Dell Hardware Swap/Add Capability?

[CBFalconer]

Goto control panel, display, settings and drag the slider to the right. 640x480 is a little small these days .

PLONK,

 

[Michael Culley]

Untrue. Pick a popular online site, for example, Direction, Newegg, etc,
etc, and I could find a replacement in about 1 minute, if it took that
long. A local computer superstore would also have something, but it's a
non-issue if you learn from the pic you saw and use appropriate PSU models
as spares, then you have what you needed already. Shunning Dell is
pointless, being prepared isn't.

Come on kony, do you really think I'm going to buy something retail? I'm the
retailer (albeit small). Most of the wholesalers have fairly average sites
and if they have a pic it is quite probably not the same as what you get.
Most of the time you see the same pic repeated over and over for different
power supplies and you'd be luck if they showed you the back. I'd have to
phone them and wait on hold while they went and checked and the time adds up
very quickly, you'd be suprised. If you actually did any of this work your
claiming to know so much about you'd understand. Saying it would take 1
minute is a joke.

As for keeping a compatible spare PSU I'd have to know I need to. Before
this thread I would have had no idea that a PSU with a switch wouldn't fit a
dell. As I said, in 10 years I've never had one not fit. I don't actually
keep spares of anything and all three power supplies I've got in machines
here have power outlets, so I'd have to go to the customers twice.

Next, your second mistake, taking the machine off-site.

WTF? Taking the machine offsite eliminates the posibility of me having to go
there a third time. You really should stop telling me how to do my job.

Michael Culley

 

[kony]

Come on kony, do you really think I'm going to buy something retail? I'm the
retailer (albeit small). Most of the wholesalers have fairly average sites
and if they have a pic it is quite probably not the same as what you get.
Most of the time you see the same pic repeated over and over for different
power supplies and you'd be luck if they showed you the back. I'd have to
phone them and wait on hold while they went and checked and the time adds up
very quickly, you'd be suprised. If you actually did any of this work your
claiming to know so much about you'd understand. Saying it would take 1
minute is a joke.

In other words, you really meant to write that you aren't
interested in using decent name-brand power supplies, that you'll
stick someone with a crap unit to maximize your profit without
regard for the effect it might have. If you don't know what PSU
you'll receive when ordering, don't buy it. We're all aware of
the potential problems with unknown generic PSU, so if you don't
know what you're getting beforehand, you are negligent.

As for keeping a compatible spare PSU I'd have to know I need to. Before
this thread I would have had no idea that a PSU with a switch wouldn't fit a
dell. As I said, in 10 years I've never had one not fit. I don't actually
keep spares of anything and all three power supplies I've got in machines
here have power outlets, so I'd have to go to the customers twice.

If you're been doing this for 10 years you must be in some
alternate universe, it's quite common for an OEM to have a rear
wall with lesser clearance than a clone box.

WTF? Taking the machine offsite eliminates the posibility of me having to go
there a third time. You really should stop telling me how to do my job.

Apparently you need to be told how to do your job. Millions of
clone boxes out there and you _CHOOSE_ to be unprepared to
service them, then you _CHOOSE_ to make matters even worse by
dragging a box off-site instead of just noting that it needs PSU
you should've had with you in the first place, and getting a few
of them.

No amount of argument changes the fact that you are a
sub-standard technician to not be able to handle this EXTREMELY
SIMPLE situation. Screw your freakin' head on and learn how to
do your job!! It is ludicrous that you argue instead of learning
how to handle millions of OEM boxes. If you'd come onto a site
I'd tell you to just leave and never come back.

 

[Michael Culley]

I'm not sure why you are so interested in the PSU issue. Out of all the
problems I noted with the dell *you* chose to debate this one, not me.

In other words, you really meant to write that you aren't
interested in using decent name-brand power supplies, that you'll
stick someone with a crap unit to maximize your profit without
regard for the effect it might have. If you don't know what PSU
you'll receive when ordering, don't buy it. We're all aware of
the potential problems with unknown generic PSU, so if you don't
know what you're getting beforehand, you are negligent.

Now your just thowing mud. I charge 20% margin no matter what I sell. I buy
a reasonable cheap case that has never given me a problem. I buy the same
one every time unless the customer wants something different. It has a power
inlet and a power outlet, is sqaure beige boring and has plenty of spots for
pci cards and cdroms.

If you're been doing this for 10 years you must be in some
alternate universe, it's quite common for an OEM to have a rear
wall with lesser clearance than a clone box.

