Doesn't this all boil down to personal experience?
Dell own alien ware just to let you know.
I've used Dell for quite sometime in fact, I went from building my own laptops/Desktops to buying Dell XPS M1210(Laptop)
and buying a Dell XPS 700 (Desktop)
Run vista on both and run it very well might i add.
With no faults what so ever. Also worked in company n purchased 30+ dell PCs and 10 + laptops. and 10-15servers now.
With very little faults and awesome support when needed.
But then i do like dell.
Work for company now that has alot of HP/Compaq(same company now of coursE) Machines. With out any faults.
IBM/Lenovo our also very good for business laptops. I rate them as the best quality i've ever seen. stable reliable and well built(very well built) That well built you could throw them on the floor and they'd still work(seem it done with my own eyes)
My 2 cents, Also just proving its the users end opinion so when people ask for tips they generally end up going with what they think is better rather than what some one else suggests. Infact they wait for some one to backup there opinion then go with there own idea.