Chicken bald back

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've bought a Dell desktop (Inspiron 560) which arrived on Monday but I had no joy connecting to the internet - found out eventually that there was no network card .

 

Phoned Dell and they said I hadn't asked for one. Strange, as there's no option to choose one when you're picking the components for your system . Also, the technical spec for the system says:

Integrated

10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN on system board

Optional

Optional Dell 1505 WLAN PCIe card with 11n mini-card & external antenna

 

The ethernet LAN is a network adapter, isn't it?

 

I bought a USB network adaptor from a local shop so we could get it up and running but am slightly concerned that the connection won't be as good as with an onboard card. Is that right? (YS does a lot of on-line gaming so a good connection is critical.)

 

I've had a real job getting through to Dell but am now waiting for someone to call back "within a day" .

 

Will I be as well just keeping the USB adaptor or should I insist on getting an onboard card or a replacement system?

[Geoid]

Yes, it should have an network card, just no wifi.

the USB adapter should work fine, but, USB is not recommened for networking.

I would insist on being sent a network card and a refund from dell since you had to purchase a USB adaptor too.

[majorbloodnock]

The integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN is indeed a network adapter, but it's one into which you'd plug a physical network cable. The optional adapter listed is a wireless adapter so you can connect to your router without a physical network cable. From your post, ANH, I'm not sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion you were expecting it to come with an integrated wireless card. Is that the case, or am I misreading between the lines of what you wrote?

 

If you go to this page on the Dell web site and click on the very last picture in the "features" section, it'll show you the back of the computer. Does yours look exactly like that? In particular, check for the existence of the socket with the white outline just above the bottom five coloured sockets. If that is there (it might also be referred to in your manuals, guides and bumpf as an RJ45 socket), then you do indeed have an integrated network card; just not a wireless one. If it's not there, Dell have missold and you're entitled to do all the usual Consumer Protection stuff to get what you want (refund, replacement etc.).

 

As Fred said, if you want really fast networking, USB isn't ideal. However, if you want really fast networking, then nor is wireless. Wireless and USB will work fine together, but if your son wants the best connection, you'd do better to use a cable twixt PC and router.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That makes everything much more clear, thank you both .

 

I've checked the back and the socket is indeed there. Unfortunately, this PC is in YS's bedroom upstairs so it's physically impossible to connect it with a cable.

 

So it seems Dell was wrong to tell me I don't have a network card but that isn't the issue, its a wireless network card I should have selected. However, having another look at the options available when you "build" your PC, there doesn't seem to be an option for an integrated wireless card . Under "accessorise" 5th page on, the options all seem to be external. Isn't that a bit odd?

 

I bought a similar PC for ES 2 years ago and didn't have the same problems. I've just checked and he does have an internal wireless network card, which must have been an option when I was picking the components .

 

Would this USB adaptor be any worse performance-wise than the internal wireless card? If not, I'll just stick with it (it was only £14.99 - due to increase the next day to £29.99 so I got a bargain ).

 

If so, I wonder if I should push Dell to give me the internal wireless card or a new system (even if it costs extra)?

[majorbloodnock]

I'd say the short answer is to try it and see. To my mind, using USB will only be an issue if it's the slowest bit of the chain, and I'd be surprised if it was a bigger bottleneck than your broadband connection to t'Interweb. However, there are a whole host of factors and the only way to be sure is to try it and see.

 

I agree that there doesn't seem to be the ability to specify a wireless network card; just USB. As a result, choosing the right options is more confusing than it might be. However, I don't think you'd be able to push Dell to do anything except on goodwill grounds; they appear to have supplied what you asked for, even if they "simplicated" the choosing process. If the USB wireless adapter doesn't work out, I'd say your best alternative would be to get a wireless network card that you can install into one of your PC's expansion slots (it'd be described as a PCI card), since that would give exactly the same performance as if it had been built into the motherboard from the start.

[chickric]

I use these for our computer upstairs as the wireless signal wasn't very good, very simple to use just 'plug and play' and like having a wired connection.

[Geoid]

I use those homeplug adapters too, they are very good.

[percy049]

My dell Inspiron screen kept flickering on and off. my mum phoned dell, who talked to someone she could hardly understand due to a strong foreign accent, who instructed my mum to take my laptop apart to fix it, which she refused. We just left it in the end, luckily the screen wasnt as bad as it was then.

Dell aren't very good with their customer care or quality of laptops, but, usually have a good sale on which I why I buy them!

Sorry if someone else said this, but I havent had time to read all the other replies; ethernet LAN is a wire port that you have to plug into the internet of another laptop/pc, a wireless card is simply what it says it is; wireless.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Thanks, everyone . At least I know what the issue is now which I was a bit confused about before. I think I will just point out the flaw in their ordering process but not push for their wireless card(which is bound to be more expensive than just buying one myself) unless they offer me one as goodwill - unlikely, despite my having bought 4 computers from them over the years .

 

I agree it can be tricky talking to these call centres. It sometimes feels like you're talking to a computer rather than a human being .