I just don't run into many name brands. I could remember every time I have.
I'm a programmer first and tech second so I'm not doing this full time. I
only really do the tech work because programming 50 hours a week would drive
me nuts.

Apparently you need to be told how to do your job. Millions of
clone boxes out there and you _CHOOSE_ to be unprepared to
service them, then you _CHOOSE_ to make matters even worse by
dragging a box off-site instead of just noting that it needs PSU
you should've had with you in the first place, and getting a few
of them.

You have no idea how I should do my job, why would I keep I PSU in stock for
something I have not encountered in 10 years? This is the part you seem
incapable of comprehending. Although you think you know everything, you
don't.

No amount of argument changes the fact that you are a
sub-standard technician to not be able to handle this EXTREMELY
SIMPLE situation. Screw your freakin' head on and learn how to
do your job!! It is ludicrous that you argue instead of learning
how to handle millions of OEM boxes. If you'd come onto a site
I'd tell you to just leave and never come back.

I'm not sure why your getting so angry over this issue but I find it quite
funny. You are not a tech and you think you know how to do my job. You
actually suggested modifying the case and/or power supply and using longer
screws. You just don't do these sort of things, these are the sort hacks
done by home users, not by professionals. If a customer had a dead psu I
would grab one and go to their site. If the one I had did not fit I would
order one from dell, quite possibly the best thing to do would just be to
order one from dell to start with.

Try to calm down a bit kory.

Michael Culley

 

[kony]

I'm not sure why you are so interested in the PSU issue. Out of all the
problems I noted with the dell *you* chose to debate this one, not me.

Nope, I already mentioned several times that it's not a problem
but you keep bringing it up.

Now your just thowing mud. I charge 20% margin no matter what I sell. I buy
a reasonable cheap case that has never given me a problem. I buy the same
one every time unless the customer wants something different. It has a power
inlet and a power outlet, is sqaure beige boring and has plenty of spots for
pci cards and cdroms.

Not throwing mud, pointing out that these PSU you're using are
potential problems in themselves. I can almost understand it
when a 20 yr old kid only has a few $$ to spend on a PSU, but
when a company is paying most of the cost for labor and they
don't even get a decent PSU, when it's not even your buck, you're
failing to perform the job you were supposed to be doing. Any 15
year old can choose cheapest psu and screw it in, but a company
is expecting you to do a bit better than that.

I just don't run into many name brands. I could remember every time I have.
I'm a programmer first and tech second so I'm not doing this full time. I
only really do the tech work because programming 50 hours a week would drive
me nuts.

50 hours a week isn't too bad though, I used to program a bit
myself before I left that behind, recall often sitting down and
looking up at the clock later to be startled that a half-dozen
hours had past and it was time to eat. Time seems to go much
slower working on hardware.

You have no idea how I should do my job, why would I keep I PSU in stock for
something I have not encountered in 10 years? This is the part you seem
incapable of comprehending. Although you think you know everything, you
don't.

Well I know to choose a PSU that's "most" compatible for a spare,
and to take misc parts (like screws) along if I didn't already
know _exactly_ what was involved in troubleshooting some unknown
hardware fault.

Now you /should/ know that too. Nobody knows it all but some are
slower to take the hint than others.

I'm not sure why your getting so angry over this issue but I find it quite
funny.

I'm not angry, I'm calmly stating the situation. Often I use
caps to emphasize, not to shout. If I were shouting it would be
all caps.

You are not a tech and you think you know how to do my job.

I was once a tech, but now I do still provide consultation to
techs in addtion to parts supply, repair, all kinds of
supplimentary functions at my discretion. I DO know how to do
your job, at least the tech part but that isn't really your job
as you are a programmer. The two aren't necessary related enough
that being great at one makes a person great at the other.
Someone might be damn good at programming but only marginal at
tech work. Any end-user can oder an ATX PSU and then curse Dell,
but it is a tech's job to forsee the situation and plan ahead.
Holding a screwdriver and turning it is the smaller part of the
job.

You actually suggested modifying the case and/or power supply and using longer
screws. You just don't do these sort of things, these are the sort hacks
done by home users, not by professionals.

Actually, a professional that needed longer screws, would get
some, not complain and drive back and forth and tell people not
to buy Dell systems because that Pro wanted to use generic PSU
that weren't compatible. Nevermind that the generics weren't
even qualified because it wasn't even known what they'd be before
they arrived.

As I already mentioned, it isn't even determined that longer
screws would be needed, on the contrary they would only be needed
if you choose a low-end junk PSU that is't very compatible, as
almost every major name-brand no longer uses a protruding
stamped-out grill. Ever wonder why? Because they aren't as
compatible.

