We've never had a problem with Dell. Now that we're getting a build that's not a 'consumer' computer, and actually getting good parts, I feel we'll have a much better product. Before now, we've used a bunch of Dimension desktops that are 'home PCs' for the most part, and not made for workstation use, imo.
The 10k RPM came over concerns of swap file read/write speed, iirc. The max memory on this computer is going to be 12gb iirc. It's coming in with 4gb, so I'll see how that goes, and it shouldn't be a problem to get another stick or two popped in as time goes on and needs dictate.
The processor was not of my choosing. The boss's laptop is getting an i7, the Xeon was spec'd out by the IT guru after I gave him the Autocad spec req'ments and had a brief conversation about how Autocad uses the hardware, where bottlenecks can occur, etc.
Overall, I think it's a $1700 desktop, including a 21.5" widescreen monitor... told him not to include the monitor, since we have enough, but the boss said it's fine, and he might take the 21.5" to replace his 17" standard. I told him I'll gladly take his 17" to augment my current one, since my vid card supports up to 3 monitors :kewl:
