IdeaStorm
Over 19,075 ideas submitted. 741,226+ votes. 98,024+ comments. 537+ ideas implemented.
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Sell ARM based systems
Mar 22, 2010
10 Votes
Status: Partially Implemented
Intel based systems are power hungry and with rising energy costs, many people are realizing that they do not need power hungry Intel based systems and they would be happy to move to systems using alternative ISAs. In the past, computer companies such as Dell had to sell Intel-based systems because Windows required it, but the success Dell has had with Linux (and the fact that I am typing this on a Dell laptop running Gentoo Linux) shows that people do not need Windows anymore. Power is becoming an ever growing concern in many places.Laptops, netbooks, datacenters and embedded systems are all places where power consumption is key. I had a Dell Inspiron 4000 in 2000 and I loved it because it had a dual-battery feature that gave me an 8 hour battery life. When I purchased a Dell Inspiron E1705 in 2006 because of the experience I had with my previous Dell laptop, I noticed the difference in battery life immediately and I have been very disappointed. Improvements in operating systems has improved the situation, where I can manage to get a 3 hour battery life, but still, that is a far cry form the 8 hour battery life where I could go someone, work all day on something and not need to plug my system into a power outlet once. Netbooks, which tend to have lower power requirements and corresponding good battery life have become very popular because of this. While a market for high-end systems that use enormous amounts of energy certainly exists, it is quite small compared to the mainstream, which Dell's offerings have not targeted well since Dell abandoned the energy efficiency of the Inspiron 4000. Another example of this is the sheevaplug, which has become quite popular among hobbyists:http://www.openplug.org/The sheevaplug is an embedded system, but it is being targetted for datacenters, and as virtualization becomes more persuasive, systems like it that have enormous numbers of computational cores will begin to phase out existing Intel-based systems.My proposal for Dell is simple. In each product segment where power consumption is a concern (netbook, laptop, desktop, datacenter) offer a system that is based on the ARM architecture. Nvidia has a chip called the Tegra 2 which would be excellent for netbooks and laptops:http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3714&p=1The laptops could run either some flavor of Linux (likely Ubuntu as Dell already offers it) or Google Chrome OS. Budget desktops could be produced with the Tegra 2 as well. Google is said to be designing a Google Chrome Netbook based on the Tegra 2, which would likely harm Dell's business should Dell not produce a similar product:http://gadgets.softpedia.com/news/Google-Chrome-Netbook-to-Feature-NVIDIA-Tegra-2-Chipset-7022-01.htmlFor datacenters, Dell could license the ARM architecture, have its engineers design a multicore chip (with an accompanying chipset) suitable for server virtualization and contract TSMC to produce the chips. Dell could then cheaply produce servers for tomorrow's datacenter, running Linux with network cards installed that have hardware acceleration support for virtualization. Anandtech has an article on one such network card that Dell could use, which would enable Dell to produce systems that will replace dozens of others:http://www.anandtech.com/IT/showdoc.aspx?i=3759I realize that the idea of having a single server that replaces many others would likely be detrimental to other areas of Dell's business, but this is the future and if Dell does not do it, some other company will and Dell will lose far more business in the long run than they would if they produced such a product themselves.In summary, I believe Dell should offer ARM-based laptops, netbooks, desktops and servers (intended for datacenters). A single good quality product in each segment designed and marketed for low-power and low-cost to test the waters would be sufficient. I imagine that if Dell were to bring ARM-based systems to market, even as a trial to test the market demand, your company would have such success that you would want to replace some of your existing product lines outright with ARM-based systems.Status Update: This idea has been partially implemented with the announcement of the "Copper" ARM server. Thank you for posting.
Categories: Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies,
Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware
Feb 19, 2007
8949 Votes
Status: Partially Implemented
I don't care whether the OS is pre-installed or not, I want all the hardware to be totally supported in the Linux kernel without in mucking around. I currently have a Dell M1210 and I wish the modem would work, just in case I need it. The web cam would work, just in case I need it. At least the Intel wireless card is totally supported. Thanks Intel!! Status Update Drivers are available for Linux to make some but not all hardware work. We continue to work with our partners to provide for better hardware support. See more specifics from john_h.
