Dell OptiPlex SX270 user reviews

Pros Nice monitor

Cons Footprint too small; notebook hard drive and memory are proprietary; unit overheat, causing the unit to fail early in life; poorly designed; worst aspects of notebooks and desktops; junky, overpriced

Summary Only very rarely do I despise a product so much as to rate it this low, but Dilbert's company could have done a better job designing and building this computer.

What it is, essentially, is a laptop computer, with laptop proprietary components, stuffed into an impossibly tiny desktop design. In our company, without a fan sitting right behind it, life expectency is roughly nine months before failure due to heat.

When I discovered my new work computer had only 30 gigs of HD space, I wasn't happy. Then I discovered the HD itself was a notebook size, so CompUSA sent us a 120 gig drive for $200. Of course, being a Dell, it wouldn't accept a non-proprietary drive, so we paid even more for an Optiplex drive when the notebook drive really should have worked.

Oh, and not just any memory is likely to work, but that's hardly surprising and not worthy of comment.

The tiny desktop also had to be situated right next to the monitor because the data cord was so short. The computer is slow, there's no room in the unit; however, one may fry eggs on the heat ventilation on top. Another plus is that it doesn't matter how much dust that gets in the case as the components can't get any hotter than they already are.

I could complain that the fan noise was excessive, but there doesn't seem to be a fan. Is it any wonder that resistors pop like pop corn less than a year after you buy it. The modular DVD ROM also is proprietary, slow and unreliable -- especially when it gets too hot. Do yourself a favor and buy a USB external writer. You'll find it worth the extra $$$.

If it were fast enough to play really great games, I could give it the nod because it's easy to move from one place to another, but it gets a little unreliable, especially when it gets hot.

I got one because that's what my company buys. I'd never buy one for myself, ever.

The deal's not a total waste, though. The monitor is quite nice, vibrant, no dead pixels and flips vertically. You can also pop out and keep the DVD read/writer when the motherboard blows and keep it as a spare if your company buys you a replacement.

After it fails, you can either use it as an example when your IT guys come by of what not to buy, or, if you prefer, it makes an excellent target at about 100 yards.

Oh, and one last thing. I'm not kidding about the fan. Get one of those cheap plastic fans and leave it on all the time you're using the SX270. It will greatly extend the life of the unit.

Pros small

Cons Why is this product listed as just released? I bought two of these a year ago. The small size is achieved by making the power supply (picture huge laptop power pack) EXTERNAL... one of the machines is already having problems with the power pack fluctuatin

Pros Small form factor

Cons Bad Capacitors, Over heaat, Limited RAM, poor support

Summary We have had hundreds of these go bad from bad capacitors. Dell is trying to get out of replacing these defective machines.. One more bad batch like these and were going MAC.

Pros None if the machine doesnt work

Cons capacators blown, AWFUL CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Summary Serious overheating causes system to not power up. Dell wont listen or even adknowledge there is a problem even though is very widespread. They have awful customer support that dont listen or care about anything out of warranty. I will hassle and annoy them until they replace the machines.

DO NOT BUY DELL COMPUTERS!!!!!