by Timothy Justice

Created on: December 03, 2008

In recent years, Dell computers have fallen behind HP, the current industry leaders. While I have heard many criticisms of Dell computers, I remain firmly convinced that the Dell logo is a solid brand and would recommend it to anyone for purchase.

My main desktop is a Dell computer that I obtained secondhand. While I have upgraded parts, it runs with the same CPU and motherboard that it shipped with six years ago. And it is constantly running, spending less than 5 days' downtime in a given month.

While Dell's low end models may be less than satisfactory in their performance, the same thing holds true for Dell as for any computer manufacturer, or any consumer good: you get what you pay for. A low end computer is a low end computer, and it is not uncommon for the cheaper computers to be built for price rather than for performance. You cannot expect to get a computer for $300 that performs like a $3000 computer.

Dell has also stayed true to the factory direct model, giving buyers the opportunity to put together computer that is built for them rather than just purchasing an off the shelf model that was meant to sell in high volume. And if you speak with a Dell representative on the phone, you can regularly find deals that are well below the advertised specials.

But where Dell truly shines is in service and support. Yes, Dell can be difficult to get on the phone, and yes, like many others, they have outsourced a percentage of their technical support staff. I have been on the phone with Dell representatives well over a dozen times and have never walked away unsatisfied. If your computer is under warranty and a part is faulty, Dell will ship a factory replacement to your door within 2-3 weeks.

Dell also has a seven digit service tag on every machine. Anyone can go to Dell's website and enter that seven digit code to find drivers, recommended replacement parts, and can quickly resolve a number of issues. While their technical support may not always be what users expect, Dell's technical support is superior to every other brand, although HP is quickly catching up.

As an IT professional, my first choice for a computer is one that I built myself. But if I have to buy a name brand machine, Dell is the brand name I would prefer have on my desk. While they are a big business, they've maintained quality standards that are true to the standards that they held when they were first started

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