Build Quality: Vostro vs. Optiplex

Hi all:

Starting to search for a new Dell desktop PC.

Reading through previous posts in this newsgroup I see that many people feel
that Optiplex desktops have better build quality than either Vostro or
Inspiron desktops. (The Precision is more computer than I need.)

What exactly do you mean by 'build quality'? I think it refers to the
'non-high tech' parts like the case, power supply, fans...that stuff, but
I'm not sure about that. Could someone enlighten me? And what makes for a
good build quality vs. a not-so-good build quality?

Thanks for your help.

Daddy

Good build quality:
sturdy case made mostly of metal, without sharp edges to slice you up when you
open the case.
Easy to open and close the case. None of the parts bind or get misaligned
easily.
Easy to work on the inside, without tearing the computer half apart.
Easy to install and remove the drives.
Motherboard using the better chipsets (Intel, nVidia, ADI)
Bonus points for screwdriver-less insertion and removal of parts and for cooling
fans and hard drives mounted with rubber grommets to reduce noise from excessive
vibration.

Poor build quality:
Case made of a lot of cheap metal with sharp edges.
Case difficult to open or close.
Everything all cramped and poorly organized inside the case (e.g. HP Pavilions
from the Pentium 3 and early Pentium 4 epoch)
Motherboard with low quality chipsets (SiS for example)
Deduct points for power supplies with the Bestec brand

It's more than just the non-electronic parts. It's the whole thing. Quality or
lack thereof is all pervasive, as the product managers and accountants
manipulate the limited budgets they have to assemble computers. Usually
quality is spread out... Ben Myers

On Mon, 8 Sep 2008 16:49:23 -0400, "Daddy" <> wrote:

>Hi all:
>
>Starting to search for a new Dell desktop PC.
>
>Reading through previous posts in this newsgroup I see that many people feel
>that Optiplex desktops have better build quality than either Vostro or
>Inspiron desktops. (The Precision is more computer than I need.)
>
>What exactly do you mean by 'build quality'? I think it refers to the
>'non-high tech' parts like the case, power supply, fans...that stuff, but
>I'm not sure about that. Could someone enlighten me? And what makes for a
>good build quality vs. a not-so-good build quality?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>Daddy
>

both are excellent!


pacca wrote:
> How about a dell xps 420,is that equal to optiplex?
> "Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Good build quality:
>> sturdy case made mostly of metal, without sharp edges to slice you up
>> when you
>> open the case.
>> Easy to open and close the case. None of the parts bind or get
>> misaligned
>> easily.
>> Easy to work on the inside, without tearing the computer half apart.
>> Easy to install and remove the drives.
>> Motherboard using the better chipsets (Intel, nVidia, ADI)
>> Bonus points for screwdriver-less insertion and removal of parts and
>> for cooling
>> fans and hard drives mounted with rubber grommets to reduce noise from
>> excessive
>> vibration.
>>
>> Poor build quality:
>> Case made of a lot of cheap metal with sharp edges.
>> Case difficult to open or close.
>> Everything all cramped and poorly organized inside the case (e.g. HP
>> Pavilions
>> from the Pentium 3 and early Pentium 4 epoch)
>> Motherboard with low quality chipsets (SiS for example)
>> Deduct points for power supplies with the Bestec brand
>>
>> It's more than just the non-electronic parts. It's the whole thing.
>> Quality or
>> lack thereof is all pervasive, as the product managers and accountants
>> manipulate the limited budgets they have to assemble computers. Usually
>> quality is spread out... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Mon, 8 Sep 2008 16:49:23 -0400, "Daddy" <> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all:
>>>
>>> Starting to search for a new Dell desktop PC.
>>>
>>> Reading through previous posts in this newsgroup I see that many
>>> people feel
>>> that Optiplex desktops have better build quality than either Vostro or
>>> Inspiron desktops. (The Precision is more computer than I need.)
>>>
>>> What exactly do you mean by 'build quality'? I think it refers to the
>>> 'non-high tech' parts like the case, power supply, fans...that stuff,
>>> but
>>> I'm not sure about that. Could someone enlighten me? And what makes
>>> for a
>>> good build quality vs. a not-so-good build quality?
>>>
>>> Thanks for your help.
>>>
>>> Daddy
>>>
>

"Daddy" <> wrote in message
news:2f-...
Thank you for all that information.

