Who has the better desktop?

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#1 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:26 pm

Just about everyone here says Dell laptops suck and IBM's rock but what about desktops? Personally, I'd have to say the OptiPlex line is probably my favorite line of desktops, just because of the fact that most can be opened with a single button press and minimal tools are needed to service. I think they are some of the best engineered out there, even if the current generation round plastic case does look sorta cheesy. I like the way the older beige OptiPlex GX's looked best. I actually have an OptiPlex GXa tower in my bedroom that I got from work and that thing is rock solid.

I acutally can't vouch too much for IBM desktops as the last one I actually owned was a PS/2 50z and the last one I've ever serviced was a PS/2 Server 95 though I do have to say those were also good systems and every bit as easily accessible and servicable as the OptiPlex GXa tower sitting in my room.

Well, anyways, I was wondering what everyone else thinks and which name brand desktops they like and why, so if you feel like stating your opinion, go ahead, but please no blatant bashing.

emorphien · #2 Post by **emorphien** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:48 pm

Other because homebuilt is the way to go.

Toe · #3 Post by **Toe** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:55 am

Other because homebuilt is the way to go.

Amen.

-Toe

Navck · #4 Post by **Navck** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:46 pm

Whoever voted Dell should be tared and feather, we all know they got the WORST desktops on the market with most complaints...
Home built desktops are the best.

#5 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:56 pm

I picked Dell for desktops. I'm not familiar with their consumer line, the Dimension series but the OptiPlex series, the one I do use normally, has never let m down. That and the fact that most can be serviced with minimal use of tools.

The GXa I own requires a screwdriver to remove the hard drive, power supply or an expansion card. Almost everything else can be removed by hand. Overall, the case in general is just easy to work with.

#6 Post by **jdhurst** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:54 pm

I have too much trouble with Dell machines (some of my clients) to recommend them. I move clients to IBM wherever I can, and no client has been unhappy with the change. I really dislike the clam-shell case of the Dell Optiplex. That is like a curse, in my opinion. IBM cases have always been a weak point in their designs, but the newest desktops and towers are much easier to deal with than Optiplex.

I can say this (and it is always a good measurement): When the greenbacks come out of my personal pocket, I *always* buy IBM, and I have never been disappointed.
... JD Hurst

emorphien · #7 Post by **emorphien** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:49 pm

Navck wrote:Whoever voted Dell should be tared and feather, we all know they got the WORST desktops on the market with most complaints...
Home built desktops are the best.

Oh good grief chill out.

#8 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:26 pm

Personally, I do like home built the best but you do have to remember that as nice as it is to have it custom built and each part hand selected by yourself, it's not the most practical way to go in even a small office. The fact that you can order the computer that's ready to go when you get it, the extended warranty, a support plan, all the software packages and all the accessories on the same site from the same company makes name brand best for any work environment, big or little. That and when all the comptuers are the same, it's easier to service and deal with spares.

BigWarpGuy · #9 Post by **BigWarpGuy** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:20 pm

When one assembles ones own desktop computer, it gives the builder the freedom to chose the operating system they want to install. I want to install eComStation without having to pay for Windows. I do not believe there are any that one can get a computer that does not run Windows.

http://www.ecomstation.com - the os of (my) choice.

http://tomleem.homestead.com/pcos.html
list of different operating systems for IBM compatible computers (one or two for non-IBM compatible computers).

dokein · #10 Post by **dokein** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:29 pm

Building it yourself is the way to go.

pphilipko · #11 Post by **pphilipko** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:00 pm

Navck wrote:Whoever voted Dell should be tared and feather, we all know they got the WORST desktops on the market with most complaints...
Home built desktops are the best.

Very interesting remark. I have an old Dimension 4550 that's still chugging along. I've never had any problems with it for 4 years already. Though I have to admit that Dell builds some horrendous laptops, some of their desktops aren't TOO bad. However, my particular one, I think, is unusually well built.

#12 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:45 pm

pphilipko wrote: Very interesting remark. I have an old Dimension 4550 that's still chugging along. I've never had any problems with it for 4 years already. Though I have to admit that Dell builds some horrendous laptops, some of their desktops aren't TOO bad. However, my particular one, I think, is unusually well built.

Not per say. The OptiPlex's are pretty good. The material in the current ones is not as heavy as some of the older OptiPlex's of the 90's and early 2000's but they can still take a beating. Still, unfortunatley, there's yet to be a desktop from anyone that invokes memories of my departed PS/2 50z or Deskpro 486s/25m.

Navck · #13 Post by **Navck** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 12:22 am

I don't mean their buisness line.
I mean the "general consumer" and X-TREAAAMMMEEE GAMER line.

bhtooefr · #14 Post by **bhtooefr** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:25 pm

Hmm... I've seen some OptiPlex GX50s give up the ghost quite spectacularly...

