Dell is awful for this.
I don’t care what you say.
I consider myself to be a fairly knowledgeable female geek (not an uber geek by any means), but I know how to read the specs of a laptop, and I know what RAM means (random access memory) and what it does for the computer (helps it multi-task easier because there’s more memory to allocate to all the programs you open and use at once).
But Dell, gives me an ulcer just looking at their site.
Let’s just go over the basic laptops they have: Dell Inspiron, Studio and XPS Laptops.
Within the Inspiron you have the 15″, 14″ and 13″ screens, so a Inspiron 13 is a 13″, Inspiron Machine.
Then you get to this and you’re thrown for a loop, again.
Now, they’re showing you 4 Dell Inspiron 15″, AT DIFFERENT PRICES!!!!
Of course, this all means that you have to read the specifications very carefully to see which one is faster in processing speed, or has more RAM, or has more ports, whatever.
But for the common laptop buying pleb, you get confused. How can the same Inspiron 15 (1525) have 4 different versions? Why can’t you just pick the Dell Inspiron 15 and then customize it based on processing speed or whatever, and then they charge you surcharges for what you change?
Not only that, as you go through picking the Inspiron 15 (1525) for $799 or the one for $499, you can continue to customize the already customized systems even further.
Big fat f*cking headache, is what it is.
Apple is one of the only companies that names their products clearly. No numbers or weird letters inside. It’s simply the Macbook, Macbook Pro or Macbook Air.
That’s it.
See? Super Easy.
I can also name almost the entire line (not just the notebooks) right off the top of my head because the names are simple, they make sense and there aren’t 15 versions of the same damn thing, called names that don’t make sense like “DC118” or “XP8274”..
I wonder if that’s why Apple is starting to do better. Naturally, the debut of the iPod really helped bring more of the limelight back to the company, but I think the simple way they display what they offer is what appeals to me.
Have I confessed that I always visit the Apple store even if I’m just walking by?
And what I like is every time Apple comes out with a new version of the Macbook for example, they get rid of the old line, and that’s the “new” Macbook. There isn’t anything like “Macbook 82741”, being sold beside “Macbook 23525”, and “Macbook 2A-FX8375” is coming out with small upgrades to each version.
Macbooks just have their set categories: Low end, High end, Thin, and when they do their yearly upgrade, they drop the old line and just refresh the specs but keeping them with the same price points.
So what brought on this rant?
My slow research into handheld camcorders (yes maybe a video log would be in line.. I’m even thinking about podcasting) brought me the Sanyo’s Xacti Range.
They look cool, interesting, and handheld. Maybe not as slim as the MinoHD, but close enough for me to be interested in it.
Then I read the blurb:
Sanyo has recently introduced five more models of its Xacti camcorders in Japan that will see several firsts, including the world’s first to shoot progressive, full HD 1,920 x 1,080 video at 60fps (models DMX-HD2000 and FH11), as well as the first waterproof HD cameras (DMX-CA9 and DMX-WH1 with 30x optical zoom) in the world. The impressive list of high achievers don’t end there though, as Sanyo will also be the name behind the world’s first HD camera to shoot 10 megapixel still images in the form of the DMX-CG10.
The DMX-HD2000, FH11, DMX-CA9, DMX-WH1, DMX-CG10.
Do those names tell you something about what each one does? I am sure there is a rhyme and a reason internally in the company, but why couldn’t it be something like: “Xacti Progressive”, “Xacti Waterproof”, “Xacti Still Camera”.
Something, anything. Or “Xacti Blue”, “Xacti Red”… whatever!!!!
Grr.
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year.
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I also noticed the ridiculous of Dell prices when I bought my computer. You really can get the same exact computer for different prices, depending on if you start at the lower end and then add to spec, or if you start at the higher end.
urgh, i know what you mean. i chose a dell because it was within my budget then i ended up choosing the one that was out of my budget! confusing. but i’m happy with my laptop.
You missed the Dell Vostro. What is a Vostro? I don’t know. I love mine but I have no idea what Vostro means.
It’s cause Apple rocks!
also, side note about dell, i’ve never had an issue with any pc i’ve owned, which is a many, other than my two dells. i attempted talking with their customer support people about one of my problems, but the fact that i knew more than any person i could get on the phone made me just give up. that, and the fact the laptop was so old it wasn’t worth my time to fool with it. personally i’ve gone to hp, and won’t be going away from them for a while.
PS hope you do get into podcasting! That would be great! I’m working on one myself! Hmm maybe we should team up and record one together…
Couldn’t agree with you more. These companies that just don’t get it bug me. Egh.
yay for apple.
supposedly dell does this to be friendly in terms of allowing full customization (though that’s not really true, but that’s a different story). personally i like that dell, or hp, or several of the pc makers allow you to do this, but it’s true that the model numbers have become increasingly horrible by all the companies. when i bought my first laptop (a dell) in 2000, the model numbers actually made sense, but that is sadly not the case these days.
Good points! Dell is definitely the worst! You may have seen this before – but a disgruntled former Dell employee posted some little-known facts about Dell and how to take advantage of some aspects of their operation.
What’s most interesting is his quote that depending on how you enter their system and configure a computer, “It is very likely you will end up with nine different prices.”
I definitely ran into this before when configuring and buying my new PC from them. I did manage to find the cheapest configuration of my PC, as well as a few discount codes that netted me about $500 off the final price. So with a little work, you can get a pretty good deal at Dell. Still doesn’t excuse their complex names and pricing structures though :).
1. You’re hilarious
2. I completely agree.
Meanwhile, I’m happy with my Latitude E4300, except it has way to little RAM and the loudspeakers s*ck.
Ah, but don’t you geddit? It’s so teh menz can have something to talk about. It’s not manly to have names that refers to colours etc; too simple and feminine. And most gadgets are designed for men – by men. Except when they really want to target the female audience, then they hire in some female designer who puts some flowers on an small HP “clutch” and make a matching mouse. Ok, rant over.