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1160

Make memory upgrades EASIER, not more difficult

1160 points posted to Sales Strategies, Simplify IT, Laptops by nicopoon 08/19/07

I've always been able to upgrade memory myself on notebooks and laptops, but am concerned to see that Dell has made it so much harder to upgrade memory on new notebooks. You apparently now have to take the notebook apart by removing the keyboard to access memory slots. Why make it so hard for your customers, Mr Dell? All I can see is a lot of unneeded support calls and parts failures as a result of this change.

Besides, I am stunned to see memory prices on the online configurators. 4GB of notebook memory for $400+, while anyone can get the same quality memory under $150 in retail?

Please: either make memory price competitive, and I'll buy the 4GB upfront, or make it easy to upgrade it... before users break their notebook in the process.

davmcn
08/19/07		 Good Idea!
mscartee
08/21/07		 I completely agree with you. Just for curiosity sake which systems do you have to remove to keyboard to access the DIMM slots?
nicopoon
08/23/07		 Latitude I'm pretty sure, others perhaps too.
davmcn
08/23/07		 Yah most systems you have to remove the keyboard to get to the memory slots...
james_g
08/29/07		 Many systems across multiple product lines require removal to access one or both the memory slots, these models are designed this way to make more efficient use of the space, if a customer wants an ultra thin laptop we have to compress as much as possible and trying to meet heat/air flow requirements etc has required that we make some sacrificed as far as placement of RAM and other devices (such as a WLAN card)

Trying to make them all in the same spot and easier to access makes thee models bulkier and more expensive

James Gray
Dell Resolution Expert Center
realskript
08/29/07		 I apologize... i made a thread like this... sorry for making a double.
nicopoon
08/29/07		 Thanks for the response. As long as the manual upgrade is easy and doesn't break the notebook, I'm good. Also, the issue about memory being way overpriced remains. You can check any online vendor of memory, theirs is as good as the Dell and it costs less than 50%.
valency
09/01/07		 Yes, I totally agree ---with the 4GB costing more than retail, and that the problem is probably widespread.
I just found out that a Microsoft Home and Student 2007 cost $213 for an upgrade where I could have bought it at $180 at retail. Imagine the huge difference in prices. What's more, Dell's version is an OEM version.
liraco
10/02/07		 Glad to see a response explaining WHY things are done that way, much better than just seeming to ignore the topic. If easier upgrading means a bulkier laptop then I just hope there can be a compromise made eventually to at least make access to the RAM under the keyboard easier.
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