Dell has a "Gold" support that I think comes w/ business purchases or is available for minimal charge. W/o that service, I'd never purchase another Dell (given previous experience). On the dual xeon units - one factor to consider is the add'l heat generation. The heat that comes pouring out of that box is beyond belief and made me add an exhaust fan on the back side of the desk.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-PowerEdge-...0QQihZ006QQcategoryZ51227QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem So it ended up going for $800 (including shipping) which would have made it a good deal for purchasing. These type of deals happen regularly on eBay. For a few hundred more, you can put this puppy under Gold support and now that level of tech support becomes very good. Now that IBM unit that originally started this thread went for just under $1,200 which is a good price for the package also. So I think it's a function of what you like sometimes. A good deal is a good deal!