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190

Dell focus groups for ideas under consideration

190 points posted to IdeaStorm by jervis961 10/18/07

When Dell finds an idea that it feels needs further investigation they should create a focus group to gather more information from us.

One option is the Dell Forums has the ability to create a specialized forum that only certain users can access when given permission. This would allow Dell to talk to people under a NDA (non disclosure agreement) which would protect Dell so they can be more open with the group. Every idea they speak about could have a different set of members to get more people involved if they wanted.

Another option is to use a different site or a special access portion of IdeaStorm. I don't think the software has the capability to create a subsection but who knows. The site does have 2 names though dellIdeastorm and ideastorm so perhaps make one site special access and the other full access. NDA would be needed for each participating member of course.

I'm just looking for a way for us to better interact with Dell that they feel comfortable with. Feel free to leave comments with what you would like to see happen or even nominate users you feel would be appropriate for focus groups.

badblood
10/18/07		 I nominate myself as "Chief Officer for the Regulation of Virtue and Vice".

My terms of reference will include:

1. provide high level ethical, cultural, political and religious advice to Dell
2. advise on labor laws
3. Keep a calendar of all religious holidays
4. Monitor the impact of ideas on the moral, spiritual and political wellbeing of the world
5. Liaise with the Ayatollah, the Pope and the Dali Llama, and other noted religious figures
6 Act as Dells moral consciousness and host public displays of spiritual balance and unity.
6. Manage the Dell-Spa-for Moral and spiritual development

I will require modest accommodation and a wardrobe made up entirely of multicolored robes. I will hold council between 2 and 3pm daily. The rest of the time I will busy myself in introspection and meditation. In my first year I will undertake an audit of the world religions and belief systems and develop a critical analysis of their relationship to Dell's technology and corporate practices. In my second year I will devise a code of conduct and a framework for moral leadership. I commit that HP, Toshiba, Asus and Lenovo will follow Dell's lead by the third month of the third week of the third quarter of the second year. The third year I will spend in retreat. By the forth I shall re-emerge with a system for the unification of all the worlds belief system and the formation of a single world order based on the 'Dell Principle'.
phubert
10/18/07		 I have some reservations about the value of 'focus groups' ... I HAVE seen very useful participation by jervis961 and others... so, with the right participants, yes, Dell will likely gain value from this. I'm afraid I'm not very site or product design-oriented, more scatterbrained, likely. :)
phubert
10/18/07		 bb - are you trying to get me to laugh again... you're succeeding!
jervis961
10/18/07		 You're thinking too small badblood.
jervis961
10/18/07		 phubert you may not be site or product design oriented but you do have other strengths that would be very useful. Your HR views and down to earth personality would be helpful alone. I'm sure you would end up adding more than you think.
badblood
10/18/07		 I expect Mr. Dell to respond to my offer by 5pm Texas-Time.
phubert
10/18/07		 whew - 'down-to-earth' - boy have *I* changed! (from the quintessential geek who hasn't yet defined 'human' (I may be getting closer, at least...))
jervis961
10/18/07		 Is that how you feel about yourself? Or what other feel about you?
badblood
10/18/07		 Oh enough with this pop psychology. Phubert is clearly a jalapeño chili. He just doesn't know it.
jervis961
10/18/07		 Exactly my point, he is selling himself short. He has probably been beat down by the system for years.
phubert
10/18/07		 now, is THAT why I ALWAYS have indigestion, bb? So, you're a diagnostician as well!?

and, jervis961, well, I -used to- terrify everyone around me... never QUITE knew why, but did take advantage of it when it was the managers and supervisors I was terrifying (they AVOIDED me and I LOVED it!)... maybe I'm just TOO OLD now... or too sentimental.

Nope. Still don't really know what 'human' is... least of all in myself! Tho I -may- be getting closer...

Whenever I failed to do something and my wife complained, I would respond "I haven't laid-in any code for that yet."
The code required for relationships with humans can be ENORMOUS... worse than validation coding in a PROGRAM. (and one glaring fault of so much programming is the lack of decent validation and cross-validation coding!!! (like having to enter a credit card number without spaces or dashes... why should THAT be necessary? A.: inadequate CODE)).

I DO realize that some would call THAT an example of EDIT coding. Since, however, a program is a 'black box' that only knows:

What it receives.
What it is SUPPOSED to be receiving.
What it is supposed to DO with what it receives.

