[OPLINTECH] Eval of HP or Dell

[Chad Neeper]

HP requires its resellers to be authorized by HP before a reseller can 
sell most HP systems/components. I'm not an HP reseller and so when I'm 
looking at my distributor's pricing information, I can see the HP items, 
but I'm not privy to most of the HP pricing. However, that being said, 
there are numerous times when a particular HP item IS available to me to 
resell. Anecdotally, I've noticed that the pricing assigned to those HP 
items that ARE available to me are usually significantly higher cost. I 
can't think of a single time when I've chosen an HP-branded component 
over another manufacturer. I don't know the reason, nor have I really 
cared enough to pursue the issue.

That being said, however, the HP branded equipment I see from HP 
authorized resellers seems competitive enough in pricing. I've also had 
experience in using various HP workstations over the years. In general, 
when comparing a similarly-spec'ed business-class computer between Dell 
and HP, I personally would be perfectly fine with either one with 
regards to hardware quality.

I can't speak as to warranty issues for HP, but I do have a client with 
200+ Dells that have needed various warranty work over the years. The 
Dell warranty experience was reportedly very good every time.

In general, if your motherboard problems were with computers that all 
used the same motherboard, then (it would be hard, but) I'd suggest 
trying to not let it color your experience with that particular company 
too overly much. Over the years, I've seen more than one otherwise very 
good manufacturer be plagued by a bad run of motherboards in a 
particular model of computer. Bad components, bad manufacturing process, 
bad design, maybe even bad luck can really put an end-user off from a 
particular manufacturer. Where, in the grand scheme of things, any other 
component model from the same manufacturer would have been completely 
reliable.

Switching manufacturers because of a bad run of identical computers may 
not gain you anything. You could have easily had the same issues with 
another manufacturer.

HOWEVER, if you've had considerable problems with various 
_non-identical_ components from the same manufacturer, then I'd be more 
tempted to jump ship. Also, having bad experiences with support would 
definitely put me off the manufacturer.

...Just some thoughts on the matter. Hope they are useful.

Chad
______________________________
*Chad Neeper*
Senior Systems Engineer

*Level 9 Networks*
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

/Full LAN/WAN consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and schools/

On 10/28/2010 1:00 PM, Pantuso, Frank wrote:
>
> Sorry for any cross posting.
>
> We are currently using Dell workstations exclusively and are looking 
> into possibly replacing them. We have had so much trouble with the 
> motherboards on the units, I was considering HP as an alternative
>
> Anyone have any insight, comments or general feedback on one over the 
> other. Could anyone recommend some Web sites that can provide a 
> reasonable evaluation of HP and Dell.
>
> Thanks for any input you can provide
>
> Frank Pantuso
>
> Network Services Coordinator
>
> Akron-Summit County Public Library
>
>
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