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alanarch
Member
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Posted: Wed Aug 1st, 2007 07:24 am |
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I am trying to purchase a computer from Dell through the Bates website. I posted this on the Bates CC board and then realized Dell probably has the same or similar offer for other colleges. There seems to be a lack of coordination with what the college says Dell is offering and what Dell is actually offering. I also have emails into Dell.
Is anybody having difficulty ordering from Dell what is on the Bates website? Bates says that Dell is offering two computers (D620 and D820). The Dell website only shows the D620. Dell is also not showing the option for a less expensive 3 year warranty, only the 4 year warranty. Any advice?
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Chedva
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 557 |
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Posted: Wed Aug 1st, 2007 11:44 am |
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I had similar questions for the University of Rochester site, so I just called them. They were able to answer them (sorry, I don't remember the answers, since we ended up getting a Mac!). The major benefit that I do remember was that if you bought a Dell through UR, they would take care of fixing it if necessary, and doing all the shipping to Dell & so forth, but if you bought it through Dell, they wouldn't.
Is there a number for the Bates Computer Store that you could just call?
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3197 |
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Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 02:17 am |
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| We ran into similar problems trying to buy through the school. We ended up just going to Best Buy and getting our daughter's laptop - there is a Best Buy within 15 minutes of her campus, so we bought the extended warrantee and they have taken care of the few little minor problems she's had. The price actually was very good.
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alanarch
Member
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Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 02:55 am |
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| I have no problem buying a computer over the internet. Through the Dell/Bates connection I don't have to worry about the specs, especially for hooking into the school's network. I have gotten a response from Dell and they say they are updating the website with correct information. It feels like the problems are on the Bates side. I have never experienced such inconsistent information from an online company like Dell.
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TooTiredMom
Member
| Joined: | Tue Apr 25th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 32 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 3rd, 2007 12:21 am |
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There may not be information on the Dell webpage about the Latitude D820 because they just released the D830. I am guessing they are updating the page to include the D830 instead of the D820.
My S's school updated their site at the end of last week with the new Dell options. The D830 is one of the choices now, the D820 disappeared. I was told one main upgrade between the two models is that the 830 has a spillproof keyboard. Could be useful in a college environment!
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alanarch
Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 3rd, 2007 02:15 am |
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| TooTiredMom, you are correct, the issue is/was the model change. The strange thing is that the 820 had warranty options of 3 and 4 years and the 830 has warranty options of 4 and 5 years. Now I am trying to order the software from the college vendor but I think my son has to do it and he is at camp and there won't be much time to order it when he gets home before he leaves for pre-orientation and our, not his, vacation.
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TooTiredMom
Member
| Joined: | Tue Apr 25th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 32 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 3rd, 2007 03:19 am |
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One other note - the Inspirion 1520 is the home version of the Latitude D830. The Latitude is the business line while the Inspirion is geared to the home consumer. The Inspirion is basically the same machine but at a lower price. The main difference is the Latitude's casing is a metal alloy that stands up better to hits and bangs while the Inspirion is hard plastic ( I am not sure if it has the spillproof keyboard). Many colleges will recommend the Latitude for this reason.
If you want to save a few hundred dollars (but are willing to take more risk with the handling of the machine) the Inspirion may fit. Personally, my S ordered the Lat. D830 this weekend. His college Lat. bundle has a 3 year warranty with an option to upgrade to 4 years. A five year warranty seems like a long time, unless of course the student is on the 5 year plan 
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