THE Laptop Thread: Configs, deals and questions.

[bhp1]

Originally Posted by gopz

EPP = Employee Purchase Plan - Dell offers around 15-30% discount to employees (sometimes more than that also)

Rs.7000/- is for 3 year complete cover under EPP which normally costs 13k. It is not steep, considering that it covers 3 yrs onsite and also accidental damage (eg. if you drop your laptop and LCD gets cracked...they will replace it for you)

Thanks, but where do i get hold of EPP, I live in jalandhar not bangalore.

Originally Posted by kb100

You got it for THAT ??




Dont get me started....

I will NEVER buy Dell again!

I have the 3 year on site warranty for all the good it does to me - it takes me nothing less than ONE HOUR to get thru to anyone on their help line. And for XPS - manufactured in Chennai- the support is based out of Malaysia!! Not ONE of my mails have ever received a response - including one asking for a quote!! The lesser said about their products the better! Don't know about hte rest but the XPS line is FLIMSY as hell with pathetic panel gaps (my shell, amongst other things, has already been replaced TWICE - and this is for a machine brand new out of the box!)- coming from the Insurance line I'd call them UNINSURABLE!! Which is the only saving grace now - anything happens - they'll replace - IF & WHEN you get thru to them that is!



When companies go down its not without a reason. Give me a friendly neighbourhood dealer/distributor any day!


NEVER AGAIN!

WOW, what an eye opener! & I was thinking on going in for DELL.

[HappyWheels]

Originally Posted by clevermax

My notebooks delivery note also had been pushed..... But I got it much much before the pushed date.

Since the mail said 'on or before 21st', I hope the 'before' part takes place!

KB100,

That a bad experience you had! Ouch!

[motorheadinc]

Originally Posted by bhp1

Thanks, but where do i get hold of EPP, I live in jalandhar not bangalore.

I am aware that there is a dell Bpo or something of that sort in chandigarh. Try to get Some contacts there

WOW, what an eye opener! & I was thinking on going in for DELL.

To tell You the truth all companies do blunders once in a while.
To cite an example put "Toyota Recalls" in google and see the results.
You would be shocked to know that this is what happens to even the World's No. 1 car maker.
Does that make it any day less reliable?
I am posting an example here Toyota-recalls-630-000-minivans-in-Japan


Coming back to the point.
I understand Your concerns as I too have faced similar situations.
Firstly I have used practically all the laptop brands available in India (owned, company, friends) found that it is just about taking proper care of the machine.

I owned one of the very peculiar machines You will ever find , An Acer with Turion 64 bit processor and ATI radeon graphics.

Though I was strongly advised against it I went by my instinct and bought it. It served me well though it lies unused these days at my home. I got a 3 year warranty on that too . So whatever You buy make sure to spend the extra 5-7 K on the warranty and trust me You will never go wrong.

If I were you I would go by my own instincts.
Even today I stand by my words.
For me Dell it still is.

[bhp1]

Originally Posted by motorheadinc

I am aware that there is a dell Bpo or something of that sort in chandigarh. Try to get Some contacts there

To cite an example put "Toyota Recalls" in google and see the results.

Coming back to the point.
I understand Your concerns as I too have faced similar situations.
Firstly I have used practically all the laptop brands available in India (owned, company, friends) found that it is just about taking proper care of the machine.

. So whatever You buy make sure to spend the extra 5-7 K on the warranty and trust me You will never go wrong.

If I were you I would go by my own instincts.
Even today I stand by my words.
For me Dell it still is.

Thanks, I know of that BPO. & couple of guys there, Ill get hold of them. But i feel its an illogical exercise, the product will get registered on that persons name.

I knew of toyota recalls , but this is good practice , rectifying mistakes free of cost on your own.

Alright if its going to be dell, ill buy from a local dealer, as in case of any delay or something, ill have someone whose neck I can squeeze .
What about toshiba?

[gopz]

Originally Posted by bhp1

Thanks, I know of that BPO. & couple of guys there, Ill get hold of them. But i feel its an illogical exercise, the product will get registered on that persons name.

If you get it through EPP, you will get an amazing config at an amazing price. No other brand even comes close!

The product will get registered in the employee's name, but it can be changed to your name after 3 months. Thats not an issue.

[ashthedivx]

It's time to get my trustworthy DELL 600m to be changed after a 4yr or so service period.

Though i trust DELL anyday over any brand, still i would like to get an opinion for Toshiba Laptops (Will be able to fetch a hefty discount through some friends at Toshiba )

Any idea of running toshiba models with tentative prices ?? Which series is good - Satellite, Portege, Qosmio, Tecra, Satellite Pro??

My usage is majorly for office applications and internet. Usual music and gaming is often done. Screen size should not be less then 14". No heavy ones please.

Cheers

[HappyWheels]

Called the Dell support and guess what - the unit is out of manufacturing and waiting customs clearance. So latest delivery date - 14th July! :-)

And if I am lucky, might just get it by Saturday (12th). Fingers crossed...

[motorheadinc]

Originally Posted by bhp1

Thanks, I know of that BPO. & couple of guys there, Ill get hold of them. But i feel its an illogical exercise, the product will get registered on that persons name.