Hence, EDITING is a form of validation or can be a part of the pre-validation process.
(e.g.: "I'm NOT supposed to see 'xyz' - delete, if present")

Same with date /time formats! Bloody lazy programmers.
jervis961
10/18/07		 LOL, I think they were afraid of you because you are not afraid to talk about problems. At least that's what my stumbling block is. Some people prefer to ignore things and hope they go away while others would rather work towards a solution. Unfortunately the leaders are usually the ones trying to avoid things as it may make them look bad.
phubert
10/18/07		 ouch! got myself started! sorry!!!!!
phubert
10/18/07		 convinced? geek.
jervis961
10/18/07		 Are you calling me a geek? OMG :)

There are all types of geeks it all in how you view the term. I consider myself a technology geek, I tried to be a programmer geek but COBOL killed it for me (what a useless language). I see a geek as a knowledgeable person not as the negative connotation.
badblood
10/18/07		 too much info....
phubert
10/18/07		 no. myself, jervis961 (you can see I haven't an abbreviation for your username!!!)
phubert
10/18/07		 yeah, COBOL is a verbose PAIN... mine was Assembly... LOVED it. Just a tad obsolete now and never related well to C, I'm afraid.
phubert
10/18/07		 ...as well as some command languages and -one- (VS/9 EDT) few know about and fewer knew well...
phubert
10/18/07		 well, welcome to geekdom, bb!
phubert
10/18/07		 there was one guy at the DMV (now retired) who fit the role perfectly... some commented of him: "You just shove the work under the door and he shoves the completed product back out" kinda fit... not big on communication. there were others as well... I broke the mold by recognizing that humans existed... and actually WORKING at communicating!
diytuner
10/18/07		 I am not sure what being a geek has to do with being in a focus group for Dell. Obviously none of us would stick with this if we did not have some desire to change the world... even if it may be a very small piece. Technology is ingrained in our society and the advances of said technology should be used to help people in their daily lives. Whether that is to help with their jobs, help them relax, help them learn, or help them play. I think the fact that all of you have made comments makes you perfect canidates. Regardless of your background, interest in change is probably the most important factor you share.
jervis961
10/18/07		 Same goes for you diytuner. The conversation kinda drifts here at times, I'm sure you've noticed.
badblood
10/18/07		 gmat you are truly on the dark side of the force.
diytuner
10/18/07		 And I suppose you are contributing something...
badblood
10/18/07		 good point.
sugarbear
10/18/07		 they already do that on the forum occasionally.
jervis961
10/18/07		 I know sugarbear, I've participated. This would be on a bigger scale.

@gmat - Isn't the darkside that way because it is where the sun doesn't shine? I don't want to get stuck up where the sun don't shine.
sugarbear
10/18/07		 @jervis. If you can design, get into the contest. www.dell.com/designregeneration Lots of prize money and Dell isn`t going to claim the idea.
jervis961
10/18/07		 not a trained designer but it does look interesting
petzymathuram
10/18/07		 Hi sugar beary...;) How are you?....;)
tekhawk
10/18/07		 dont think this idea will ever happen but if it does sign me up
phubert
10/18/07		 Oh, don't be so pessimistic @tekhawk. I think this one will come to light!
tekhawk
10/18/07		 i sure hope so
jorge
10/18/07		 Add a pay check and you'd have my vote, but to provide a golden egg for some petty non-qualified manager, no Ephen Way!
sugarbear
10/18/07		 @jervis961, you don`t have to be a trained designer, I`m pretty sure you can do what ever you want to with a pc. I find somethings are better if we simpilfy and look at it differently. A little imagination and thought can carry someone a long way with out the training. For instance I have a friend that works at Acxiom in Little Rock Ar. He works for many companies, including Dell. He does very well in his field without a lot of formal training. He has the knowledge and desire to do the job. Education isn`t everything, it certainly is important. But learning on your own helps to. I believe you can do this.
badblood
10/19/07		 Actually I'd say that this idea has about zero chance of coming to fruition, based on past experience.
jervis961
10/19/07		 We'll have to wait n see how Dell responds. Never know until you ask.
badblood
10/19/07		 Actually statistically this idea has roughly zero chance of being implemented. It's not really a question of asking, more of statistics and past experience.
dell_admin1
10/19/07		 Surprise, surprise - this concept was just discussed yesterday within Dell. I think we're going to do this. Probably not within the next month, but I see it as a next logical step for the ideas. There are a few product teams interested in doing this with some product launches coming early next year, so we just need to build the infrastructure. I won't tag it as "coming soon" until I know the delivery date... based on your feedback on our use of "coming soon".
badblood
10/19/07		 We'll see.
petzymathuram
10/19/07		 Hi Ga Ga, all your points are fine...but the 5th one....really sounds like a politician...I think it is Bush who is now holding talks with Dalai Lama isnt it?....are you a politician?...Are you from the house of the representatives by any chance?...I know I know.... you are... you are
Hey I found out ....;)
badblood
10/19/07		 Thanks for your support and ideas petzy. Mr. Dell still hasn't called me. I am beginning to think that he lacks commitment and vision.....
petzymathuram
10/19/07		 Hi Ga Ga..

