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Dell XPS 'Gaming' PC Review
cojsl writes "[H]ard|OCP has an entertaining review of a Dell XPS 400 'Gaming PC'." From the article: "If the Dimension XPS400 is any indication, Dell considers computer gamers a joke. Harsh, yes. But we think it's accurate. The system itself is a decent gaming platform and the hardware was well built. It was put together decently with parts that can pull the weight required to play today's graphically intensive games. But we couldn't even install one of the most popular games on the market, Sims 2, and trying to play other popular games would lock up the system and gaming sessions, when they would run, would get interrupted. The pre-installed programs that Dell chose to include on its computer were almost certainly the cause of all these problems, and unloading these programs from the boot-up routine fixed the problems."
how will God know who to smite if you post anonymously?
(for those too lazy to read the article:)
"My mouse pad is broken."
Without mincing words: We had significant quality of use issues with this computer.
First and most obviously, we started having problems with our optical mouse. Sometimes it would wildly fly across the screen, other times we had trouble controlling it. Those of you who have ever tried to use an optical mouse on a shiny surface know what I'm talking about.
The reason why (and I can't believe I'm typing this) was that the mouse pad that Dell provided was too shiny and reflective to be used with their own, branded, optical mouse.
It's no longer a tech support urban legend. We have a documented case of a computer mouse pad being "broken."
Basically the article says the hardware is OK, but the preinstalled stuff sucks.
If the Dimension XPS400 is any indication, Dell considers computer gamers a joke.
Any gamer that goes to Dell for a computer IS a joke. It's like the audiophile that goes to Best Buy for all his HT needs. It's like grocery shopping at a 7-Eleven.. It's like calling Geek Squad for computer help. It's like going to McDonalds for a Caesar salad...
It's like buying a TV at a grocery store. It's like wine in a box. It's like Bourbon made in California.. or Scotch made in Canada. It's like calling Will and Grace smart TV.
It's like a house with wheels on it. It's like a hand-crank garage door opener. It's like glasses purchased at a book store. It's like going to Macy's for a PDA. It's like getting high on cigarettes.
It's like rocking out to Madonna or being entertained by Bio Dome. It's like getting fashion advice from Paris Hilton. It's like getting religious advice from Tom Cruise.
Well anyway.. I hope you get the point.
--- We need more Ron Paul!
You left out "It's like trying to be funny on Slashdot", Alanis.
Soko
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
Clearly I'd like to avoid stretching this metaphor too far but perhaps a better comparison would be that the car salesman has sold you a car with a giant caravan made out of ads which is glued to the back bumper and connected to your cars workings through a giant but badly maintained skein of cables. At speeds of over 30 miles an hour various lights and systems in the caravan are activated making it sway and jump from side to side whilst shining bright lights into your mirrors and making annoying, loud, distracting noises. If you choose to disconnect the caravan and incorrectly disconnect the impossible maze of wiring other bits of your car will randomly stop working or reconfigure themselves as toasters or electric hair curlers. Any mechanics you approach to fix the problem can only get the car to work again by completely reconnecting the giant annoying caravan to your back bumper again.
"Sure there's porn and piracy on the Web but there's probably a downside too."
I for one could NEVER understand people who buy premade computer parts. Yeesh... I build my own motherboard and processors out of raw silicon and copper. Then I hammer out a case out of pig iron. Its Sooooo much cheaper this way.
In Malaysia, they provide you with all the CDs.
Maybe it's because you're using the superior Windows/XP Pirate Edition, not the inferior Windows/XP Home Edition? Crippleware sucks.
The voodoo 5 is better, open drivers.
I am trolling
Clearly I'd like to avoid stretching this metaphor too far
Hate to break it to you, but...
On the other hand, the image you painted in my mind just about got me to blow bits of my breakfast muffin out my nose.
End of lesson. You may press the button.
Well, duh! I mean, when you consider all the junk that can get loaded onto a hard disk, is it any surprise that it spins slower and slower over time? Not to mention that the monitor can get tired of having to open up all those popup so quickly. Common sense, man!
Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
I've always looked at the gore warning at the start and thought "That's not a warning, that's an advert!"
It's whatever deal Dell just happens to make with Microsoft.
So, if Dell comes up to Microsoft and says "Hey, if we create a version of Windows that will ONLY work on the machine they purchased; they can't move it to another Dell computer, let alone a non-Dell computer, will you give us a discount? Hey, we won't even give them the CDs." Microsoft: "Hell yes."
Wine in a box is actually damn good. And it stores MUCH better than the bottled stuff. Sometimes progress is good, kids ;)
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.