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Dell Returns to Store Shelves -- Sort Of

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

December 1, 2005, 11:28 AM

Dell has forged a deal with Costco that will put its personal computers on store shelves for the first time in 15 years. The leading PC manufacturer left the retail market in 1990, but has decided to sell a handful of older Dimension 4700 desktops and Inspiron 2200 laptops through Costco.

Costco had previously offered Dell systems on its Web site, but never in actual brick and mortar stores. Although the deal is a departure from the company's usual sales methodology, don't expect to see Dell systems in other stores anytime soon. Dell officials say the Costco deal is designed to offload older inventory, and it has no plans to return to retail.

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By TheBeastH6

posted Dec 2, 2005 - 10:24 AM

I thought the title said they were forcing a deal upon Costco.

Score: 0

By AntiochMedia

posted Dec 2, 2005 - 8:00 AM

I noticed a DELL Desktop at Costco the other day while shopping and was rather suprised. I suppose this explains it =)

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By daq

posted Dec 2, 2005 - 12:12 AM

Dell was available at costco for a very long time. I bought a few dell computers from them, what's the news?

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By bourgeoisdude

posted Dec 2, 2005 - 10:09 AM

REFURBISHED vs. NEW

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By Banquo

edited Dec 1, 2005 - 6:32 PM

Big Lots would have been more appropriate. Dell computers would fit right in with the rest of the cheap junk they sell. Same goes for Gateway and HP/Compaq, OEM computers are all trash.

Score: 0

By TomA102210

posted Dec 2, 2005 - 10:59 AM

Different strokes for different folks. Good thing no one is forcing you to buy one, isn't it? I guess we're left to wonder what you would find acceptable. Perhaps you should do your own startup company and make one that someone else like you would complain about.

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By bourgeoisdude

posted Dec 1, 2005 - 8:13 PM

"Dell computers would fit right in with the rest of the cheap junk they sell."

Not true--Dell junk is more expensive than the competitions junk :)

"OEM computers are all trash."

Now THAT I agree with!

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By AntiochMedia

edited Dec 2, 2005 - 8:06 AM

I love my DELL Latitude notebook, docking station with 2 PCI USB-2 Hubs, multiple monitor support, 1GB RAM, 100GB internal (40 + 60GB 7200 RPM HDs).

It's rather difficult to build a laptop and while I can't say too much on DELL Desktops (I'm not a gamer, but for all other purposes related to setting up office networks, initial condition of computer on arrival, and having bought my wife a DELL Dimensions Desktop for $200 from discountelectronics.com) -- I have had nothing but a fantastic time with them.

For gamers wanting a desktop, nothing beats building your own machine - much like if you are serious into your car, you'll want to add a body kit, adding turbos, and modifying it until its a mean machine that you just can't beat.

DELL Laptops have always been reliable for me and living in Texas, it's very easy to find DELL-specific parts and accessories at a fraction of the price of other laptop manufacturer parts. In addition, I chose DELL for my laptop for the availability of hi-resolution LCD panels. With most manufacturers, you're stuck at XGA.

-- Oh and on a note of 'durability' - I spilled 1/2 a cup of starbucks coffee on my laptop. It powered down and smelled of burning. My friend and I disassembled the laptop, cleaned it with an alcohol-based solution and put it back together and I'm using it to this day.

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By bourgeoisdude

posted Dec 2, 2005 - 9:19 AM

For the most part, I build my own PCs. However sometimes people need 400 desktop workstations and I can't build them all. Who do I recommend? Dell.

Reason #1: They are one of the only OEM's that support the systems more than one year. No, extended support from HP/Compaq, Sony, and Viscom is done through third party companies--read the contract very, very carefully.

Reason #2: Best support website, hands down. More updates to drivers, most certainly better bios upgrades, and better support info in general. HP blows at that, and Compaq was even worse. Sony was good--but it probably has rootkits (kidding)

Reason #3: IF YOU BUY YOUR PC THROUGH A BUSINESS ACCOUNT (e.g. Optiplex and Latitude rather than Dimension or Inspiron), you can actually reach people in US for support. Also the Gold contract is almost always US.

Reason #4: The only company that still can have next-business day ONSITE service for your notebook--EVEN IF IT IS MOBO REPLACEMENT.

Reason #5: Servers? Upgrade to a 2-hour onsite resolution contract. Nuff said about that.

Reason #6: Unlike all others, if you have a crappy model hard drive (certain 60GB Toshiba hard drives, Maxtor 6E040L0 hard drives), Dell replaces it with a model that won't fail you again in a year! HP/COMPAQ, SONY, VISCOM, AND OTHERS WILL ALWAYS SEND YOU THE SAME CRAPPY MODEL DRIVE AS REPLACEMENT IF THEY HAVE IT.

How do I know all this? Worked for dell 2 years, working for extended support contract for all those other vendors currently. We suck, hands down. I don't know about Toshiba notebooks as far as support, quality, etc., but all others are crap compared to dell. I was not paid to say this either, posted of my own free will.

Score: 0

By Kramy

posted Dec 2, 2005 - 3:22 AM

I built mine from scratch last year, and it only cost about $500USD, though I didn't require a monitor/mouse and stuff, so that lowered it to around $400USD.

It'll play any game you throw at it - though for new games, that would be 800x600, maxed at 2xAA. :P

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted Dec 1, 2005 - 12:24 PM

Win-win. Very Costco like.

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By maniakmx3

posted Dec 1, 2005 - 12:56 PM

very VERY Costco like lol

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By PhoenixPath

posted Dec 2, 2005 - 8:56 AM

very very VERY...

...Oh forget it.

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By TheBeastH6

posted Dec 2, 2005 - 10:26 AM

Sehr tres very VERY COSTCO-esque. 0.0

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By bourgeoisdude

edited Dec 1, 2005 - 11:52 AM

Dimension 4700 systems--many built, few purchased. Are they any good? The mobo is, yes. JUST DO NOT GET 256MB MEMORY MODULES IN DUAL-CHANNEL, this system seems to not like that config for some odd reason. It works--sometimes, for a while. How do I know? Worked for Dell for a couple years, and my parents own a Dimension 4700 that I ordered for them. No hardware issues to speak of with that one, had it a year. It's got the 2 512MB DDR 400 memory though--don't get the 256MB PC2700 memory--I've replaced dozens upon dozens of those!

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By zee7

posted Dec 1, 2005 - 11:51 AM

Although I'd never by a Dell, this might be a savvy move for both companies. Dell can offload their older models and Costco, with it's customer friendly prices, will be helping a lot of newbies (and people too scared to build their own) purchase computers. It'll indirectly help some of us too because now we can spend less time trying to walk our clients and relatives through the ordering process on Dell's website.

Score: 0

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