Oh dear...U are welcome...;)

.I thought that you will now oppose that you are not a politician...So you have finally agreed. I"m really very happy and excited if you are a dignitary...;)
But..why has Mr. Dell not called you still?...I wouldnt agree that he lacks commitment and vision...;)
If you see him or call him..I have a message for him, I request you to pass it on plzzz.;). I got this idea from your comment ....".....vision...."

The message is:
- whenever Michael Dell gives a speech to a big and sensitive gathering, let him "not list out the visions of his company, it is like he himself alerts his competitors. Rather he can stress on the achievements, the strategies that really has been implemented to meet the customer needs etc etc....;)
You being influential can't you tell Michael Dell about my job idea as you have promised me.?....
phubert
10/19/07		 well it would be NICE if someone from Congress showed up here... I'd like to know someone like that EXISTED in Congress... but I'd have my very serious doubts... I'm MOST skeptical that ANY good people manage to be elected, much less STAY elected!
sugarbear
10/19/07		 It seems to me the ones we elect are always rich and corrupt.
petzymathuram
10/19/07		 Hi sugary Beary....;)
sugarbear
10/19/07		 Good morning petzy. I hope you are having a good day.I`m still working on this Dimension 4600, for a friend.In this day and age there is no good excuse for people not to have antivirus and anti malware software. When the trial Mcafee ran out they didn`t know they had to renew or put something else in. It`s so full of bad stuff, I can`t do anything but reformat. I just got her reinstall and software discs. 2 years ago when I ordered this Dimension 9100, Dell offered the disc`s for $10.00. I thought it was a cheap price for ensuring the future. You can`t always use the control-F11 command. This lady had the disc`s, she had bought them to. Now Dell will give you the cd`s free. The lady only used the computer 35 days without the protections and then it shut down to to all the junk in it. It only has SP1 on it. I am gong to reformat today. Then my linux sabayon is missing some files, so I will have to see why and put them back in. I have 3 pc`s I use, for different things.
petzymathuram
10/19/07		 A very good morning to you....but goodnite over here...;)
phubert
10/19/07		 I'll go along with that sugarbear. they say power corrupts... and pride seems to be the root that grows the poisonous plant...
petzymathuram
10/19/07		 Corruption has its heads high over here as well...;)
phubert
10/19/07		 @sugarbear - you wrote:
"Then my linux sabayon is missing some files, so I will have to see why and put them back in. I have 3 pc`s I use, for different things."

Have you ever dropped-by varlinux.org? Nick Petreley is just trying out sabayon and was asking if anyone else had experience with it... no one at the site has... if you get the chance, do you think you might have anything to contribute regarding the distro???

Here's the link to the thread.

http://www.varlinux.org/vl/html/modules/stories/article.php?storyid=14241
sugarbear
10/19/07		 Thanks phubert, I haven`t heard of that site before. I certainly will visit it. I usually have my head burried in the bit torrents for help on this, as sabayon is pretty young. I have an idea about why the files disappeared, but not sure. If my theory is correct I may inject a little piece of code to help. I am not a code writer by any means, just enough to be dangerous. thanks again.
phubert
10/19/07		 It's a little site, sb... with some slashdot escapees... clearly not primarily problem-focused, but can get into that as well... largely a very friendly group bonded for unknown reasons... primarily, I suppose because of Nick.
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