Categories: Linux,
Pre-Installed Linux | Ubuntu | Fedora | OpenSUSE | Multi-Boot
Feb 17, 2007
10406 Votes
Status: Partially Implemented
Offer the 3 top free Linux versions for free pre-installation on all Dell PCs. Quality free and open source software drastically lowers the cost of new PCs, and helps prevent software piracy. For example OpenOffice.org, the Microsoft Office alternative, can shave hundreds of dollars off the price of a new PC. Cast your vote for OpenOffice and other free software. Offer easy multi-boot options with Windows Vista, Windows XP, or NO Windows (yes, Linux can entirely replace Windows!) Offer trade-ins and Linux CDs for older model Dell PCs. Cast your vote for the mini Linux Dell PC and the Universal Education Dell PC, both utilizing free software. Would you try Linux if it were this easy? CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Quality free and open source software is well behaved, and may be legally pre-installed on PCs, and legally shared with friends and family, sharing is encouraged! Cast your vote for consumer CHOICE and public transparency at Dell. Status Update Please take a look at www.dell.com/open for linux options on the Inspiron.
Categories: Desktops and Laptops, Linux, Sales Strategies,
pre-installed linux ubuntu on desktops and laptops
Feb 20, 2007
1657 Votes
Status: Partially Implemented
i think linux will be the future...so please make some model-line of desktops and laptops with ubuntu linux pre-installed... thanks Status Update This idea has been implemented on select desktops and notebooks in the US, UK, France and Germany.
Categories: Desktops and Laptops, Linux,
Sell Linux PCs Worldwide - not only the United States
May 2, 2007
5713 Votes
Status: Partially Implemented
Dell has now decided to sell computers with Linux pre-installed. GREAT MOVE! But for the moment, it only concerns the US... Here outside the US, we can't wait to buy a pre-installed Linux Dell PC! Please sell Linux PCs worldwide! Status Update Check out the details on Dell Linux systems worldwide!
Categories: Desktops and Laptops, Linux, Sales Strategies,
Make the dell ubuntu models available through the main webpage
Jun 19, 2007
3905 Votes
Status: Under Review
Instead of having the model listings on a different webpage ( www.dell.com/open) have these models available from the product search you have on the main page or a link available through the main page (www.dell.com) When I go to dell.com and I search for the product model numbers I never can find them I have to go to the other page and then I see it. The only thing I saw on the main page is a small flash ad which then takes you to the page. Why cant you place these models with the other models on your page......... Status Update
Categories: Dell Web Site, Linux, Sales Strategies,
Dell Ubuntu for Europe
May 3, 2007
2405 Votes
Status: Partially Implemented
Dell announced to pre-load Ubuntu on Notebooks and Desktops for US market. What about for Europe? We want for Europe market too... users from Switzerland, Germany, France, UK, Austria, Spain, and others are requesting the same. Status Update See the blog post in Direct2Dell re: Ubuntu in UK, France and Germany; Dell/Red Hat Solutions & More.
Categories: Linux,
No OS Preloaded
Feb 17, 2007
8107 Votes
Status: Partially Implemented
I have a XP Pro retail copy, will soon buy retail vista, I also like Linux: Make WINDOWS-FREE, and OS-Free an option for more than just expensive business lines. Status Update Dell has systems available that do not have an OS pre-loaded called N-Series line. You can check them out at www.dell.com/nseries.
Categories: Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies,
Make Dell Ubuntu PCs available to businesses and non-profits
Jun 20, 2007
824 Votes
Status: Partially Implemented
Dell is apparently not yet willing to sell Ubuntu-based PCs to business users, non-profits, or other organizations larger than a "home office." See this Ubuntu forum thread for more: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=478975 If Dell is serious about offering "choice" to consumers -- the main reason that they're offering up Ubuntu -- they ought to offer it to all their customers, including commercial and non-profit organizations. Perhaps the greatest barrier here is that these other customers often require different support contracts than home users. It wouldn't be necessary to offer the same support options to organizations that purchase Ubuntu PCs as are offered to home users, or to organizations that purchase Windows PCs. (Perhaps Dell doesn't need to offer any support at all, except for hardware; as long as Canonical can support these organizations.) But they ought to at least have the option of buying the boxes, even if they have to get support in a different way. Status Update : This idea has been Partially Implemented. Please see john_h's comment about Vostro systems. Thanks for the idea!
Categories: Linux, Sales Strategies, Small Business,
Legal Blueray Playback on Ubuntu
Jan 9, 2008
72 Votes
Status: Under Review
Ubuntu have a legal way to play DVD's with LinDVD on current Dell hardware offers which we the customers appreciate. However, windows hardware products come with an option to add a blueray player. Dell should add that option as well to their Ubuntu offers. A commercially available piece of software (like LinDVD) could be implemented to play blueray DVDs. Status Update