If a customer had a dead psu I
would grab one and go to their site. If the one I had did not fit I would
order one from dell, quite possibly the best thing to do would just be to
order one from dell to start with.

1) A Pro would ask about the system.

2) A Pro would seek specs on system if it wasn't a generic clone
case... before you get there you don't even know if it's ATX or
(which form of) mATX, let alone something completely proprietary.

3) If the company has a budget that'll accomodate Dell pricing,
it could be a good solution to order it from Dell, but if the
system downtime is a problem, a Pro would have a compatible PSU
as a spare. However, you are not a pro, you are a part-time
tech, possibly with aspirations of becoming a pro. How does one
become a pro? Partly by having the experience to solve the odd
problems, not just the ones anybody else could.

 

[Trent©]

This is short enough to illustrate the problem. Please set your
system to wrap lines at no more than 72 chars, 65 is better.

Line length should be set on the RECEIVING end. Just turn on your
word wrap.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[Trent©]

Now your just thowing mud. I charge 20% margin no matter what I sell.

You buy at wholesale...and only mark up 20%? Don't you even try to
sell at retail! lol

And...don't you ask your potential customer what brand of computer
he's runnin'...before you even go out there?


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[Trent©]

Actually, a professional that needed longer screws, would get
some, not complain and drive back and forth and tell people not
to buy Dell systems because that Pro wanted to use generic PSU
that weren't compatible. Nevermind that the generics weren't
even qualified because it wasn't even known what they'd be before
they arrived.

IMHO, a good professional tech is one that can get things working...no
matter what it takes...and hopefully with a solution that will be the
most inexpensive for the client.

For instance, you can easily install a hard drive...when no spare bays
are available...by drilling 4 holes on the bottom of the case...and
wrapping the drive in both direction with wire ties.

You can kinda use the same technique when the client has broken the
CPU fan tab off the ZIF. This only takes 2 holes! lol


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[CBFalconer]

.... snip ...

Line length should be set on the RECEIVING end. Just turn on
your word wrap.

The following is a quotation from RFC2822, quoted to guard against
line wrapping. This is the standard that governs both email and
news articles.

2.1.1. Line Length Limits

There are two limits that this standard places on the number of
characters in a line. Each line of characters MUST be no more than
998 characters, and SHOULD be no more than 78 characters, excluding
the CRLF.

The 998 character limit is due to limitations in many implementations
which send, receive, or store Internet Message Format messages that
simply cannot handle more than 998 characters on a line. Receiving
implementations would do well to handle an arbitrarily large number
of characters in a line for robustness sake. However, there are so
many implementations which (in compliance with the transport
requirements of [RFC2821]) do not accept messages containing more
than 1000 character including the CR and LF per line, it is important
for implementations not to create such messages.

The more conservative 78 character recommendation is to accommodate
the many implementations of user interfaces that display these
messages which may truncate, or disastrously wrap, the display of
more than 78 characters per line, in spite of the fact that such
implementations are non-conformant to the intent of this
specification (and that of [RFC2821] if they actually cause
information to be lost). Again, even though this limitation is put on
messages, it is encumbant upon implementations which display messages
to handle an arbitrarily large number of characters in a line
(certainly at least up to the 998 character limit) for the sake of
robustness.

 

[Michael Culley]

The following is a quotation from RFC2822, quoted to guard against
line wrapping. This is the standard that governs both email and
news articles.

Dood, you really need to get out more

Michael Culley

 

[Michael Culley]

Not throwing mud, pointing out that these PSU you're using are
potential problems in themselves. I can almost understand it
when a 20 yr old kid only has a few $$ to spend on a PSU, but
when a company is paying most of the cost for labor and they
don't even get a decent PSU, when it's not even your buck, you're
failing to perform the job you were supposed to be doing. Any 15
year old can choose cheapest psu and screw it in, but a company
is expecting you to do a bit better than that.

Really you are throwing mud. The power supplies I use are quite good and you
have no way to know otherwise. You are inventing something and throwing your
invention back at me.

50 hours a week isn't too bad though, I used to program a bit
myself before I left that behind, recall often sitting down and
looking up at the clock later to be startled that a half-dozen
hours had past and it was time to eat. Time seems to go much
slower working on hardware.

That's true but you have to be interested in the project. When I had an
interesting project I used to get annoyed that the end of the day had come
and they were turning the lights out on me.

Well I know to choose a PSU that's "most" compatible for a spare,
and to take misc parts (like screws) along if I didn't already
know _exactly_ what was involved in troubleshooting some unknown
hardware fault.

