral then saying 'then he died'.
- cyclotron, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Considering the typical comments on digg, he was speaking their language. When in Rome...
- colol, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You can't run out to your local store and buy a Dell replacement, true, but Dell Spares would be more than happy to sell you one (or 100).
- DrBones, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Umm, Dell did not respond calling the blogger a *****, some ***** employee did. While I agree Dell sucks, the title here is inaccurate.
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