That said, there are good Dell models. The L___* series and the 2100 series are good, with easy to access (toolless unless you want to get PCI cards or the mobo out) cases and Intel CA810E mobos (not good FEATURES, but Intel's got STABLE mobos). The L___cx models even have Seagate HDDs... (there are some that have Maxtors that suffer from Sudden Maxtor Death Syndrome, though, and the 2100s have Deathstar 60GXPs - my school's already had two out of eight fail...) The PSUs could be better, though...

Nebrie · #15 Post by **Nebrie** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:53 pm

pphilipko wrote:
Navck wrote:Whoever voted Dell should be tared and feather, we all know they got the WORST desktops on the market with most complaints...
Home built desktops are the best.
Very interesting remark. I have an old Dimension 4550 that's still chugging along. I've never had any problems with it for 4 years already. Though I have to admit that Dell builds some horrendous laptops, some of their desktops aren't TOO bad. However, my particular one, I think, is unusually well built.

We buy Dell where I work. There has been a HUGE decrease in the quality of Dell machines over the last four years. The old machines are wonderful and seem to be chugging along fine, while the new machines require constant support.

Waukeen · #16 Post by **Waukeen** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:22 am

Toe wrote:
Other because homebuilt is the way to go.
Amen.

-Toe

Preach on, Brother.

Stargate199 · #17 Post by **Stargate199** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:08 pm

I personally like HP desktops made after 2000. I own a Pavilion 8755c which i bout at a garage sale and it is just fast with what the BIOS says is a PIII 800EB MHz CPU. EB i think is enhanced bus because it has a 133MHz FSB instead of 100MHz the previous version of this computer had. My family has a Pavilion 762n. Now I did upgrade the graphic card and the Hard drive. I will note that the hard drive was a piece of crap Samsung (which I am in the process of reviving). It now has an ATi Radeon 9600XT and a 160GB Western Digital HDD (WD has the best HDD PERIOD).

pianowizard · #18 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:27 pm

The front USB ports of my Dell Dimension B110 (entry level model) have been unreliable since day one (April 2006), which I am not happy about, but I still voted for Dell anyway because in general the best desktops I have used have been Dell (the other brands I have used are Gateway, Apple, HP, eMachines, Packard Bell and IBM). BTW, I can't believe that IBM has the most votes!

asiafish · #19 Post by **asiafish** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 2:07 pm

I bought a super-cheap Compaq desktop last year ($300 retail) and it has been fantastic. The case is easy to access with no tools, it had three open PCI slots and an AGP slot (in case you want to upgrade from the integrated ATI X200 graphics). Its got room for an extra optical AND an extra hard drive, with the cables already present to connect them, and will handle up to 4GB of RAM in its 4 PC2700 slots. Oh, the AMD Sempron processor is slotted, not soldered, and can also be easily upgraded.

My only additions were RAM (up from 256 MB to 1.25 GB), Optical downgrade (swapped the combo drive for a plain DVD-ROM from one of my Macs) and a wireless PCI card.

Build quality isn't in the old 1990s league, but its not bad, and the thing is VERY versatile, with every conceivable card reader built-in and tons of USB 2.0 (3 front, 3 back) and 6-pin powered FireWire (1 front, 2 back) all easy to reach.

I downgraded it from Windows XP Home to Windows 2000 Professional (I use a Windows Server Domain) and it is quite possibly the fastest computer I've got. No crashes, and almost dead silent (has two fans inside, but can't hear them with the case closed).

pianowizard · #20 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 4:16 pm

asiafish wrote:I bought a super-cheap Compaq desktop last year ($300 retail) and it has been fantastic. The case is easy to access with no tools

My Dell Dimension B110 is like that too. Very convenient.

asiafish wrote:it had three open PCI slots and an AGP slot

Unfortunately the B110 only has PCI slots.

asiafish wrote:Its got room for an extra optical AND an extra hard drive, with the cables already present to connect them, and will handle up to 4GB of RAM in its 4 PC2700 slots.

You Compaq beat my Dell again, which has room for only one HDD and only two PC3200 slots. I shouldn't complain too much though because it was really cheap, $369 plus tax (that was back in Apr 2006), and that included a very nice 19" LCD monitor.

asiafish · #21 Post by **asiafish** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 4:21 pm

Mine didn't come with the 19" LCD, which is probably worth more than the $70 price difference. Though some of the price difference seams to be mitigated by the higher capabilities of the Compaq.

I have a 19" Viewsonic LCD connected to it that cost $200, and makes a terrific match.

techflavor · #22 Post by **techflavor** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 10:17 am

I also voted to Dell.

I believe Dell laptops are horrible (along with their consumer desktops); however, we have been buying a ton of the OptiPlex GX620's (tower size, not small form factor) lately. Besides minor issues, these machines have been working great (hell, way better than the others models we've purchased).

