Dell website: no longer allows customisation?

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Takuan

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#76091 28-Jan-2011 10:52

I bought my current laptop (which is dead) through Dell about 3 years ago. At that time, you could pick the laptop family and from there you would go through all components and specify which one you wanted. For example 3Gb RAM in stead of 2, different sizes of HDD etc.

However, for the life of me I can't find this on the Dell NZ website anymore... Is that because we're in NZ? dell.com still allows this way of 'building' a system. Or am I just missing something obvious on the NZ website?

gzt

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#432130 28-Jan-2011 11:26

I just used the dell website in the business section:

http://configure.ap.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=nz&l=en&s=bsd&cs=nzbsd1&kc=&oc=T620208NZ

Maybe you just need to choose one first?

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rattewisday

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#432133 28-Jan-2011 11:32

Yeah I also noticed this.. seems they have got rid of customization, at least for consumer models. A real step backwards

Takuan

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#432137 28-Jan-2011 11:41

Ah well, just glad that I am not crazy. Just looked at the business section: for some models you can indeed customise, but not for all. Not all models are availeble either...

Guess they're streamlining their production, but quite a shame...

Talkiet

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#432138 28-Jan-2011 11:41

Takuan: I bought my current laptop (which is dead) through Dell about 3 years ago. At that time, you could pick the laptop family and from there you would go through all components and specify which one you wanted. For example 3Gb RAM in stead of 2, different sizes of HDD etc.

However, for the life of me I can't find this on the Dell NZ website anymore... Is that because we're in NZ? dell.com still allows this way of 'building' a system. Or am I just missing something obvious on the NZ website?

Still works fine for me... started at dell.co.nz and got redirected to dell.com (with a .nz flavour) and was able to customise just fine...

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

rattewisday

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#432149 28-Jan-2011 12:01

Are you sure it as customizing the components? They still let you customize the warranty, accessories, etc.

Takuan

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#432154 28-Jan-2011 12:09

Maybe it differs per system. I suspect some laptops are not customisable anymore, where others (desktops?) still are...

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Talkiet

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#432171 28-Jan-2011 12:52

dannyres: Are you sure it as customizing the components? They still let you customize the warranty, accessories, etc.

Seemed less comprehensive than before but I was able to customise memory, HDD size/speed/ssd and optical drive at least on the one I picked.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

jonb

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#432185 28-Jan-2011 13:31

Must be quite recent, I was on there a year ago and there was still customisation..

Just out of interest, how/what's 'dead' is your current laptop? I'd be wary to buy one of the same brand after only 3 years (i'm definitely not buying another HP after the troubles experience with our current laptop)

Takuan

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#432192 28-Jan-2011 13:45

To johnb: is NOT the RAM or HDD, that's all I know. Most likely the mb or gpu. It gets really hot though. It now doesn't do anything and I'm still wondering whether I get it fixed or replace it.

You're right though, not sure if I'd buy Dell again as it was fairly future proof spec wise...

Ragnor

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#432202 28-Jan-2011 14:02

Apart from for their nice IPS monitors.. why buy from Dell anyway?

Why not support the top notch good quality locals like Computer Lounge and Playtech in Auckland. Ascent for Wellington.

Wade

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#432339 28-Jan-2011 17:57

I noticed this when i bought a laptop a couple of months ago, i beleive it is only the domestic models and the upper models allow hardware options.

In reality though across their offerings they offer enough variants that further customization is probably a luxury rather than necessary, the standard spec of my 15R was pretty darn good tbh and i doubt i would have changed anything anyway

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tonyhughes

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#432965 30-Jan-2011 22:04

Takuan: future proof spec wise...

This concept has never existed in the personal computer market.

gzt

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#432989 30-Jan-2011 23:28

ragnor: Why not support the top notch good quality locals like Computer Lounge and Playtech in Auckland. Ascent for Wellington.

any of these build laptops?

mattwnz

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#432994 31-Jan-2011 00:07

I can confirm that they don't appear to allow you to customise the inspiron ones, but you can customise the more expensive models such as latitude. A bit disappointing, as that was the only reason I last purchased a Dell Insipron, as I could customise it. It is a bit surprising, becuase I thought they would make quite a bit on upselling/upsizing.