We use Dell, but we're looking at other options.

HP now they've bought Compaq?
IBM?

any others worth trusting?

 

We use IBM, mainly I think because they seem to be easy to negotiate discounts with as we buy their iSeries and pSeries.

ThinkPads seem to be very good laptop's until our Windows boys stick all the other s/w on them!

But seriously, a good laptop. Dunno about desktops.

 

We moved from Compaq to IBM Thinkcentres and they seem fairly robust and capable from what Ive seen.

Simon

 

We've just moved to IBM too

 

We use H-P/Compaq D530SFFs (now discontinued I believe) at work and we must have over a hundred of them. They seem robust enough.


M

 

What are IBM/HP like for getting warranty work done or support? can you go to them direct or do you have to go through resellers/distributors?

We're having all the motherboards replaced in 50 Dell workstations after we found a dodgy batch. The guys on Dell support are pretty decent, but getting anything done can be like pulling teeth.

I've been in IT for years and I don't want to spend 30 mins convincing someone reading off a screen for diagnostic steps that I've already done all the diagnostics myself.

If they do think something's faulty, then they're there next day with a replacement so I can't fault them for that. Mind you we did pay for it

Stefan

 

That is never going to change I'm afraid, and is probably true of all organisations.

As for support, AFAIK our H-P stuff is covered via the suppliers (Computacenter).


M

 

Yeah, true. But when I phone them or e-mail them with a list of what I've done, I expect them to use their noggins. When I was diagnosing the m/b fault, I'd already replaced hard disk (and OS), RAM, CPU, everything that wasn't bolted down. I still had to send a PC to them for their "Engineers" to inspect and I've had to spend at least 20-30 mins on the phone re-logging the same fault over the past few months.

I finally ran out of patience today and asked for all the PC's to have m/b's replaced. In their defense they agreed with too much shouting.

Trouble is I've worked in the VAR channel in the past and I'd rather go direct.

 

we had a few problems will dell last year ( 3 contractors sent to a site awaiting a delivery that took 2 weeks ) give your account manager some stick it amazing how much they will budge... they gave me a one to one support person..stunning blonde, and yes I stayed with them

I looked at hp but didn't like the suppliers we had come round,and dell seemed to pull their finger out before I could find a good hp supplier

one more point, do you get routed to the Indian call centre if so have a few words

 

No, we have their Gold support so it's routed to Ireland. Not sure what's worse, trying to communicate Glaswegian to an India or an Irishman ................. sure there's a non-PC joke in there somewhere

 

Fujitsu-Siemens?

Lifebook laptops are great (IMHO).

 

eew! we had nothing but trouble with Fujitsu-Siemens laptops - they are crap!

Compaq HP evo desktops is what we use, comes with 3year warranty - never had any problems, and if we do call up our local compaq/hp and we get a replacement usually within two days.

 

LOL Yup, Dhell Ireland & Dhell India can be quite a strain on my sanity sometimes...

 

Used to have Dell desktops but wanted to buy around 100 pc's at once and IBM did a better deal....so now we use IBM's.

Always and still do use Dell laptops though...C400/D400/D500's e.t.c. Very good and when you know how to work the irish lads into sorting your problem quicktime the support is fine.

Isn't it stupid you keep having to give your name and address to the support team though....they don't seem to hold it on file for some reason (they hold our suppliers which is not good to us!!)

 

Really? Which models did you have?

Our Lifebook C and E's have been faultless. I couldn't comment on the warranty service as we've not had to use it. The C series that our engineers have take a good hammering too.

<touch wood>

 

As others have said, all vendors are the same when it comes to 'the scripted responses'.. End of the day, just get the best bang per buck, and accept the aftersales will be a battle!...