So I was walking through Wal-Mart the other day and saw the big stack of Dell computers. I had completely forgotten about Dell offering their computers through Wal-Mart. I have a few thoughts on this I’d like to share.

I saw two models at Wal-Mart, the E521 desktop for $498 and E521 bundle for $698. I went home and did a quick scan of the Dell website and found the Dimension C521 for $439 which is nearly identical. Just add some shipping in from Dell and you are at roughly the same price.

It would appear that the Dell-Mart system appears to be comparable to the lowest end system available on the Dell website. All this makes me a bit uncomfortable.

It may sound a bit pompous but I go to Dell and Wal-Mart for entirely different reasons. I go to Wal-Mart to save money and Dell to get a good solid computer that works. I don’t go to Wal-Mart to buy high end stuff and I don’t go to Dell to save money.

Over the years, I have become a really big fan of Dell. I have had systems from Gateway, Compaq, HP, Acer, homebuilt and a whole load of many other brands. Hands down, if I want a system that works I will buy a Dell.

Most importantly, if the system does not work, Dell shows up at my place swaps the component out and goes away. No questions asked no trying to get out of warranty service, and no horrid hold times on Tech Support. They come and replace a part and everything works again and most of time they do it within 24 hours.

Over the years, Dell has really built my confidence up. Now they are in Wal-Mart. Not to say that Wal-Mart does not carry some good products but in general it’s not what I think of when I go to Wal-Mart.

If I close my eyes and think of Wal-Mart, I see Sauder furniture, bad clothes and low prices. I go there to get DVD’s at 2 for $9 (god bless the little smiley face), vitamins and other products at some pretty good savings when compared to other places. I don’t shop for electronics at Wal-Mart or for that matter any durable good, you can save a little money but their service is sub-par.

I would no more expect to see Dell at Wal-Mart than Alienware at Comp USA. I am worried that they are going to cut corners to get costs down and that these cuts will impact all of the Dell product lines.

I am worried that they will sell an extra hundred thousand machines and have a problem with tech support should I need it. My worst nightmare is that I call Dell support and a person in a blue vest with a smiley face shows up at my door to work on my computer.

For now I will remain skeptical, I am going to need a new computer soon and will most likely order a Dell. I will probably keep to their high end business systems and hope they don’t let me down. As long as it took me to build a trust up with Dell it won’t take very much to crush it. One really bad experience and I would cast them to the wolves with HP (long story that happened 20 years ago but I still don’t trust them).