Dell OptiFlex GX150 proves to be good

Zatni Arbi, Columnist, Jakarta, zatni@cbn.net.id

I have been using a Dell OptiFlex GX150 desktop computer for almost two months now. I have been using it to play around with Release Candidate 2 (RC2) of the soon-to-be-released Windows XP.

The machine is not the fastest that Dell makes, of course. With Pentium 4 becoming more commonplace, the unit that I have borrowed for this purpose is far from being the top of the line.

However, with its Intel Pentium III processor running at 866 MHz, a Western Digital's 20 GB Caviar hard disk and 128 MB of RAM, it is a very fast machine. It came preloaded with Windows 2000 Professional, as it was intended for use in a business environment instead of the home.

If you have been following my earlier articles on Windows XP, you would know that I installed the new operating system without destroying the existing one. My conclusion so far is that Windows XP runs noticeably faster than Windows Professional 2000, and this makes this PC an even more capable machine.

Slim

This OptiFlex is a slim desktop model. The gray housing covers are made of steel-reinforced plastic. The guys who brought it to my place were not even aware that we had the option of placing it standing on the floor to save desktop space.

The unit I received still had all the legacy ports - one parallel and two serial ports - all indicated by different colors and icons. The icons could still be made more informative, though.

Given its small form factor, expandability is not this machine's forte. It has only two regular PCI slots attached to a riser card and a third slot for a low profile PCI card. Luckily it has four USB slots, which certainly compensate for its limited internal expandability. It has a fast CD-ROM drive, all the audio jacks (line-in, line-out and microphone jacks) and an internal monaural speaker. An extra microphone jack is hidden behind the front panel, together with the two USB ports.

This model does not have a modem built into it, and it makes sense since this computer is not meant as a stand-alone machine. When connected to a network, it can use the network's modem to access the Internet if necessary. It does have an integrated RJ45 Ethernet port.

What to like

What I like the most about OptiFlex GX150 is its level of serviceability. Dell has successfully made this machine easy to service and does not even need tools. We can open the case and add a PCI card without a screwdriver, for example. Dell uses plastic latches to lock the cards in place. Taking out the hard disk, the CD-ROM and the floppy diskette drive would be a snap, too, as they all use plastic holders. All these plastic latches and holders are in bright green so we can find them very easily.

The CPU housing can be locked to avoid unwanted replacement of parts - a problem quite rampant in the workplace. When connected to the network, the network administrator will be alerted should someone open the case. A slot for a Kensington security chain is also available to prevent theft. This model is meant for business users with Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) concern.

The 15-inch CRT monitor, which is the smallest that Dell makes for its desktop PCs, is very good, too. It has all the controls that are commonly found in a good CRT monitor. The standard keyboard is acceptable. I like it because there is not a confusing array of extra buttons on it.

What not to like

When it is placed standing on the floor, however, it would be difficult to insert CDs into the drive. Inserting a floppy diskette can be problematic, as well. I would suggest that you leave the machine laying on top of your desk if you plan to use these drives frequently. Dell provides optional plastic fillers to cover the bays in case this machine will be used as a media- free workstation.

You could also skip Dell's standard mouse, which came with the unit that I received. This two-button mouse has no scrolling wheel. The internal speaker is too feeble. You cannot rely on it if you place the CPU on the floor. Except for these downsides, however, there is not much else that I do not like about this machine-keeping in mind its intended use.

These days, Michael Dell has very good reasons to be excited. In Q1 of this year, his company sold the most PCs worldwide. Today, one of his biggest competitors, Compaq, is busy working out their merger with Hewlett-Packard and therefore will have less time to concentrate on their marketing and sales efforts. Above all, Dell has been noted by industry analysts as the most efficient PC maker, and this means that, unlike other PC makers, it has the ability to sell at very low prices.