I had to write a review about my most favouritist thing - my Dell 8300! Awwwwww, 'pathetic!' I hear you cry! 'Get out more!'.... well, yes I should probably get out more, but I like staying in too, and spend most of that time on my PC (apart from bringing up two kids and being a 'stay at home' ... Read review
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Advantages: Great performance and good looks to boot! Disadvantages: Support, support, support!
...most favouritist thing - my Dell 8300! Awwwwww, 'pathetic!' I hear you cry! 'Get out more!'.... well, yes I should probably get out more, but I like staying in too, and spend most of that time on my PC (apart from bringing up two kids and being a 'stay at home' (washing, cleaning, ironing, school runs', but also 'work from home' mum!)
Anyway, I'd never had a Dell before the end of last Summer when I bought this PC. I was so excited ... ...one (within budget limit) that Dell produce. There a loads of expansion slots for ..... expansion (obviously!) and it's good for the money. Slightly better quality/specification bits inside, than the slightly cheaper 2400 and 4300 models at the time.
Anyway, set up was extremely easy, everything pre-loaded as you would expect. Everything feels like it's well made and good quality. Some PC's are very 'plasticy' and feel quite 'tin-like' ... more
I had to write a review about my most favouritist thing - my Dell 8300! Awwwwww, 'pathetic!' I hear you cry! 'Get out more!'.... well, yes I should probably get out more, but I like staying in too, and spend most of that time on my PC (apart from bringing up two kids and being a 'stay at home' (washing, cleaning, ironing, school runs', but also 'work from home' mum!)
Anyway, I'd never had a Dell before the end of last Summer when I bought this PC. I was so excited about it, as my ageing old Gateway was beginning to show signs of retirement, so I decided to take the plunge!
I spent hours and hours on their website trying all sorts of different combinations and after much deliberation (and saving of pennies) came up with a 1Gb RAM, 3Ghz, Pentium 4, CD/DVD drive, CD/RW drive, 17" flat LCD screen etc.
Dell's website is frighteningly easy to use, and also easy to bump up the price of the PC. You select a base machine and go down the list of items to configure it, adding and taking bits away to your hearts content, until you end up with the machine (and the budget) you need. You always want more, but the price at the bottom dictates you can't have it, so you have to remove the 19" LCD television and the hugest hard drive in the world and get back to reality!
When you've finally decided on what you want, you go ahead and buy, like any other online shop. Credit card details required (or alternatively they quote for finance - just for when you've gone a bit far with the configuration!) and away you go. Within a week, it's on your doorstep, shouting at you to 'open me!'.
I decided on the 8300 because I use the PC a lot and it's the most upgradeable one (within budget limit) that Dell produce. There a loads of expansion slots for ..... expansion (obviously!) and it's good for the money. Slightly better quality/specification bits inside, than the slightly cheaper 2400 and 4300 models at the time.
Anyway, set up was extremely easy, everything pre-loaded as you would expect. Everything feels like it's well made and good quality. Some PC's are very 'plasticy' and feel quite 'tin-like' but I'm rather pleased with this.
Tha range of manuals supplied for the PC are very good. Software supplied as standard is generally Windows XP Home Edition (Professional available as an upgrade at cost), Microsoft Works (a scaled down version of Microsoft Office - full Office product available as an upgrade, again at extra cost), Sonic CD rewriting software and Cyberlink PowerDVD DVD playing software. The system also comes with a 90 day trial version of Norton Anti Virus, that can be purchased online at the end of the trial period. The pre-installed software and drivers are provided on CDs supplied with the PC, so if you ever need to reinstall, they are available for you to do so.
There are a wide range of software titles to choose from, when configuring your PC, Paint Shop Pro, Anti Virus/Internet Security, etc.
I personally upgraded the Windows platform to XP Professional (which is also very good - yet to review that!) which makes it easy to set up printers and peripherals. The NVidea sound card is of good quality, and when playing DVDs using the stereo speaker system, you feel like you're watching it on a good quality TV system. The network card is again very reliable and quick.
I've installed so many programmes on it, got a lot of data stored on the hard drive, written CDs, surfed the internet endlessly using my broadband connection, set up many printers and peripherals - I have no gripes at all with it, which is, at the end of the day, all you can ask.
In using this since last summer, I've had no problems at all, although a couple of friends who have the 8300 have experienced problems. One needed a new motherboard (main bit! Like getting a new engine in a new car!) which obviously wasn't ideal.... and hereth comes the gripe....
SUPPORT!!!!!
What a nightmare! I have had to ring Dell support for both work machines (fortunately not mine, yet, touch wood!) and it is DIRE! I'm sorry, but they support technicians really don't seem to know anything about computers anymore. 'In the old days'... you used to speak to someone with a certain amount of technical knowledge and you could run ideas past them, and chat about the situtation and come to a conclusion - these days you speak to people who know nothing about PC's, typing problems into their computer systems, and coming back with an obviously generic answer. You try that, and go on to the next step in the computer-aided helpdesk. I may be being unfair, but it really is bad. I find also too, sorry, but I really can't make out what they're saying a lot of the time. They are foreign call centres, and some only speak pigeon english. It is hard, especially when trying to work through a particularly complicated problem.
Well, you seem to get there in the end, because the problems have been sorted out eventually, but it really could be made easier. The motherboard situation I mentioned before, was: A technician who insisted a friend's modem was faulty, even though I'd tried it in my PC and it worked fine. We put it back in my friend's PC and it didn't work again! It was using the same drivers as mine - it turned out the motherboard had gone, as the network card then decided to pack up (plugged into the motherboard) and then the graphics card!!! After the motherboard was replaced (the following day - that was the good part of their support service! Prompt on site engineers!) everything worked fine and has ever since.
