Dell to launch printer line next week

[jamrock]

Microsoft... I mean Dell moves into another area of business next week. How long can HP survive against Dell's super efficient manufacturing model?

HP still believes in selling through their channel. Apparently they cannot change to meet the changing business environment.

Another one bites the dust...

http://news.com.com/2100-1041-993750.html?tag=fd_top

[Chris]

Hmmm... Lexmark will be making the Dell printers. I didn't fancy the Lexmark printers made for IBM, I wonder what these will be like.

[jamrock]

Not too crazy about Lexmark either.

However, I have had good products and good after sales service from Dell. I am willing to give them a chance to prove themselves.

The Dell desktops, servers and switches that I have used, really perform. Plus the prices are competitive.

Dell should be releasing some higher end switches in the future. They want to compete with Cisco. That should prove interesting.

[Chris]

I hope that Dell doesn't find themselves in a position where they're considered a "jack of all trades, master of none". They've done well in the PC and server markets, as long as they keep their focus on quality & price in the other product areas, they should do well. If they spread themselves too thin however, that will spell trouble for them.

[Collin]

Hmmm... Lexmark will be making the Dell printers. I didn't fancy the Lexmark printers made for IBM, I wonder what these will be like.

I never was a lexmark fan and still am not.... and will not be in the near future, but it will be interesting to see just how this line develops for Dell.

[odsamuels]

Not a Lexmark fan... but I do like the Voice alerts with the printers.. i.e. "Printing started", "Printing complete"... etc.

Sounds cool. That's about it though.

[GodKid]

??? hmmm...... lesseeee... at the risk of being the only Dell basher in this discussion...

1 - Dell PCs are good, but not close to great IF you buy from Dell USA... buy from anywhere else and you'll need that warranty you paid for

2 - Good after sales service... maybe I was the one that slipped through the cracks... I've had CRAPPY service from Dell. I got an Inspiron 8200 running XP Pro and an Nvidia GeForce 2 Go card... all of a sudden while I'm doing my graphics my machine hangs.. this happens FIVE times in a row.. after my first inquiry i see on the msg board that Dell ACKNOWLEDGED that there was a problem with the card and OS combination BEFORE selling the machine to me... service?.. then to fix the problem the send me an IDENTICAL card....again.. service?

3 - I don't need to know who's making Dell's printers in order to caution anybody against them... take a look at their projectors.. or handheld devices... fact is... Dell is a great home machine.. their marketing is excellent..BUT ... quality (to me) is fading the further they extend their reach and more they diversify

4 - How long will HP survive? - I'd say as long as there's a corporate market that demands quality and reliability instead of looks and service ... point is.. if you have a good relationship with the technician(s) who service your hardware... you probably don't have very good hardware ;)

That's my 2 cents...

bless

[jamrock]

Hmmm,

I am not going to say that Dell is perfect, but I have purchased Dell PC's, a Dell branded switch and a Dell branded UPS and I haven't had a problem.

Customers of mine have purchased Dell PC's and servers and haven't had a problem. I have seen a customer's hard drive fail after two months but a replacement was shipped and installed withing three working days.

I think IBM, Compaq and Dell all make good machines. I cannot say that one brand is superior to the other. I buy Dell because they look good, they are reliable and I don't have to go through a middle man.

I agree that there is a risk that the company may spread itself too thin. That is something worth watching over the coming years.

[Ropy]

I'm not a fan of dell products, but they work and sell... Although I would not buy or recommend a dell branded printer, not that I have anything against them. But I'll stick to the brands that I have proven to be reliable, like HP #1, Cannon and Minolta... I think with Dell being the #1 pc manufacture, their printer line will do fairly well but nothing like the top brands... But if anyone here wanna go get one, let us know how it performs...

[kc4u]

Not a Lexmark fan... but I do like the Voice alerts with the printers.. i.e. "Printing started", "Printing complete"... etc.Sounds cool. That's about it though.

I guess if you were a Lexmark fan you would have realized that this was standard on Lexmark from the days of windows 3.11 (synthesized voices)


I hope that Dell doesn't find themselves in a position where they're considered a "jack of all trades, master of none". They've done well in the PC and server markets, as long as they keep their focus on quality & price in the other product areas, they should do well. If they spread themselves too thin however, that will spell trouble for them.

Couldn't have said it better Chris, they should stick to their concept or service, price and performance. At one time Dell was number one in serice now they have been slipping in that area. I have had my fair share of probs with them for my dimension desktop and my Axim PDA.


4 - How long will HP survive? - I'd say as long as there's a corporate market that demands quality and reliability instead of looks and service

GodKid said it here too and I agree, DELL/Lexmark are no threat to HP nor Epson nor Canon nor anyone else. we all know too well each printer manufacturer have their own corner of the market - so does Lexmark who are making a comeback especially at the business level.

[kknight]

I'm not too fond of Lexmark. Their printers aren't worth it and now they're making printers for Dell!!!!
Doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

[kc4u]

we cannot say that Dell's printers are super efficent compared to HP's as we know quite well Lexmark who builds the printers for them have always been rated below HP! So now that lexmark printers are co-branded with the DELL logo what diffrence does that make...............i still smell lexmark.

I think people that will support these Dell printers will do so out of convenience rather that out right technical specs etc. They mail order a computer so why not just order everything for the computer, the scanner, printer, camera, etc. That is how they think. But die hard pc users will order their preferred brand printer of choice.

HP will always be around so too will the other printer manufacturer's.