Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 09:10:56 -0700 From: Ken <webweaver@rmci.net> To: "James A Wilde" <james.wilde@telia.com>, "Lorenzo Cavassa" <Lorenzo.Cavassa@ALPcom.IT>, <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: Dell or Compaq Message-ID: <4.2.0.58.20000131090227.0096fb80@mail.rmci.net> In-Reply-To: <004601bf6bdf$4c2140f0$8c0aa8c0@hk.tbv.se> References: <20000131121646.A28644@monviso.alpcom.it>
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At 12:35 PM 1/31/2000 +0100, James A Wilde wrote: >----- Original Message ----- >From: Lorenzo Cavassa <Lorenzo.Cavassa@ALPcom.IT> >To: <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> >Sent: Monday, January 31, 2000 12:16 >Subject: Dell or Compaq > > > > > > Because i'm involved in the task, i'm searching for the best hardware > > platform that can supply the same services with the same overall speed. > > > > I'm oriented to buy Dell or Compaq (Intel) servers (one or more), but i >have > > several questions about: > > >I know a lot of people will disagree with me and it is not my intention to >start another religious war, but to the best of my ability, I keep Compaq >out of my shop on principle. Others in the organisation have sneaked them >into my regret. > >The reason? _Nothing_ is off the peg with Compaq. Everything, it seems, >needs special drivers if not special Compaq hardware which costs three times >as much as off the shelf stuff from reliable manufacturers. And I have a >constant performance problem with the few machines we own. The funny thing >is the people who were so keen to get them in the first place are unable to >configure them. I found one of them displaying 16 colours, sound card >unconfigured and running like a one-legged dog in syrup. It was being used >as a workstation by our CEO. I've managed to fix the first two - special >drivers from Compaq's home site, of course: standard ATI and ESS drivers >were no use - and I'll be trying to fix the latter this week. Maybe I'll >replace it - a 450 Mhz PII - with an old 50 Mhz 486 I've got lying about... > >On the other hand, the Dell I have as my principal machine at home gives me >no problems and first class performance - although I am a bit surprised that >they make use of cable-select for hard drive control. > >Just my $0.02 I'll throw in a "me too" on this one. PHB bought a Proliant 1600 a year or so back and the thing ran probably less than 500 hrs before the power supply went south. And of course it was non standard part so I couldn't run down to my local wholesaler and grab a new one for $25. Rather instead we got one for free under warranty; 3 weeks later (maybe 4). Compaq was out of stock, because as they were having to replace them faster than their supplier could manufacture them. Oh yeah, had it not been covered by warranty; $200. I could go on, but you get my drift. Between the two, I'd pick the Dell, hands down. But what I actually prefer is building my own. It's not rocket science. Don't save any money really, but then I know exactly what's inside. Email me privately if you want some more advice along these lines. Ciao-- kg To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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