Take an existing a Brand:  Take the Dell Optiplex range of business computers. These are known to be competitively priced and a great choice for a reliable business PC.

They come with 3 years on-site warranty and have a good reputation.

You can find this range of computers in small offices, banks, and even large corporate clients use them.

I have hundreds of them in my customers fleet. About 6 or 7 are old Optiplex GX150’s running Windows 2000. The customers just don’t want to upgrade them as they just keep working.

Other clients plan to use their more modern Optiplexes for a minimum of 5 years before replacing. Something that sounds reasonable to me.

Path to Destruction

Step1) Get the geniuses in Dell Marketing on the case. Task them with finding out how to sell more Dell computers. The marketing geniuses come back with PEOPLE WANT CHEAP.

Step2) Create a new value brand called Vostro Hey people will think because it’s a Dell Business computer it must be good (after all those other Dell business computers have a good name).

Step3) Market the living crap out of anything that moves introducing this amazing new Value range.

Step4) Customer perceptions start to shift because you tell them maybe a business Desktop PC should be a sub 300 pound commodity.

Step5) Sit back and relax as you look at the Value sales numbers. Gee how smart are we. People just lap this up.

Meanwhile back in the real world….

Dell are essentially stealing their own customers and down selling them a product we both know has no margin and ultimately must be inferior in one form or another. The more Dell argue that the Vostro is fit for purpose, the more they shoot themselves in the foot about the higher priced Optiplex or Latitudes.

I spoke to an insider at Dell about this issue. They were even more depressed about Vostro than I was. Try making targets when the products are minus margin they said.

This story ends for Dell when their Optiplex and Latitude customers become their Vostro customers. 

If I end up with a choice of supplying Value Vostros I would rather reposition my business in the market of say HP’s business range of computers. I will drop Dell in a heartbeat.

The customers will always ask for cheaper products. Sometimes the customer need to be protected from themselves. Only time will tell if a value Vostro will still be working in 2013.

If you are from Dell and wish to comment on this topic please use the comments.

Likewise  if you are a Dell Reseller feeling the pain  - use the comments. 

I recently received a PC from Dell that had significant cosmetic damage.

Clearly the damage was caused in transit. I knew Dell would help me out.

They offered me a 10% Discount or to replace the machine. I elected to replace the machine as I sell the equipment to my clients.

The machine was a standard:-

Dell Optiplex GX745 USFF (PentiumD 3.0Ghz)

The are replacing it with a

Dell Optiplex GX745 USFF (Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66Ghz)

That’s a significant bump up in terms of chip technology.

So every cloud has a silver lining.

So that’s twice this year I have been the beneficiary of a specification bump when a machine needs to get replaced. It does help to take the sting out of having a problem computer. 

Thanks Dell

Ok, so the battle to find the cure to this randomly rebooting PC continues.

Several times a day the computer will Blue Screen with various different messages.

Dell sent an engineer out yesterday to replace both the motherboard and memory.

Unfortunately the random reboots are just that random and it was a good hour after the engineer had left before my friend the blue screen was back.

I agreed with Dell Technical Support if this happened to re-install the Operating System.

To further help diagnosis I also replaced the hard disk from another Dell, just to be 100% sure after all if your replace the motherboard, memory and hard disk, it does not leave much to play with.

So here we go again.

About an hour into the install at the Windows Update stage Bang, Blue screen.

I power cycle the PC and POST bios it does nothing, nada. Black screen (hey at least it’s not blue).

This machine just does not want to live.

To give the machine the benefit of the doubt I start again, re-installing Windows XP in my heart of hearts knowing it’s all going to end badly and sure enough about 45 mins later it blue screens.

So unless I am losing the plot we have changed the:-

Motherboard, Memory, Hard Disk, Operating System (twice)

And it’s still faulty. The only part left that’s original is the power supply.

Power Supplies can cause Blue screens but its way less common that Motherboards, Memory, Hard Disks and corrupt Operating Systems.

Sometimes in tech support you just have to keep battling until you have ruled out all the options.

Anyway let’s see if Dell Technical Support agree with me.

Final Update

Dell have elected to replace the entire machine.

If you’re a North West based business looking help and advice with new technology then get in touch I can help you. Tel: 01606-841587.

Here is a look at the Dell Optiplex GX745 Desktop form factor.

The desktop form factor is a more traditional looking form factor. Dell have some nice design touches like the rounded edges and the use of metal instead of plastic.

A peek under the hood.

The desktop form factor is the 2nd largest in the range. The largest being the Tower.

If you are looking at getting a Dell but are unsure about which form factor is right for you. Then check out these posts:-

dell-optiplex-gx745-ultra-small-form-factor-usff/

today-i-have-been-playing-with-the-dell-optiplex-gx520-and-gx620/

Still have questions? then leave a comment or drop me an e-mail.

If you’re a North West based business looking help and advice with new technology then get in touch I can help you. Tel: 01606-841587.

In this day and age I don’t know why all office PC’s don’t look like this?

If you need expansion or super cooling for your gaming computer yes I can see why a full size form factor would be necessary.

But your typical office user should be using something this small and compact in the office. Why?

Desk Space
Noise (it’s very quiet)
Easy to move or relocate

My desktop PC is a Precision 390 which is huge in comparison.
I love my Precision 390 but with a USFF it could live on my desktop not under it.

Are you a North West based business looking for a really smart I.T Consultant? get in touch I can help you Tel: 01606-841587.