gdgt

Agreed. I went through 4 different computers under my 4 year warranty (originally an inspiron 800m). My XPS BSOD'd 2 days after my warranty expired.

I'd disagree with 'never buy a Dell' since their Precision and Latitude ranges have very rarely given me any issues - but the M1330? Jesus. I wrote in another thread regarding my experiences but it's a pile of junk.

I just found one (so not just a pile of junk, but rather cockroach-like in it's ability to suddenly slink into view) that I'd missed from my clearout of these a year+ ago - so I figured I'd hammer it in the period up to the warranty ending, maybe something else will go wrong and perhaps score something else hopefully less junky.

I dumped an XPS 16 recently only for the brightly-lit indoor / outdoor - unusable screen: I didn't have anywhere near the build quality issues with that machine and I actually liked it (apart from the screen issue, which was a definite deal-killer since I only use laptops when actually moving around), so perhaps they have picked up their game a little for the current XPS range.

I decided to rerformat after backing up everything to a hardrive (in an attempt to fix the shareport on my D Link dir 655 not syncing with my lacie 300 gig, the drive attempts to connects gets half way through and fails). In an attempt to avoid anymore Vista based problems I put in an Ubuntu partition I got in a linux format magzine but now the glue on the pannel covering the heaphone ports came off ... I wonder if they will give me a pannel as wear and tear.

One thing I have found after reformatting. The M1330 when it works is amazing. I love the couple of options I paid for (onsite and the LED screen) but the build quality is horribly low. Which is why when it breaks down it really breaks down hard. I don't think they do enough to really make sure that the computer is built well. 2) I don't know what's with dell and their computer systems they use in the call center but it's just as bad the m1330. Half the time you call you don't get the right department. Whether its technical support xps US (I live in Canada and they don't deal with Can computers at the US tech support line) or sometimes I get the Precision, jukebox or latitude departments etc. Not to mention I can never get a hold of customer service... ever. Everytime I have ever called customer service department its either closed or i get hung up on after transfer. Even worse is they know how bad the service and support is but yet the send me survey emails (or catalogs to buy new models cheeky bastards) after every call even though I bet they don't bother with my complaints.

By the way to the earlier post. I have two precision T8100 workstations for work. Support and customer service has been just as bad with them as it has been M1330. They forgot to ship out one keyboard and its been having issues with software conflicts with the system devices since I bought it (The monitor's screen goes wonky due to a bad monitor cable, drives stop being recognized and then come back again, system lag and freezing a lot etc). I don't care if they don't make windows you still sell it on your computers and charge me for both (not to mention charge extortion levels of money for additional support for windows on a case per case basis). Your obviously making money on it so treat me with at least some respect when I call. Give me straights answers, If you can't fix my problem tell me directly without giving me a song and dance.

I must be lucky, I have had this unit for over a year now and have changed ram and HDD plus formatted several operating systems from ubuntu, backtrack, windows xp, vista to windows 7 (Currently running! along with ubuntu) and have never had any problems at all. I upgraded from the dell inspiron 700m which I currently have and runs great also. Had that unit for about 4 years maybe more. Still runs great.

I have a dell vostro 1500 for 2 years and except for the phone support not speaking english very well, i havent had many problems. hdd crashed after a couple months and the bluetooth keeps dying.

I have also had my power cord replaced twice. could have been my fault because i wrap the cords tightly but they sent me a new one regardless.

I have had the mobo replaced twice. once for a staticy headphone jack and again for a faulty usb socket after 18 months.

my warranty is up in 2 weeks, hope it doesnt clunk in 3...

Well An update on my XPS. The Cover for the headphone ports and ir reciever glue came off. I asked them to send me out a new one since i have that pricey onsite. This is the second time in a weeks time they came with the wrong part. The first time had a technician with the very same model. He called tech service on my behlaf to explain the situation and they send the part doesn't exist on their servers (but it does on third party parts supply sites). So the first time the sent the bottom cover and again today they sent the top. Pure FAIL from dell. It's amazing how they botched something so simple.

An update from me as well.

I got it back.

Holy frackin' fracky frack - it's all fixed. The first time this particular machine is actually 'ok' in two years... You could knock me down with a feather, I'm that astonished.

Anyhoo, let's see how long it stays that way... Time to bust out some games and wind up that 8400M ;)

Your first mistake is you bought a Dell. I stopped buying from them after my inspiron 9400's (Laptop) Video card, battery, and dvdrw failed all during warranty, yet when they received the laptop, they said the unit was fine, and that the battery was at the end of it's life and could not be warrantied. I sent it in 2 more times and they refused to fix it and voided my warranty. I ended up having to buy a new video card, battery, and dvdrw on ebay for $400, and sold the laptop for $700 a few months later.

Well I'm at the mercy of complete care now. I accidently spilled pop on it while I was working on it. I hope complete care is the one thing that actually works on a dell waranty. The promotional info made it seem like the people who used it was covered and it was an easy process. So far it is. But for how long?

well that didn't pan out. I'm screwed and they decided not to fix the computer. I ask them to step up for once and actually do something about their products but sadly they don't seem intent on keeping their word. FUCK YOU DELL. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!

Well, as a Systems Engineer who deals with Dells everyday, from workstations to servers, I can tell you that Dells are very cheaply made these days. They are inexpensive, which makes them attractive, but at some point, its not worth it. I have now switched brands for laptops over to Sony Vaio, which are more expensive, but the build quality is about even with Apple.

I have been using it since 11 months and now its getting HOT, very HOT... so i called them and they'll send me a new one; they said they may send a better one (i think they don't have the xps m1330 in their stock).

All that said, this laptop is the perfect laptop for every kinda user... Lovely

Well just to update. I just called dell. They are going to honor my Complete Care warranty they just didn't bother to tell me. What they did do was send me my wet m1330 back (I guess to pull data from it). But it didn't include any update info or any other indication they were going to do anything. So I guess i'll have to eat the words of my last post. Hopefully this m1340 will be better built then the previous one.

But as to buying a cheap dell. I didn't buy it in the cheapest configuration. It wasn't all that cheap at the time ($2100) so I don't get the "well its a cheap dell excuse".

just got the new computer.... I don't know if this is a sign of things to come but on its first boot it blue screened

OK. Mobo failure.

**** this ****.

I've demanded a replacement.

Great news ArmpitOfDeath. I hope you get it. The Studio XPS is a lot better so far. However, i`m not crazy about the stupid high gloss finish. It demands that you use the carrier satchel that doubles as a cleaning cloth or else it looks gross and grody. Also it definitely suffers from overheating issues. Im using a a laptop cooler to compensate. I would have also would have loved a color choice as well.

Yeah - the uber-glossy screen movement really annoys me. I dumped the XPS 16 a while back due to it being unusable outside, and the same with the 13/15-inch Apples (this was before Apple introduced a matte unibody 15-inch).

I really hate Dell's (even large-volume - since I order a lot of work-related kit and also for my clients) account managers when there's a problem with the order which requires a customer service aspect. I'm sure they majored in buck-passing. I'll see what I demand, but right now I'm just at the demanding a replacement stage.

Dealing with this has been a nightmare.

It's been fixed now, but actually not quite - there are still a couple of issues and of course, I don't know when something on it will give up the ghost next. So I've given it to a friend's kid, who's just about ready for a computer. Hopefully he can show it the respect it deserves by taking a dump on it or something.

Meanwhile I'm going elsewhere for my servers and workstations.