Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Dell Technologies Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/19/1998 6:55:00 PM
From: Jock Hutchinson	Read Replies (6) \| Respond to of 176387

And holding Dell is what you shall continue to do. The great bull run in this magnificent company is over. More anecdotal evidence. In this Monday's IBD, the top sells of two very high powered blue chip funds are list at the very top of the page--one of which is a Fidelity Fund. Guess what both funds are dumping big time--yep good ole Dell. This puppy has moved sideways the past two months for the first time in its history. Turn out the lights. The party is over on the big bucks in this company.

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/19/1998 8:54:00 PM
From: stock bull	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 176387

Annette, re:<<They received a shipment of 4,000 DELL PCs and after installing them in a few locations, they immediately noticed there was a problem....EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PCs WERE MISSING A BIOS CHIP.>> I don't doubt a word that you posted. I just can't understand how a pc without a Bios Chip could have left the factory. Without the Chip, the computer wouldn't start. How could Dell have loaded the Operating System and Application Software? (Of course, I am assuming they load the Application Software.) Something doesn't make sense. In any event, I would expect Michael Dell to send a letter to the bank offering his apology and a clear statement as to why the problem occurred and the corrective action measures taken by Dell. Of course, any costs incurred by the bank should be paid by Dell. I sure hope Dell isn't starting to see an increased number of problems due to their rapid expansion. All the recent hiring of personnel is not an easy thing to pull off without having some problems. Training of the new people, getting them up the "learning curve", overtime pressures, etc. Sure hope the bank doesn't walk away from Dell. Stock Bull

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/19/1998 11:28:00 PM
From: Mohan Marette	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 176387

So your husband made you sell the DELL shares at a loss,huh? BTW nice story,have you any more to tell?

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/20/1998 12:06:00 AM
From: Lizzie Tudor	Respond to of 176387

Annette - your story is a little suspect. Dell offers warranties on its product line and those are violated once a third party "dinks around" with the motherboard. Im not saying it didnt happen, but it seems like a very unusual way to handle the problem from Dells standpoint. I think their approach in the past has always been to RMA the defective products and ship out a new set.

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/20/1998 2:26:00 AM
From: nihil	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 176387

re: urban legend I don't think the particular error you mention is possible with Dell's system. Without the BIOS you can't do the pre-shipping check or even install software. In your own financial interest, before spreading defamatory rumors (particularly on this thread), I would check it out. What you wrote is, I believe, per se libel if untrue and Dell doesn't even have to prove damages to take everything you own. Also, a failure to check out the rumor (recklessness) exposes you to punitive damages. I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep about it, but if I were you I would check it out and retract it if you cannot find confirmation from the bank or Dell. You know the name of the bank. Why don't you check out the rumor, or, send me the name in a private message and I will check it out. I won't mention your brother or you, of course.

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/20/1998 11:33:00 AM
From: PMS Witch	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 176387

Missing BIOS chip? Are you sure? It sounds too far fetched to be true. Especially on 4,000 units. Please check your facts and post the corrected story. PW. The charitable explanation! "Oh well, probably someone fell asleep on the SILICON INVESTOR...it's all a part of being a human, eh?"

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/20/1998 11:53:00 AM
From: TigerPaw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 176387

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PCs WERE MISSING A BIOS CHIP. I suspect that your brother heard the story wrong. I won't dispute that maybe something happened for which the bank hired consultants. Let me speculate based on what I know about computers and their manufacturing methods but I want to emphasise I have no knowledge of this event. The bios in a PC class computer has not been housed in a separate chip for several years (I think the changeover was about 5 years ago). There is an integrated chipset which contains all sorts of the glue logic, including the serial and i/o ports, timers, the CMOS and the flash memory. It is this flash memory where the bios is stored. That chip cannot be removed from a board without unsoldering the traces. It not only would not boot, it could not pass electrical tests as there would be what amounts to a big hole in the board. To speculate on what may have happened, Microsoft released Windows98 a few months ago. There have been reports that there were installation problems. These may well have been fixed with bios change. It is possible that a shippment of machines could have the older bios revision and still work for the most part, only being noticed after delivery. In such a case to upgrade to the new bios a diskette needs to be made containing the bios and a small program to flash it into the motherboard. It takes only a minute or so, but with 7000 machines they would want consistent and central control over the operation, hence the consultants. The whole operation would be more complicated if the machines were a variety that did not have diskette drives (a common request for institutions which work with sensitive data). In this case the consultants would probably hook up a diskette drive on a temporary basis to upgrade the bios. Such an operation would involve opening the box which again would be left up to field service personel. TP (Who wants to repeat, I don't know what happened but have layed out a plausable scenario that is consistant with what your brother told you).

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/20/1998 12:20:00 PM
From: Frank Ellis Morris	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 176387

<<<I had to post this, and I apologize to the DellHeads in advance.... I had posted earlier that the major bank that employs my brother invested in a major shipment of Dell pcs... I thought that was fantastic...UNTIL, I had dinner with him last night and got the real scoop. They received a shipment of 4,000 DELL PCs and after installing them in a few locations, they immediately noticed there was a problem.... EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PCs WERE MISSING A BIOS CHIP. Argggh...they had to hire contractors to fix them(I'm positive DELL reimbursed them) but it left a bad taste all-around, especially when this bank switched from another manufacturer to get Dell PCs. Oh well, probably someone fell asleep on the inspection line...it's all a part of being a human, eh?>>> This is a very serious charge you made against Dell for incompetence. I think you better have your facts straight since your statement was made on the internet and SI could also be held libel for promoting fallacious information. Please re check your assertions and if there is error you may want to reconsider retracting your story. Frank

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/20/1998 1:35:00 PM
From: Jerry Miller	Respond to of 176387

"I had to post this, and I apologize..." ok, but just get out from under the mistletoe. you're making it droop.

To: Annette who wrote (86179)	12/20/1998 6:40:00 PM
From: Dr. D	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 176387

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PCs WERE MISSING A BIOS CHIP. This is the most absurd accusation I have ever heard. I have toured the Dell facilities. They NEVER, EVER ship a system without testing first. Without Bios it cannot be booted and tested. If they were shipped without Bios it was due to Intel shipping an incomplete Motherboard, Which I find ludicrous.. Bios chips are soldered in at the factory not At Dell. No way Intel could do this, as they could not test the Motherboard before shipping. There is know way this story can be accurate. A bad Bios Maybe, No Bios Impossible. 3d