Custimizing home computers

How IdeaStorm Works:

Sales Strategies Comments | Sales Strategies Ideas | Desktops and Laptops Comments | Desktops and Laptops Ideas

440

Custimizing home computers

440 points posted to Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops by karlgo Apr 3

I was very disapointed to read the article from Dell upper management saying they will move away from customizing computers. That is the very reason I switched to Dell! It must be time to move on because when it comes down to it, they all make PCs about the same don't they. I can't tell enough how that is a bad idea. Everyone is panicing because of a temporary slow-down in our economy. Dell is panicing. They do this and Dell will drive so many customers right in the arms of HP. Dell is making a huge mistake in competing with HP...Dell blinked.

rt Apr 3	Do you have a link to this article? I haven't heard of this until now, but if it is true, I agree that it would be a terrible move. Unless they offered cheaper prices or superior machines, there wouldn't any allure to go to Dell over someone like HP or Toshiba.
sugarbear Apr 3	http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2280994,00.asp
jmxz Apr 3	I also don't get it - I thought this was the biggest (perhaps the only) advantage of Dell over competitors -- that by customizing you could order only the hardware you needed/cared-about -- and therefore could get more computer for your money than from HP where you're forced to get stuff you didn't want too.
stormrider451 Apr 3	Woah woah !! What?! How is Dell going to keep their XPS and gaming computer line working if they lower the custom building? I think this is a bad idea. HP is already doing a very good job at allowing a lot of flexibility on their products onlihne, this would be dissastrous for DELL as HP would overtake them in this area too, an area which has made DELL what it is. I also agree it would be handing themselves to HP. If DELL implements this on their gaming computers, forget it, they will go into bankrupsy! I can understand implementing this on lower end products as people who are buying lower end products probably are not as picky as say a gamer buying an XPS machine. But DO NOT implement this on XPS line and gaming computers or you will loose significant costumers over this in this department!!!!!
programatix Apr 4	Then this is a very good news for Acer indeed. Acer's products are the cheapest compared to its competitors, including Dell. If this is true, you won't see Dell anymore in Asia. I've just bought Dell's laptop because I can customize it. If it is not because of this, I've already bought Acer's laptop. It has a more powerful specification as the basic package offered by Dell and it is cheaper by USD200.
jervis961 Apr 4	OK lets look at this rationally. It all depends on how much they are looking to limit things. Based on articles I have ready they are trying to cut costs by cutting down on the number of options available. This would allow Dell to buy more quantity of specific parts and get a better price for them due to the volume. Now if they decide to only allow preconfigured systems it will be an issue but I think they want to offer those as well as configurable systems with a few options taken away. Here is a screen shot of the $499 Inspiron laptop. Can anyone see where they could reasonably remove some of these options and still offer a good selection, I sure can.
programatix Apr 4	Which screen shot?
okroger104 Apr 4	HP outside the US often doesn't have customizing options.
jervis961 Apr 4	programatix - can you not see the picture I posted of the select my processor section?
programatix Apr 4	jervis961 - Just now it wasn't there. I kept reloading the page and it is still not there. Now it is there.
jervis961 Apr 4	Interesting, that's what I get for using an ATT site. :)
hal2001 Apr 5	customizing computers was what Dell was all about, what is Mike Dell thinking. This can only hurt or perhaps be the end of Dell Computers!
wing044 Apr 5	I bought from Dell because Dell is the only manufacturer that do customizations outside the US and I could choose the options I wanted. Seriously, why buy Dell if you can't customize? Dell's computers aren't much cheaper than other brands anymore. Think HP or Lenovo, their prices are close to Dell if not lower. And Dell's products aren't prettier than others either.
stormrider451 Apr 6	I have smoething else to add.. If DELL goes ahead and downsizes the amount of hardware available for computers, does that mean that if I have a computer who's processor (or any other hardware) is no longer offered by DELL I cant get it if goes bad? Im guessing this is how it would be since they would no longer have those parts around. Would our processor be replaced by the next BETTER OR WORSE processor in line? For example, I just got a M1730 two days ago and got it with a dual core 2.5ghz processor. Say DELL decides to drop the axe on this specific processor, if it breaks, would I get a 2.4ghz or a 2.6ghz processor to replace it? I hope if DELL is going to go ahead and do this lower customizability, that they would offer the people who already ordered computers with hardware that might get the axe the BETTER replacement parts and not WORSE than their original build. .
jervis961 Apr 6	It would be cheaper to offer the better processor instead of making a custom order for one they stopped carrying. Supplying a lesser processor would be devastating to the company once word got out so I doubt they would do it.
jdelidc Apr 7	my 1000th vote that's great though, dell is cutting off the biggest thing that set them apart from the competition. that's good (sarcasm)
f22fighter2001 Apr 26	I would have to agree that the simple idea and success behind dell is there ability to "customize" to our needs and wants. Dell is NOT doing this to save money, I know this because they support a buying system called "JUST IN TIME INVENTORY" where there ordering process is stream lined with there suppliers. Dell only purchases hardware and software when it is needed, resulting in a minimized overhead. If anything, this will increase overhead and fixed costs for dell (i.e. new distribution centers and construction plants to deal with volume). I think this is a good move for Dell. It allows them to reduce costs for a single prefabricated unit and also allows them to tap a market that they may do very well in. This is certinaly a market that will welcome Dell if they can sustain customer service and quality with the new customers coming on board.

Please log in to post a comment

recently demoted by:

tdobson

Status

IdeaStorm Team

How IdeaStorm Works:

Categories

Status

IdeaStorm Team