Well I've completed my 761st installation of a Dell home system today - and still just a handful of problems so far - fewer than ten.
I also had to call Dell tech support the other day - on behalf of a client - waited 20 mins for an reply, introduced myself as the inhouse techie for my client, went through some basic diags and an engineer was scheduled to attend site two days later to changed the mobo. Maybe it's just me but I thought the whole process was painless and reasonably quick.
I also ordered a Dell laptop for my mum - again the whole process went very smootly and the end product looks very good quality to me.
I'm not a Dell employee by the way - I know things sometimes don't go as you'd wish but then that can happen with a lot of companies.
Now, if I had to recount the experiences I had when I was installing Gateway PCs I'd probably end up swearing - glad they went and Dell are nowhere near how hopeless they used to be...
I'm still intrigued that no-one has so far suggested a firm alternative to Dell - any takers? <ducks>
Charles