Any Dell outlet problems?

Generally there just machines people sent back because they felt they didnt like the systemusing the 30day money back program. Except when you recieve your system you onlyget 14 days

The reason why companies sell refurbished units in their outlet stores is because these computers have been returned by the original customer for some reason or another. I'm betting that a good percentage of these returns are for dead or stuck pixels. I once bought a notebook from Compaq's outlet store and thought I had found a good bargain until I noticed a big RED stuck pixel in the center of the screen. Im not saying that all the units in the outlet store will have an issue but remember the adage that "you get what you pay for". What do you think Dell will do with all those returned 8600s with the inferior WXSGA Hitachi screens...destroy them, no way, they will do a clean install of the os and resell them in their outlet store. Just my 2 sense.

they send back dead lcd screens to the manufacturer and tally the most problems and then decide which companie to axe when supplying them. they replace any know problems before shipping it out again

I can see them sending back the completely dead lcds but what about the ones with a dead pixel or two or the Hitachi wsxga screens that the majority on the dell forums are complaining about and sending back. According to dell, these screens meet their standards so they will not be sending them back to the manufacturer. They will in all likelihood, redistribute them through their outlet stores. Before anyone buys a refurbished model or any model from dell for that matter, take a long took through their forums.

This is my take for what it's worth. Refurbs ARE the way to go. Period. Unless you are one of those who just has to have it all and does not mind payin for it.

I veiw alll lappys as "disposable consummables" with a useful two year life. Each year after really fading fast into obsolesence. (unlike Desktops which are easily and inexpensivly upgradable)

I decide what buy based on experience : Im 21 with 25 years of such exoerience! Been buying PCs since the 8088!(look it up)! I have learned the folllowing in the past 20 or so years in the computer world...

1. What do I want/need to do TODAY?
2. What is the minimum outlay/specs I need to do THAT?
3. Seek information via forums/friends (be careful there, you'll get caught up in D**k measuring contests)/ Magazines etc.
4. Buy the lowest priced acceptable configuation and work up from there
5. NEVER ever buy the fastest GPU or CPU out there.
6. Pass on all extended warrantee and "idiot" insurance.

Now understand I could care less about 3D bench marks or the wow factor from peers. Thats a sure way to spend way more than you need. Been there! All that aside:

Because laptops and all systems are fairly obsolete in a couple years. (See the "loaded at the time" 81/8200 owners screaming for upgraded V cards etc elsewhere) If you can get the your current needs met with a minimum configuration, You can then save $1000-$1500 and use that money in two years to buy another refub under the bleeding edge BUT BETTER AND FASTER THAN TODAYS" $2500 machine in any case for around the same money and so on while the guys who have todays bleeding edge machine still have a year or two's worth of payments left. We 'll read their whining to Dell then and and their petitioning of Dell for upgradable parts.

The Top Of Line LAppyTODAY will not be the TOL Lappy in two months. BUT YOU ARE PAYING TOL PRICES TODAY FOR THAT! But You don't HAVE to!!

My humble machine runs ALL the games well yes even looks great in SXGA. I am used to a 19 inch CRT at 1178 rez. So WXGA is fine and of all the posts I have read, and I did read a lot. There were more issues with the SXGA+ and UXGA (too small for screen size issues, not electrical). I saw no one returning a SXGA for either issue. So I figured the SXGA would be fine and it's a SAMSUNG and it is indeed a great LCD.

So I ordered mine expecting to retun it..IT ran everthing I threw at it and I had no frustrating experiences. I even edited a 7 min video today for a local TV show. Like butta! If I were editing photos as a career, I would definatly have to go for the UXGA out of necessity. But not for what I NEED it for.

If you believe you need a certain 3D Mark score well so be it. It's gonna be more expensive all around to chase that.

It's a matter of what do you want to do today. No matter what you buy It's old news tomorrow. And someone will always have a better and faster machine!

8600 1.4
512 mb ram 2700
Nvidia 5200 go 64mb
40 G 5400 rpm (I really wanted this rpm. It's only on a refurb)
DVD/CDRW
WXGA (Samsung)
Win XP Home
1 year warranty
$1268 refurb

Refurb is a great way to save big. You get what you pay for, and Dell does is not sending back those WXSGA Hitachi screens to the manufacturer they are selling them in the outlet.

8088, think mine had 256k of ram could have been more!

most likely

The WSXGA has smaller pixels offering better resolution AND more real estate. But I have seen both the WSXGA+ and UXGA and I decided on the SXGA. They are both nice screens but for me the "wow" factor would fade and I'd haVE THOSE PUPPYS IN A LOWER RESOLUTION ALL THE TIME ANYWAY.tHE SXGAis a Samsung, crisp, and perfect for the 15.4 inch screen and allows that little 5200go to do its job alittle easier!!!

they usually tell you before you order it