Is it still generally true that Optiplex desktops have better build quality
than Vostro or Inspiron?


<snip>


Yes, at least in the Optiplex mini-tower line.

How about a dell xps 420,is that equal to optiplex?
"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Good build quality:
> sturdy case made mostly of metal, without sharp edges to slice you up when
> you
> open the case.
> Easy to open and close the case. None of the parts bind or get misaligned
> easily.
> Easy to work on the inside, without tearing the computer half apart.
> Easy to install and remove the drives.
> Motherboard using the better chipsets (Intel, nVidia, ADI)
> Bonus points for screwdriver-less insertion and removal of parts and for
> cooling
> fans and hard drives mounted with rubber grommets to reduce noise from
> excessive
> vibration.
>
> Poor build quality:
> Case made of a lot of cheap metal with sharp edges.
> Case difficult to open or close.
> Everything all cramped and poorly organized inside the case (e.g. HP
> Pavilions
> from the Pentium 3 and early Pentium 4 epoch)
> Motherboard with low quality chipsets (SiS for example)
> Deduct points for power supplies with the Bestec brand
>
> It's more than just the non-electronic parts. It's the whole thing.
> Quality or
> lack thereof is all pervasive, as the product managers and accountants
> manipulate the limited budgets they have to assemble computers. Usually
> quality is spread out... Ben Myers
>
> On Mon, 8 Sep 2008 16:49:23 -0400, "Daddy" <> wrote:
>
>>Hi all:
>>
>>Starting to search for a new Dell desktop PC.
>>
>>Reading through previous posts in this newsgroup I see that many people
>>feel
>>that Optiplex desktops have better build quality than either Vostro or
>>Inspiron desktops. (The Precision is more computer than I need.)
>>
>>What exactly do you mean by 'build quality'? I think it refers to the
>>'non-high tech' parts like the case, power supply, fans...that stuff, but
>>I'm not sure about that. Could someone enlighten me? And what makes for a
>>good build quality vs. a not-so-good build quality?
>>
>>Thanks for your help.
>>
>>Daddy
>>

The XPS400 series are made very nicely. Just sold a refurbed one. I am jealous
of the new owner, but I will soldier on with what I've got... Ben

On Mon, 8 Sep 2008 21:45:27 -0700, "pacca" <> wrote:

>How about a dell xps 420,is that equal to optiplex?
>"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> Good build quality:
>> sturdy case made mostly of metal, without sharp edges to slice you up when
>> you
>> open the case.
>> Easy to open and close the case. None of the parts bind or get misaligned
>> easily.
>> Easy to work on the inside, without tearing the computer half apart.
>> Easy to install and remove the drives.
>> Motherboard using the better chipsets (Intel, nVidia, ADI)
>> Bonus points for screwdriver-less insertion and removal of parts and for
>> cooling
>> fans and hard drives mounted with rubber grommets to reduce noise from
>> excessive
>> vibration.
>>
>> Poor build quality:
>> Case made of a lot of cheap metal with sharp edges.
>> Case difficult to open or close.
>> Everything all cramped and poorly organized inside the case (e.g. HP
>> Pavilions
>> from the Pentium 3 and early Pentium 4 epoch)
>> Motherboard with low quality chipsets (SiS for example)
>> Deduct points for power supplies with the Bestec brand
>>
>> It's more than just the non-electronic parts. It's the whole thing.
>> Quality or
>> lack thereof is all pervasive, as the product managers and accountants
>> manipulate the limited budgets they have to assemble computers. Usually
>> quality is spread out... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Mon, 8 Sep 2008 16:49:23 -0400, "Daddy" <> wrote:
>>
>>>Hi all:
>>>
>>>Starting to search for a new Dell desktop PC.
>>>
>>>Reading through previous posts in this newsgroup I see that many people
>>>feel
>>>that Optiplex desktops have better build quality than either Vostro or
>>>Inspiron desktops. (The Precision is more computer than I need.)
>>>
>>>What exactly do you mean by 'build quality'? I think it refers to the
>>>'non-high tech' parts like the case, power supply, fans...that stuff, but
>>>I'm not sure about that. Could someone enlighten me? And what makes for a
>>>good build quality vs. a not-so-good build quality?
>>>
>>>Thanks for your help.
>>>
>>>Daddy
>>>

