On Dell's unfathomable website deals

Thanks for the news item regarding Dell's web site.

I watch DELL's web site on an almost daily basis and it requires an advanced degree in AI to navigate and get the best deal. Specifically what you get and what it costs depends on which route thru the web site you take.

Looking at the item you mention, the OptiPlex for 369 pounds - its a deal. But look at the cost of RAM and screen prices, e.g. 190 pounds for 1GB of RAM which I have never seen on the DELL website.

How about their monitors:

The following URL takes you to the page for the Dimensions 8250. Scroll down to the monitor costs. Look at the bottom (most expensive one): DELL 20" Ultrasharp monitor - 1080 GBP. Fine. Here .

Now go back to the Optiplex page, here.

Here we have what looks like the exact same monitor at 790GBP.

So one might be tempted to buy the 8250 WITHOUT a screen and the Optiplex (base model) WITH the screen, and you get a free computer for what you would have paid.

Similar discrepancies exist all over the site. In fact the Outlet web pages (not convinced these are refurbs) show very good cost savings for many items.

Somebody needs to write an AI program to navigate DELLs web site to find the optimum prices.

Note: I have nothing to do with DELL, except as a happy customer, and I find their web site can keep me occupied all day doing "What If" calculations unlike _any_ other PC Systems web site in the UK. I think they could make a game out of that web site - you can get lost in it for hours and hours.

regards,
Paul Fox

Subject: Dell Deal?

The reaons why the optiplex is so cheap is due partly due to the mass produced chassis and motherboard, with integrated graphics which uses up 48Mb of the paltry 128Mb, integrated soundcard, nic, plus you need to fork out for the serial port riser card that most motherboard manufacturers throw in for free with a standard ATX motherboard, which this, I suspect, is not; which if it isn't, may mean the PSU is candidate for expensive replacement if it dies.

Probably make a good present for granny or grandad wanting to monitor net share prices or download the odd furtive picture of Anna Kournikova; but if their grandchildren come visiting, they won't be demonstrating how to run over old people in Grand Theft Auto 3 or having to explain what a frag is during a Unreal Tournament 2003 deathmatch.

Rgds,

S.Mo

µ