Dell Inspiron 1100

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops (More info?)

I have this laptop above and that is piece of $hit. It's been about an
year, it lits Power LED and Battery LED (even though there isn't any
battery presents), and it simply doesn't turn on. I'm thinking that's
symptom of static shock, if that happends to my desktop, I usualy could
fix by simply turn on after temporarily removing video card and mem
module, hear the bios error beep code, put them back in, see it work. but
this damn laptop integrates every single peices you can think of to main
mobo, impossible to apart. Called Dell customer's service, telling me
it cost $239 to fix minium if either mobo(which comes back once a while)
or screen is defect it will cost me another $699!!! Now that's about how
much I paied for that piece of cr@p. Dell is so ripping customer off,
they had times when the service, good performance, and good reputation,
but I guess they hit their top.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops (More info?)

yes but that fixing cost is really ripping me off, I helped them to sell
one of their product, and all I get is intead of decent after service,
getting ripped off!!

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 17:05:01 -0600, Quaoar wrote:

>
> "keysmaiehce" <hmm@no.spam> wrote in message
> newsan.2004.08.21.23.11.53.307471@no.spam...
>>I have this laptop above and that is piece of $hit. It's been about an
>> year, it lits Power LED and Battery LED (even though there isn't any
>> battery presents), and it simply doesn't turn on. I'm thinking that's
>> symptom of static shock, if that happends to my desktop, I usualy
>> could
>> fix by simply turn on after temporarily removing video card and mem
>> module, hear the bios error beep code, put them back in, see it work.
>> but
>> this damn laptop integrates every single peices you can think of to
>> main
>> mobo, impossible to apart. Called Dell customer's service, telling me
>> it cost $239 to fix minium if either mobo(which comes back once a
>> while)
>> or screen is defect it will cost me another $699!!! Now that's about
>> how
>> much I paied for that piece of cr@p. Dell is so ripping customer off,
>> they had times when the service, good performance, and good
>> reputation,
>> but I guess they hit their top.
>
> This is the reason for upgrading to the three-year warranty at purchase.
>
> Q

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops (More info?)

> keysmaiehce <hmm@no.spam> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.08.21.23.11.53.307471@no.spam>...
> > I have this laptop above and that is piece of $hit. It's been about an
> > year, it lits Power LED and Battery LED (even though there isn't any
> > battery presents), and it simply doesn't turn on. I'm thinking that's
> > symptom of static shock, if that happends to my desktop, I usualy could
> > fix by simply turn on after temporarily removing video card and mem
> > module, hear the bios error beep code, put them back in, see it work. but
> > this damn laptop integrates every single peices you can think of to main
> > mobo, impossible to apart. <snip>

The bad news is that just about any laptop - including Apples - you
buy will have stuff integrated, or customized, or otherwise
proprietary so that it is not easily upgraded or replaced (exceptions
are: processor, HD, and RAM, and on some laptops, vid cards). This is
required by the small form factors.

I doubt static shock is your problem, unless you were inside the case
for some reason.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops (More info?)

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 02:41:09 GMT, keysmaiehce <hmm@no.spam> wrote:

>yes but that fixing cost is really ripping me off, I helped them to sell
>one of their product, and all I get is intead of decent after service,
>getting ripped off!!

They are not ripping you off.

Try to acquire a Mobo (new) and install it yourself, $239 for parts
and labor is a GOOD deal.

If your LCD is damaged, same thing, try finding a new one for 700$ and
get back to us

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops (More info?)

Nah I had problem with battery, removing battery prematurely when ac was
pluged, it turned the system off instantly. Opening case is not the only
source it gets shocks



On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 07:14:25 -0700, Anonymous Jack wrote:

>> keysmaiehce <hmm@no.spam> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.08.21.23.11.53.307471@no.spam>...
>> > I have this laptop above and that is piece of $hit. It's been about an
>> > year, it lits Power LED and Battery LED (even though there isn't any
>> > battery presents), and it simply doesn't turn on. I'm thinking that's
>> > symptom of static shock, if that happends to my desktop, I usualy could
>> > fix by simply turn on after temporarily removing video card and mem
>> > module, hear the bios error beep code, put them back in, see it work. but
>> > this damn laptop integrates every single peices you can think of to main
>> > mobo, impossible to apart. <snip>
>
> The bad news is that just about any laptop - including Apples - you
> buy will have stuff integrated, or customized, or otherwise
> proprietary so that it is not easily upgraded or replaced (exceptions
> are: processor, HD, and RAM, and on some laptops, vid cards). This is
> required by the small form factors.
>
> I doubt static shock is your problem, unless you were inside the case
> for some reason.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops (More info?)

I would just like to get back to the main topic...

People that hear horror stories about Dell must remember one simple
fact: Dell sells exponentially more products per year than any other
company. For this reason, obviously there are more people complaining
about bad products; there are simply more machines out there which
means the probability of meeting someone with a defective one is
higher.

I will say, however, that some of the Dells I've used have felt cheap.
I bought a Latitude D600 (business user line) which seems rugged and
well-built to me. I know that some of the Inspiron's feel really
"plastic-y" and cheap but I can say the Latitude feels solid to me.

Also, Dell is way more inexpensive than a similar system made by Apple
or IBM. You have to keep that in mind. If you want premium machines,
you have to pay a higher price for them.

I also sometimes feel that people speak down on Dells because they are
popular. From what I've noticed, geeks think it is "uncool" to own a
Dell "Wintel" machine because that's what everyone else has. Instead,
they run Linux on some obscure, way over-priced machine and then brag
to everyone about their machine. Don't buy into this. Get someting
you like, you're comfortable with and can afford. On that note,
however, make sure you get the EXTENDED warranty no matter what you
do. That is an absolute MUST.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.laptops (More info?)

> Dell has fallen in terms of notebook reliablity over the years (this
> year, almost 25% required repairs during the past year!) due to their
> focus on cost rather than quality.

I believe this. Like I said, if you want the highest quality you have
to pay for it. 25% is a rather high number, however. I just haven't
met anyone with a serious problem from a Dell notebook...again, this
is just from my experience.

> More people are complaining nowadays because the notebooks are
> breaking more often!

Yes, IMO I think that notebooks are becoming more and more fragile as
they get smaller. Think about 5 or 6 years ago. The top of the line
notebooks were hardly laptops. They got so hot and were so heavy that
users avoided carrying them around. But, with those big cases and
larger components there was less affect of trauma on the system. But
now with smaller machines people tend to carry them around a lot more
and this makes them more susceptible to breaking. Some of this
probably has to do with quality control as well.

Does anyone out there have a personal Dell horror story? As a new
user I just want to know about them.