Now you /should/ know that too. Nobody knows it all but some are
slower to take the hint than others.

You've completely turned this around. Are you familiar with the term
"attacking the man, not the arguement"? The point is that Dell are dodgy
because they don't follow basic industry standards.

Michael Culley

 

[kony]

You've completely turned this around. Are you familiar with the term
"attacking the man, not the arguement"? The point is that Dell are dodgy
because they don't follow basic industry standards.

Did Dell deviate from the ATX spec?
Here's the spec, show me where:
http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/atx2_1.pdf
I'm not claiming they never deviate from an established spec, but
generally when they do (today) it is to reduce the size of the
system. You'll find similar unique designs from Asus, Shuttle,
MSI, PCChips, etc, etc, tiny cubes and other special case shapes.

While we're playing show and tell, show me where you can assume
you'll get a good power supply without even knowning what it's
going to be, and tell me if you've tested these PSU more than
"installed it in a system, system runs at least till you leave
the building".

As someone who has piles of old crap generic PSU, I am pretty
confident that whatever you're using that has a protruding
stamped grill, is junk. Hey, maybe I'm wrong, show me some
decent PSU that have that grill style. Then again, the same
situation still applies, that even if it were good, you still
choose to use it as a spare instead of one of many, many units
that would be more compatible.

Bottom line is that what you'r calling a problem, seems to be
mostly a problem for you, not for many techs or the user of a
system who can see the back of the case and compare to PSU with
or without a switch. I am attacking the argument by attacking
the man, because his argument is based upon his choice not to be
prepared to service millions of systems.

 

[Trent©]

The following is a quotation from RFC2822, quoted to guard against
line wrapping. This is the standard that governs both email and
news articles.

I have no idea what that is. Is that some kind of pseudo governing
agency?

At any rate, turning on word wrap will solve your problem.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[CBFalconer]

I have no idea what that is. Is that some kind of pseudo governing
agency?

At any rate, turning on word wrap will solve your problem.

It is not my problem, it is yours, and the rest of usenet. You
are making things awkward for many people. RFC2822 is the
appropriate standard. All you have to do is set your emitted line
wrap at the appropriate point, and you become largely compliant.
In this case, you can no longer plead ignorance.

 

[Trent©]

It is not my problem, it is yours, and the rest of usenet. You
are making things awkward for many people.
How
am
I
making
things
awkward
for
people

It
would
seem
to
me
that
having
a
limit
TOO
small
would
ALSO
cause
problems!

Why
are
you
merely
picking
on
the
MAXIMUM
line
length?

lol

RFC2822 is the
appropriate standard.

There is no standard. But, re: THEIR standard, what is their standard
when posting with a Palm or by cell phone?

All you have to do is set your emitted line
wrap at the appropriate point,

Which is what? All you gave is the maximum...and even THAT has two
alternatives. What if I'm running magnifying?...with super large
fonts on a 15" monitor. Word wrap might easily be a 10-15 characters
in that case.

and you become largely compliant.
In this case, you can no longer plead ignorance.

I'm not pleading anything. I jusz posts the ways that ah's wants ta!

Ya'll have a nice weekend now, ya hear!


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[kony]

How
am
I
making
things
awkward
for
people

It
would
seem
to
me
that
having
a
limit
TOO
small
would
ALSO
cause
problems!

Why
are
you
merely
picking
on
the
MAXIMUM
line
length?

lol

..moment the at me escape that parameters other few a and length
line including ,posts usenet for standard established an is there
,not or it admit to like you'd Whether

 

[Trent©]

.moment the at me escape that parameters other few a and length
line including ,posts usenet for standard established an is there
,not or it admit to like you'd Whether

At least you didn't top post!!! lol


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[Michael Culley]

It is not my problem, it is yours, and the rest of usenet. You
are making things awkward for many people. RFC2822 is the
appropriate standard. All you have to do is set your emitted line
wrap at the appropriate point, and you become largely compliant.
In this case, you can no longer plead ignorance.

What a life you must lead if all you've got to complain about is the length of lines in newsgroup posts.

 

[kony]

What a life you must lead if all you've got to complain about is the length of lines in newsgroup posts.

What a life you must lead when all you've got to complain about
is someone else cmplaining?

Would you rather we compained about the price of gasoline here?

Would you rather we all ignored the guidelines and let usenet
turn into a chaotic mess? Apparently so.

 

[Michael Culley]

LOL, yes line length is going to turn usenet into a kaotic (maxwell smart
spelling) mess. Gunna tell me off for top posting too?