Anybody own or use a Dell Inspiron 500 series desktop or a Dell Multi-Touch?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I mentioned in a recent thread that I’m computerless at home at the moment. I’d considered a Mac for for everal reason have decided to go with a PC (mainly the fact they’re more expensive, there’s not a Mac store convenient to where I live to ask a genius, my work computer’s a PC and I’d have to rebuy all my favorite software programs though I still own the PC disks.)

So two I’m considering:

One is a Dell Inspiron 519M (6 GB Memory, 640 GB hard drive) and the other is a Dell Multi-Touch (though I have misplaced the exact model- 4 GB memory/320 hard IIRC). I’ve looked for reviews but haven’t found these exact models, plus- this sounds snobbish- I’m always suspicious when the only glowing reviews I’ve found are really well written (as in- almost as if written by a copywriter), so the SDMB seems neutral.

Has anybody used one of these? If so, thoughts?

I’m also considering a HP (forget the model number) that’s around the same size. (They’re all within a few dollars of the same price.) Does anybody strongly recommend HP over Dell or vice versa?

All disclaimers in place: if you recommend it and I buy it and it’s a piece of crap then I promise I’m not going to show up drunk in your yard one night yelling “Someone’s gotta come out and play with the devil!” (Max Cady/CAPE FEAR reference for those who don’t know and are worried).

2

My own experience is that Dell laptops of any kind tend to break down within a couple of years. I don’t know about HPs, but I’m considering getting one.

Still, Dell’s accident insurance is awesome. They’ll fix almost anything. I just wish I’d’ve gotten my laptop fixed before it ran out.

3

He’s asking about desktops.

I have had a Dell Inspiron 530 for about 19 months. I’ve had no problems with it. I don’t like all the software that Dell load onto their PCs to “help” you - I’d rather use the standard Windows utilities, thanks. But the PC has run fine.

Aw, go on - it would liven up suburbia.

4

I’ve got an older (4ish years) Dell laptop and a new desktop (inspiron 530s), and both have been problem-free. My new desktop is all kinds of awesome, and was quite cheap.

5

We just bought a Dell Inspiron 537s through Costco. So far so good. It’s very fast.

Costco had a nice “Super Buy” on it where you got an extra year of warranty, MS Office Student loaded onto it, and (most importantly) a free downgrade to XP. My parents bought a Dell that had/s Vista on it and they’ve had nothing but trouble with it since.