I've been interested in the IBM desktops so I think next week I'm going to order one and try it out here in the office to see how I like it.

asiafish · #23 Post by **asiafish** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 4:03 pm

I just ordered a NetVista A30p and should have it tomorrow. It will be my first IBM desktop since an od PS/2 I bought in the mid/late 1980s (excellent machine for its time, despite the Microchannel architecture).

I havea a new Dell server in my office that appears VERY well made, and I had good luck with their desktops in the late 1990s (I was a government worker and we were all Dell), though the Dells that were coming in the last two years (as I was leaving) weren't as confidence-inspiring as the old beige ones.

The only desktops I've owed personally since that old IBM were either homebrews or Apples, both of which were always exelent. I'm anxios to see this NetVista and pu it through its paces.

pianowizard · #24 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:11 pm

I just wanted to add that besides their usually very well made desktop computers, Dell's customer support is also great, at least in my own experience. Just two days ago, I called them asking for a WinXP Home CD for my Dimension B110 which is still under the original 1-year basic warranty. The customer servicer said he would send me a copy for free. The package arrived today, and to my surprise, it included not only the WinXP CD that I requested but also six other CDs for software and driver installation! Before this incident, I had had two or three very pleasant interactions with Dell's customer support team regarding an Inspiron 8200 laptop. I have purchased three computers from Dell and each of them was delivered within two weeks (contrast that with Lenovo!). I will definitely continue to purchase both desktops and laptops from Dell in the future, especially if Thinkpad quality continues to decline.

asiafish · #25 Post by **asiafish** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:16 pm

How has ThinkPad quality declined? I hear nothing but raves about the T60 and X60 series, and my last modern ThinkPads (X41, X32 and T42p) have all been outstanding.

pianowizard · #26 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:46 pm

asiafish wrote:How has ThinkPad quality declined? I hear nothing but raves about the T60 and X60 series, and my last modern ThinkPads (X41, X32 and T42p) have all been outstanding.

Just look around on this forum. I have seen both raves (maybe around 80%) and rants (~20%) about the T60 and X60 series. There are certainly things that I don't like about my X60s, and I pointed them out just yesterday (I forget which thread it was though). I still think Lenovo makes the best laptops, but the gap between Thinkpads and other brands is getting smaller.

T22 4me · #27 Post by **T22 4me** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:59 pm

IBM :without reservation.

I believed in Dell at one time(I still believe at one time they were a good machine) As long as someone else was maintaining them.So Wifey bought a new one and I got stuck with maintaining it.Have reformatted it several times because on constant crashes.

It actually runs best on Linux distros ;but she is among those who think they cannot live without windows.

Its running now but only because I installed the OS and didnt use the resource cds

Fact is though evrything in the house outruns that pc of junk.and Dell support since we got it has been virtually useless even though she paid for the better support.

Also had several family and friends bought Dells sametime about with basicly same results.

They all thought because it said on TV "GET A DELL DUDE" they must be best.

I vote IBM.........................."DUDE"

Temetka · #28 Post by **Temetka** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:36 pm

I voted Apple. I really like the Intel towers. They are easy to work in / on, have great OS support and look fabulous (IMO). The fact that I can run almost any OS known to man on them is icing on the cake. If I had the cash I would buy a Mac Pro and move on with my life. My lack of cash is what keeps me building my own $800 PC's.

Sure it's fun and I get to choose every single component in the machine, I still prefer the 'fit and finish' of both the G5 and Intel towers.

Cheesemanx · #29 Post by **Cheesemanx** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:41 pm

I voted IBM, but I have personal reasons for doing so.

When people ask me what I would recommend, I tell them to look at what you can afford first. Then what are you going to use it for most. For example, if you set your budget to $1000 don't expect to get a top gaming machine. Even further, if you have $8000 to spend a computer I would recommend Northwest Falcon.

For most people I recommend several machines. Dell has a good product but poor customer service, but a price most can afford. IBM/Lenovo has a good product with good customer service as long as you know how they operate. They are also a little pricier than others. HP has a nice product with acceptable customer service but expandability become questionable after three years. For those looking to save money Emachines will do nicely. $500 for a dual core tower with a 17" wide screen LCD.

Number one complain with just about everybody is the amount of software that comes installed. Note to companies some is software is useful and and I might be willing to buy the full program but include it on a CD not preinstalled.

A quick spot about Apple, many good things can be said about them, but it is for someone who wants to learn about computers.

Techgurl · #30 Post by **Techgurl** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:22 pm

For a desktop I could build my own much better then any I can buy and I can use standard parts which I can upgrade later to give me a lower total cost of ownership.

I am still using a 5 year old PC I built which I have done a couple of small upgrades to over the years and its still fine.

Who has the better desktop?

Which desktop name brand do you prefer?

Who has the better desktop?

Freedom to chose OS is part of homebuilt!

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