[acidcool]

Hi all, just want to share with you all my horrible experience with my XPS1530 notebook.

I got my XPS1530 with upgraded CPU and LCD panel (WUXGA)paid a total of about $2.4k+ in the PC show. Upon delivery, they forgot to include the free wireless mouse. i had to call up Dell and a re-delivery was scheduled.

Problem 1:
About a week of usage, I realised that the LCD monitor blackout intermittently .
At times, it was so bad to the extent i can't see even the BIOS page upon boot up.
Callled the service center and told me do all the diagnostic checks but was unable to trace the problem. Till about 2 weeks later, the LCD screen completely blacksout and a serviceman was arrange to pickup back for repairs.
It took more than a week for the repair. And what's worse is the repair center called me and said they are not sure what went wrong as the problem was intermittent.........
What a stupid question to ask! Based on my experience, I told them to change the LCD panel and may consider changing the motherboard.
After a week of waiting, my laptop was finally repaired and sent to me.

Problem 2:
My laptop was heading towards 13th mth of usuage when it broke down and I had not extended my warranty! I could not believe it as it completely failed to power up at all after I restart it. Where on Earth have you heard a computer broke down after it restarts!!!
After doing some research from the internet, it is most likely a motherboard problem. And a brand new motherboard cost $500+ excluding installation.
Without further choice, I spend time and effort to extend, and bargain with my warranty price. In the end, they agreed to give me an additional 2 yrs warranty extension costing me $740!
The repairman came and replaced the motherboard. While servicing, he realised that one of the screwhole for the mouse touchpad was cracked. Since it's under warranty, he'll get a replacement on his next schedule after liaing with the service centre.
Later in the afternoon a DELL support staff called and explained to me that warranty does not cover cosmetic or physical damages!
How could they shed off the responsibility for this damage as I've sent my laptop for servicing earlier. Also how can they expect every customer to inspect the cosmetic inside the notebook was fine. In the end, the support staff asked me for the serviceman's name and demanded photos of the damaged part. This makes me feels as if I'm their Investigating Crew.
But then, things turned for the better when that serviceman called me in the eveing and said he'll make a replacement for free.

Problem 3:
Till today, about 2 mths had passed since my motherboard was replaced.
Just turned on my notebook and it suddenly powered off itself. Tried booting up insafe mode but to no avail. Called the support centre and AGAIN, an engineer will be coming for repairs........

SUMMARY
TOTAL DAMAGE on buying DELL XPS1530: Abt $2.4k + $740 2 yrs extended warranty
No. of repairs encounterd: Heading for 4th repair within less than 16 mths of usage

[lennardseah]

are you a rough user?

[acidcool]

Originally Posted by lennardseah

are you a rough user?

Nope, it's placed on my table with a Zalman aluminium cooler underneath it......
Never once taken outdoor.
Also, most of the time i'm using my desktop

[altrius]

That's a really bad experience for you! I had similar experience with DELL desktop in 2004, after that I've never really been on DELL.

[xthene]

I am owning a dell notebook and shortly after 3 months of usage, I realised there was a problem - I can't do projection to a projector. Called the service center and after almost an hour of remote diagnostic test, they are convinced that the MB was faculty. So an arrangement was made for them to come down my campus (so that i could test the projection on the spot, i don't have a projector at home) to fix the problem and they replaced the MB. After that, everything OK.

[Avatar_Viper]

must be bad luck... i had my dell 1520 for nearly 2 years and no problem so far

[acidcool]

Originally Posted by xthene

I am owning a dell notebook and shortly after 3 months of usage, I realised there was a problem - I can't do projection to a projector. Called the service center and after almost an hour of remote diagnostic test, they are convinced that the MB was faculty. So an arrangement was made for them to come down my campus (so that i could test the projection on the spot, i don't have a projector at home) to fix the problem and they replaced the MB. After that, everything OK.

Dell's on-site warranty support is only during working hours, on weekdays, latest till 6pm. Imagine how many days of leave I had taken based on what I've been through.

[Crazy]

haha.. trust me.. u have not seen the worst of their product.. i also suffering now.. but i am not publishing my incidents untill the new unit replacement arrives and gives me issue...

[jezzmatezz]

i feel for you dude... such a heart ache...

[Embrace]

i feel ure pain as well.. had to go through their bs

[blackdra19]

DELL fail except for their LCDs.the desktop ones.

[zuoom]

for LCD, have to opt for the ultrasharp series.

[XiaoDongDong]

have not gave me problem for my vostro laptop... maybe i wait till 13th mth and see.

[trix85]

been using my xps 1210 for 3 yrs no problems.. onli once the temp hit sky high... but they change my mobo all repairs done on the spot... i dun see y u dun have it... calling them in the middle of the nite and the repair team is ready to go ur hse the nxt working day...
i say they have good after sales service....

[John_Chee]

Originally Posted by trix85

been using my xps 1210 for 3 yrs no problems.. onli once the temp hit sky high... but they change my mobo all repairs done on the spot... i dun see y u dun have it... calling them in the middle of the nite and the repair team is ready to go ur hse the nxt working day...
i say they have good after sales service....

Yeah I have always read about their good after sales but the problem now is with the QUALITY of the products they make. If they are able to give their customers decent notebooks/products that doesn't break down so often, we don't even need to bother to contact their service centre.

I have been using HP Compaq products both desktop and laptop. So far didnt need to repair anything although I have extended warranty. I feel extended warranty is more of an insurance kind of thing. Or else you'll end up like what happened to TS paying $700 over for another 2 years when you could have it for $200 if you bought the package during the warranty period. $700, i rather get a new netbook than suffer more of their nonsense.

Then once in a while when you come across cheap notebook mobo promotions then you get one to replace the one in the Dell.