# Anybody own or use a Dell Inspiron 500 series desktop or a Dell Multi-Touch? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-own-or-use-a-dell-inspiron-500-series-desktop-or-a-dell-multi-touch/510488 "2009-09-17T20:10:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-own-or-use-a-dell-inspiron-500-series-desktop-or-a-dell-multi-touch/510488/1 "2009-09-17T20:10:01Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-own-or-use-a-dell-inspiron-500-series-desktop-or-a-dell-multi-touch/510488/2 "2009-09-17T21:58:52Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-own-or-use-a-dell-inspiron-500-series-desktop-or-a-dell-multi-touch/510488/3 "2009-09-18T01:52:36Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > My own experience is that Dell laptops of any kind tend to break down within a couple of years. 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. > [@Sampiro](#): > > 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!”. Aw, go on - it would liven up suburbia. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-own-or-use-a-dell-inspiron-500-series-desktop-or-a-dell-multi-touch/510488/4 "2009-09-19T06:13:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-own-or-use-a-dell-inspiron-500-series-desktop-or-a-dell-multi-touch/510488/5 "2009-09-19T12:35:54Z")
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.