Overall I'm extremely pleased with the quality and design of this PC and it's components. The dark grey/black colour combination make the PC look stunning (and not ageing like the light grey PCs - which tend to discolour and are hard to keep clean). I would highly recommend Dell's website for initially buying/configuring the PC and also their fast delivery. The PC was very well packaged to eliminate damage, and easy to set up and use. Hopefully you'll never need their support!!!
Advantages: Minimal fuss in setup,ordering and use. Disadvantages: No Dell stores to view the machine beforehand
...my friend (who has two Dell computers) to have at look at Dell. So I took a gander at there website and was impressed by their customise and buy feature, which allowed you to stick to budget. So I decided to go around and have a look at his machines.
Although he had the Dimension 2400, the Dimension 8300 is very similar in look and design to most of Dell's other ranges.
---Quality---
All the components and perhiperhals which came with my Dimension ... ...VAT and came with their Dell All-in-One A920 printer which prints, scans and photocopies, seen in the extra pictures). In addition the nifty customise and buy feature on their website ensured I didn't go over budget. Their website is frequently updated with the latest specifications and there are many deals on it to take advantage of (although you can probably get those over the phone too if you mention it to the sales person).
---Service---
I've ...
Puma1000 09.02.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dell Dimension 8300
Advantages: Ability to customise your PC to your exact needs. Excellent value. Disadvantages: People with a limited understanding of computers may find the process a bit daunting.
...writing this review for the Dell Dimension 8300 model these comments are more in relation to the Dell purchasing ‘experience’ than any specific product. If you specifically want to ask me about the 8300 model I will be happy to reply to any questions.
I decided to buy a new PC earlier this year when I decided that my old PC was well past its ‘use-by’ date. My price range was £750 - £1000 and I needed a machine that had a decent amount of processing ... ...there is a link to Dell special offers, and at the time I was looking these were the offers they had. So with an extra 10% off I was able to select a few extras like a DVD writer and still only end up with a price tag of £750.
I’m not going to bore you with what I personally chose as a configuration, but I will say that the build quality of their PC’s is very good, and the basic specification of the 8300 is impressive and includes the latest technology. ...
Paul77 13.12.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dell Dimension 8300
Advantages: Exactly what the doctor ordered Disadvantages: None - as yet!
...a powerful computer. And Dell told me that they had the answers
When I wanted to have some fun with videos, I asked the folks at Dell to put together the ideal video editing computer system. All Dell systems are built to order, so this was an easy task for them. Here's what they came up with:
Since video editing is a processor-intensive task, I needed a powerful processor: A Dell Dimension 8300 with a 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 processor. Video editing ... ...monitor and get the new Dell 5650 5.1 speakers. The package also included Windows XP Home Edition and Microsoft's Works Suite 2004, great!
My computer was a dream machine. I was Stephen Speilhisface and I was crucing along fine with my new computer. The Dell 5.1 speakers blew me away and being such an audio expert the sound quality was crystal (I am not an audio expert!) Its 100 Watts of power blowing me away that's more than in a bad boy racers ...
aj4luton 04.09.2005 (05.09.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dell Dimension 8300
Advantages: Excellent speed, graphics and performance Disadvantages: Technical support is absolutely poor
The Dell Dimension 8300 is one of the, if not fastest Dell desktop on sale by Dell.
One of the good things about Dell is that every system is taylor-made, and built to your specification. Just tell Dell what you want your computer to have in it, they will give you a price and then build it for you.
You can order by telephone or on their website. Their website is in my opinion the better place to order as the prices of each part you can add to the ... ...The one thing that lets Dell down is their technical support.
Dell seem to pride themselves with supposedly having 'the best technical support'. Don't believe any of this!
Dell have tried to save themselves some money by relocating their technical support team to India. I found this out after doing a bit of research on the internet.
Every time I phoned technical support I could not understand what the other person on the end of the phone was saying ...
lynxptc 15.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dell Dimension 8300
Advantages: Great programs and a lovely lightweight monitor Disadvantages: Too many gadgets to play with!
When I first got this computer, I was in love. So many new features and games, and everything loaded so quickly! Compared to my old model, it was a dream come true. But I soon found that, although many of the extra programs they had given me worked, they also took up plenty of space.
However, after clearing out all the excess junk and saying goodbye to several new games they had installed for me, it isn't a bad little computer. I am a student at ... ...half my gear, and being able to pack away my computer in a little lightweight box is brilliant - I dont have to worry about carrying it half a mile to the car and then keeping it safe on the journey.
The DVD and CD reader and rewriter are brilliant - at least they suit someone like me who, as a student spend a lot of my time making cheap CD's. However, although this is a great machine for the occasional essay and a quick surf of the internet, I ...
Kikie705 05.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dell Dimension 8300
2 x right / left channel, 2, 2, 1 x right / left channel, right / left rear channel, subwoofer
Audio Adaptor
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2
Operating system / software
OS Provided
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Software
Cyberlink PowerDVD , Roxio Easy CD Creator, Microsoft Works 7.0, Norton AntiVirus 2003, Dell Picture Studio Standard Edition
Telecom
Modem
Fax / modem - plug-in card
Max Transfer Rate
56 Kbps
Protocols & Specifications
ITU V.92
Manufacturer's product description
If you need a powerful desktop system as the center of your home network and entertainment center, then the Dimension 8300 desktop is for you. It's the ideal choice for home and small business users who demand high-end Intel Pentium 4 processors and the most from their computer investment. Dual channel, Double Data Rate (DDR) memory adds to the awesome processing power to provide outstanding graphics and system performance that can handle almost any task, including running the latest digital audio and video packages.