I knew of toyota recalls , but this is good practice , rectifying mistakes free of cost on your own.

Alright if its going to be dell, ill buy from a local dealer, as in case of any delay or something, ill have someone whose neck I can squeeze .
What about toshiba?

Involve Middlemen only if they are able to fetch you some discounts.
Else don't go for it.
Toshiba is as good as a dell if not better or worse(that too marginally).
Get one only if you are able to find local service in jalandhar itself.
I would suggest you to go for a Dell through an EPP and get yourself a 3 year warranty for the discount you are able to fetch.

Originally Posted by gopz

If you get it through EPP, you will get an amazing config at an amazing price. No other brand even comes close!

The product will get registered in the employee's name, but it can be changed to your name after 3 months. Thats not an issue.

Gopz has already summed it up.

Originally Posted by ashthedivx

It's time to get my trustworthy DELL 600m to be changed after a 4yr or so service period.

Though i trust DELL anyday over any brand, still i would like to get an opinion for Toshiba Laptops (Will be able to fetch a hefty discount through some friends at Toshiba )

Any idea of running toshiba models with tentative prices ?? Which series is good - Satellite, Portege, Qosmio, Tecra, Satellite Pro??

My usage is majorly for office applications and internet. Usual music and gaming is often done. Screen size should not be less then 14". No heavy ones please.

Cheers

Get the best one in Toshiba + 3 years warranty for the money you can spend. If you can get heavy discounts go for the Qosmio as it is top of the Range.

Getting the best available config helps you as you can keep the laptop for a longer duration and dont need to invest the money all over again.

[kb100]

Late realisation perhaps - but a good product is only one part of the story. Good SERVICE needs to form the larger part of the story.

Most companies forget the 'experience' angle now a days. More than the actual sales/service it is the "experience" that lingers. No point in providing feature after feature if the entire experience of getting them adds to the customers frustration.

I dont know how may of you have had to contact their tech support lately - especially XPS tech support. My opinion stems from my own experience - and it has been pathetic! If they don't reply to mails sent to their tech support id in over two months - I am at a clear loss of words!

It was funny watching the Dell Technician himself taking more than 50 minutes listening to a recorded 'someone will be with you shortly" message before getting thru to anyone on their toll free numbers. (on three separate but consecutive occasions!). This kind of lag is just not acceptable in ANY industry that I know of! In fact a lot of effort and expense is spent in continuously monitoring and reducing this time taken. As it stands now, they will actually create goodwill by removing this facility all together!

Very clearly this has become a top heavy organisation - where the entire focus in on business acquisition - the back end has been left a looong loooong way behind!

It doesn't take very long for 'Swear By' to become 'Swear At'

If this continues - they are doomed!

[bhp1]

Originally Posted by gopz

The product will get registered in the employee's name, but it can be changed to your name after 3 months. Thats not an issue.

Thanks, there are many discrepancies with dell. I received a call from dell exec. , he quoted some prices, but soon on my little insistence , starting offering discounts. I asked about dealers in JAL. , he replied there are none. Later i called up customer care , they gave me 3 addresses. This shows exec. was a lier.
Also T5850 PROCESSOR is available with dealers, but on site only t5750 is mentioned. T5850 is a superior processor.

Originally Posted by motorheadinc

Get one only if you are able to find local service in jalandhar itself..

Thanks, toshiba has local service.

Originally Posted by kb100

Late realisation perhaps - but a good product is only one part of the story. Good SERVICE needs to form the larger part of the story.

Most companies forget the 'experience' angle now a days. More than the actual sales/service it is the "experience" that lingers. No point in providing feature after feature if the entire experience of getting them adds to the customers frustration.

Very clearly this has become a top heavy organisation - where the entire focus in on business acquisition - the back end has been left a looong loooong way behind!

If this continues - they are doomed!

SO, very right. Thanks for the insight.

[iraghava]

Originally Posted by kb100

You got it for THAT ??

Yeah, I paid Rs. 580/- for two XPS 1530's! How's that for a killer deal??

[deepakvrao]

Just my 2 bit and I know its only one persons experience but Dell has been good with my problem.

Fri 4pm mail to Dell regarding DVD drive issue.
Reply from Dell 10am Sat.
Replacement arrived 10am Mon.

Very impressive indeed with no questions asked replacement drive and superfast delivery of the part.

[HappyWheels]

Have been reading a lot now that one can negotiate with Dell and get better discounts than ones being offered. has anyone do it over here?

If so, lets share them. Let the next person at least get some good discount!

[gopz]

Originally Posted by iraghava

Yeah, I paid Rs. 580/- for two XPS 1530's! How's that for a killer deal??

You must be Michael Dell's brother

[kb100]

Originally Posted by HappyWheels

Have been reading a lot now that one can negotiate with Dell and get better discounts than ones being offered. has anyone do it over here?

If so, lets share them. Let the next person at least get some good discount!

Yes you can bargain. The sales guy on the phone has a revenue target. Which means his targets are 'profits', which means he has the leverage to offer you rates which are cheap - so long as he is confident of making it up elsewhere. Its entirely his call.

And before anyone asks me - My brother worked for 4 years in the UK Sales divn of Dell. So this info is first hand!