"Daddy" <> wrote in message
news:M-...
Thanks for your opinions on the XPS 400 line. To be honest, I wasn't
thinking about XPS 400, for two reasons: 1) I'm not sure I need a quad
processor for the typical web browsing/office work I do and I can save
myself a couple of hundred bucks by going with a dual core, and 2) it has a
"high-gloss piano black finish."

Nonetheless, if the consensus is that Optiplex and XPS 400 both have a very
good build quality, as it seems to be, I'll choose one of those.

Daddy

<snip>


The XPS4XX series and Optiplex mini-tower are in what is essentially the
same case. Since your requirements are relatively modest, get an
Optiplex330 and customize it the way you want online. It will do fine.

Another possible upside is that many of the Optiplex models come with a
default 3-year warranty versus just 1-year for the XPS.

Get something like an Optiplex 3XX series: (This bundle with 17" monitor
starts at just $419 with 3 year onsite HW warranty):

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...420&lid=197374

-or-

http://tinyurl.com/6pbyqs



Stew

Thanks Stew. See below.

"S.Lewis" <> wrote in message
news:OFsxk.30035$...
>
> "Daddy" <> wrote in message
> news:M-...
> Thanks for your opinions on the XPS 400 line. To be honest, I wasn't
> thinking about XPS 400, for two reasons: 1) I'm not sure I need a quad
> processor for the typical web browsing/office work I do and I can save
> myself a couple of hundred bucks by going with a dual core, and 2) it has
> a "high-gloss piano black finish."
>
> Nonetheless, if the consensus is that Optiplex and XPS 400 both have a
> very good build quality, as it seems to be, I'll choose one of those.
>
> Daddy
>
> <snip>
>
>
> The XPS4XX series and Optiplex mini-tower are in what is essentially the
> same case. Since your requirements are relatively modest, get an
> Optiplex330 and customize it the way you want online. It will do fine.
>
> Another possible upside is that many of the Optiplex models come with a
> default 3-year warranty versus just 1-year for the XPS.
>
> Get something like an Optiplex 3XX series: (This bundle with 17" monitor
> starts at just $419 with 3 year onsite HW warranty):
>
> http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...420&lid=197374
>
> -or-
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6pbyqs
>
>
>
> Stew

FWIW: I don't place a lot of value in the 3-year warranty. If hardware is
going to break (for a warranty-eligible reason) I believe it will probably
happen during the first year.

Does that "high-gloss piano black finish" show fingerprints?

Daddy

"Daddy" <> wrote in message news:ga5vmu$9qm$...
> Thanks Stew. See below.
>
> "S.Lewis" <> wrote in message
> news:OFsxk.30035$...
>>
>> "Daddy" <> wrote in message
>> news:M-...
>> Thanks for your opinions on the XPS 400 line. To be honest, I wasn't
>> thinking about XPS 400, for two reasons: 1) I'm not sure I need a quad
>> processor for the typical web browsing/office work I do and I can save
>> myself a couple of hundred bucks by going with a dual core, and 2) it has
>> a "high-gloss piano black finish."
>>
>> Nonetheless, if the consensus is that Optiplex and XPS 400 both have a
>> very good build quality, as it seems to be, I'll choose one of those.
>>
>> Daddy
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>
>> The XPS4XX series and Optiplex mini-tower are in what is essentially the
>> same case. Since your requirements are relatively modest, get an
>> Optiplex330 and customize it the way you want online. It will do fine.
>>
>> Another possible upside is that many of the Optiplex models come with a
>> default 3-year warranty versus just 1-year for the XPS.
>>
>> Get something like an Optiplex 3XX series: (This bundle with 17" monitor
>> starts at just $419 with 3 year onsite HW warranty):
>>
>> http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...420&lid=197374
>>
>> -or-
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/6pbyqs
>>
>>
>>
>> Stew
>
> FWIW: I don't place a lot of value in the 3-year warranty. If hardware is
> going to break (for a warranty-eligible reason) I believe it will probably
> happen during the first year.
>
> Does that "high-gloss piano black finish" show fingerprints?
>
> Daddy
>


