Want to buy Dell Inspiron 8100 tonight - But reviews are mostly negative! What do you think?

[Stealth1024]

I have priced a nicely equiped Dell notebook and I would buy it this evening except many reviews have very negative things to say about this notebook.



<< Dell has for the most part missed the boat with the newest laptops. Unfortunately in a measure to cut overall costs for the newest Dell laptops, Dell has cheapened the hardware a great deal. >>





<< None, Compaq Presario's have more quality then this. The cheapness of the plastic can be felt the minute you lay your hands on this machine. Do not be fooled by the high tech look of this model. >>

- http://www.epinions.com

uhh.. that's not what I want to hear. I have a feeling the guy writing this review has some sort of personal grudge... lol


Consumer reviews at CNET were slightly better but it ranked 50/50: http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-1027-405-6718843.html?tag=st.co.1027-404-6718843.rev-rev.1027-405-6718843

I'm hoping to use this notebook as a full desktop replacement for college.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Just go down to the local computer shop and check it out.
Everyone elses opinions are just opinions so yours is as good.

 

[Stealth1024]

I was under the impression Dell's were only sold direct?

 

[WarCon]

I have always liked the way the IBM's run, but the last Dell I worked on seemed to run the same so its hard to say. Unless Dell has really gone downhill, it was one of the best so its hard to say without laying hands on one of the new ones.


On a side note, other than feeling cheaper, I worked on a Compaq the other week that I was impressed with (Relatively, a desktop obliterates performance levels, but isn't portable). I like touchpads (for laptops) and Compaq comes with an integrated one.

 

[John]

The Dell i8100 is a smokin' unit, and worth every penny IMHO. Get the UXGA & Radeon 7500

 

[MrHelpful]

Why not try this one?


Holy God! On ResellerRatings they have a 7.0 rating out of 192 votes!!!! Keep in mind that 7.0 is the highest rating...

 

[CopperHead]

Read this before you buy it:

Adrenaline Vault - Dell Article

 

[veryape]

usually the only time someone posts about a product is when they have had a problem with it, so don't give much creedence to others opinions unless there are a ton saying the same exact thing.

Dell makes good systems, plain and simple. They are no overclockers dream but if your buying from a pre-built computer company then overclocking is not likely your thing anyhow, right.

I say go for it.

 

[Jejunum]

get the 4100

i dislike the fact that the 8100 has the 815 chipset.!

 

[bigshooter]

I am currently listening to my almost 21 year old sister try to get voice recognition to work on her Dell Inspiron 4100 p3 1ghz machine. I toyed with it while I was reloading all the software (I didn't want her to have to have a slow machine jsut because Dell loads all that crap at startup) and it's a pretty decent machine. I wish I could get one with a 15" screen and 64 meg radeon. It's thinner and lighter than my friend's Inspiron 8100, at least 2-3 lb's lighter. I recommend the 4100 unless you want the biggest baddest laptop you can find. The 8100 has the bigger screen, 64meg ATI Radeon, and even has teh option for 5400 rpm hard drives. That thing is really narrowing the gap between mobile and desktop.

 

[Stealth1024]

I think I'll go for it. Here's what I have specified:

Dell Inspiron 8100

Intel Pentium III 1.0GHz-M
15" UXGA TFT
256MB RAM (2 chip)
40GB hd
8X DVD
64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 7500
Additional Li-ION battery
1 YR Warranty
Integrated 10/100 and V.90 56K
USB IntelliMouse
Nylon Carrying Case

Total: $2100.00


I can then purchase a Linksys Wireless Access Point and PC Card for a total of $220.00

 

[MrMaster]

Nice choice! Those are the same specs I am picking out when I order mine tomorrow.

 

[Stealth1024]

I ordered last night with one minor change. I went with the Black Kensington Saddlebag for $6 less rather than the Nylon Carrying Case.

Total price was $2094 plus $10 for 2nd day air shipping


I also ordered a Linksys Wireless Access Point and Linksys Network PC Card from Mwave.com for a total of $220.

I got the most basic OS and software package I could with the dell since I already have XP Pro, Office XP etc I can take off my desktop and put on my notebook to take to college

 

[Stealth1024]

I ordered 12/25/2001. Today 12/26/2001 status reads "In Production". "Order Processing" and "Pre-Production" are already completed and "Delivery Prep" and "Shipped" left to go. I hope it gets shipped within the next few days although Dell estimes the ship by date at 01/02/2002. Bummer...

 

[Killer Ape]

I've been waiting for the Radeon 7500 to come out and to get 1 GHz for under $1,800. So...

I just ordered a similar system. Too many discounts ("free" upgrades) today to pass up. Free shipping. There's also $75 worth of coupons to be found as well (PM me if you want to know where, but try the usual suspects first).

Here's what I got:

Dell Inspiron 8100

Intel Pentium III 1.0GHz-M
15" UXGA TFT
256MB RAM (2 chip)
30GB hd
8X DVD
64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 7500
1 YR Warranty
Integrated 10/100 and V.90 56K

Total: $1,683.00

Way I look at all the bad press is: If I don't like it, I send it back within 30 days and write it off as a "Hardware Review" .
Way I look at the weight is: If they could fit all this goodness (especially the screen) in 4-5 lbs they would; it's not called a "desktop replacement" for nothing :Q.

 

[apoppin]

I am NOT giving up my desktop . . . However, I got a Dell 4100 and am totally pleased with the baby ATI 16MB Radeon and PIII-866M (for only $1200 - I need some money left for my 10 weeks in Hawaii).

BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I say to heck with the "reviews".

You have 30 days to send it back if you don't like it! Now THAT is a guarantee (money back).

EDIT: Don't forget to buy it with VISA Gold - it doubles the standard Dell warranty to 2 years.

 

[dartworth]

I bouight a 8100 about 6 weeks ago:

Intel P3-M 1200MHz
512 MB PC133
32MB GeForce 2 Go!
IBM 48.0 GB @ 4200 RPMS
15" UXGA
Toshiba DVD/CDRW
Integrated 10/100 and V.90 56K
Additional Li-ION battery
Win XP
Office XP

This baby kicks ass...best machine I've had...IMHO

 

[luvya]

<< I bouight a 8100 about 6 weeks ago:

Intel P3-M 1200MHz
512 MB PC133
32MB GeForce 2 Go!
IBM 48.0 GB @ 4200 RPMS
15" UXGA
Toshiba DVD/CDRW
Integrated 10/100 and V.90 56K
Additional Li-ION battery
Win XP
Office XP

This baby kicks ass...best machine I've had...IMHO >>



You bought this spec 6 months ago? How much did you pay for it?:Q

 

[luvya]

oppps......6 weeks ago...........mmh..never mind

 

[ElFenix]

the problem with things like the avault piece is that its still anecdotal evidence. with, i would say, a large selection bias. the people who are going to send emails are the ones that are pissed off. they're the most vocal, and the most upset. only scientifically done studies are valid, and those generally point to dell as being a good company to buy from and deal with. true, they are much more upfront and open with their giant corporate customers, in addition to the best tech support guys picking up their phone calls. if you had a group of tech support people thats what you would do too. a lot of those complaints look like they were written by people who really have no clue anyway... the game wouldn't run because the motherboard was slower than the graphics card? and a new board cost $600?