Yep. But here's the difference: the Opti330 has only a small piece of
"shiny" plastic around the optical drives if I recall correctly - the
remainder of the front is flat black textured/grilled plastic, whereas the
front of the XPS420 (one of which I own) is completely encased in that shiny
type of plastic finish.

You might also want to re-think your position on the 3-year warranty. The
monitor is *also* covered by that same 3 years if bought with the system.
And while I don't dispute the bathtub curve, no one is shocked if they lose
a power supply or hard disk within 3 years I don't think.

Good luck -

Stew

See below.


"S.Lewis" <> wrote in message
news:gFvxk.25657$. ..
>
> "Daddy" <> wrote in message
> news:ga5vmu$9qm$...
>> Thanks Stew. See below.
>>
>> "S.Lewis" <> wrote in message
>> news:OFsxk.30035$...
>>>
>>> "Daddy" <> wrote in message
>>> news:M-...
>>> Thanks for your opinions on the XPS 400 line. To be honest, I wasn't
>>> thinking about XPS 400, for two reasons: 1) I'm not sure I need a quad
>>> processor for the typical web browsing/office work I do and I can save
>>> myself a couple of hundred bucks by going with a dual core, and 2) it
>>> has a "high-gloss piano black finish."
>>>
>>> Nonetheless, if the consensus is that Optiplex and XPS 400 both have a
>>> very good build quality, as it seems to be, I'll choose one of those.
>>>
>>> Daddy
>>>
>>> <snip>
>>>
>>>
>>> The XPS4XX series and Optiplex mini-tower are in what is essentially the
>>> same case. Since your requirements are relatively modest, get an
>>> Optiplex330 and customize it the way you want online. It will do fine.
>>>
>>> Another possible upside is that many of the Optiplex models come with a
>>> default 3-year warranty versus just 1-year for the XPS.
>>>
>>> Get something like an Optiplex 3XX series: (This bundle with 17" monitor
>>> starts at just $419 with 3 year onsite HW warranty):
>>>
>>> http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...420&lid=197374
>>>
>>> -or-
>>>
>>> http://tinyurl.com/6pbyqs
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Stew
>>
>> FWIW: I don't place a lot of value in the 3-year warranty. If hardware is
>> going to break (for a warranty-eligible reason) I believe it will
>> probably happen during the first year.
>>
>> Does that "high-gloss piano black finish" show fingerprints?
>>
>> Daddy
>>
>
>
> Yep. But here's the difference: the Opti330 has only a small piece of
> "shiny" plastic around the optical drives if I recall correctly - the
> remainder of the front is flat black textured/grilled plastic, whereas the
> front of the XPS420 (one of which I own) is completely encased in that
> shiny type of plastic finish.
>
> You might also want to re-think your position on the 3-year warranty. The
> monitor is *also* covered by that same 3 years if bought with the system.
> And while I don't dispute the bathtub curve, no one is shocked if they
> lose a power supply or hard disk within 3 years I don't think.
>
> Good luck -
>
> Stew

Optical drives are where fingertips go...I guess I'll need to keep a
shmattah nearby. ;-)

(I have my own monitor so I won't be buying one with my computer.)

Daddy