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1. Get more consistent across the line. I mean, Alienwares should look different, but the XPS's, Latitudes, Vostro and Inspirons should start to look a bit more consistent. I'd say out of the four, currently Vostros are the best looking laptops, along with the older E6x10 generation Latitudes. Dell used to have reasonably consistent design but that has changed.

2. Emphasize function. Apple prides itself on form over function. Dell should try to do the reverse - put function first, but without sacrificing form. Laptops should be durable and comfortable to use first, and pretty next.

3. Make design original. Don't blatantly ripoff other manufacturers' designs (*cough* XPS 15z *cough*). Dell has been fairly good in the past and has some very original great designs. The new Vostro V131 looks great. Don't copy Apple's design elements please. Keep Dell original.

4. Don't replace good designs so fast. IMO there's some great looking laptops Dell has made whose designs should've lasted longer. Notably, the XPS M1330/M1530 and the Latitude E6400/E6410 are still great looking laptops today despite their age. Their replacements arguably looked a lot worse (just search various forums for the outcry agains the Latitude E6x20 generation - the majority consider them much uglier than the E6x10, e.g. http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/606390-new-latitude-series-current-models-just-dont-cut.html ).

Rpalop,

I'm glad to hear/read that your kids are at least somewhat computer literate and in the young stages of education anything, Mac or PC is great.  However, there are a few things I have grown to know over the years and its:
1) Mac's are great in elementry schools (because of the ease of use)
2) Mac's perform well and have hundreds of apps for publishing (industries such as printing newspapers and the such are well known for having mac machines/users in their companies)
But other then publishing, how many mac's do you see in the corporate world? (Yes, I agree we're seeing more and more IPads but they haven't been around long enough to gain stats)
What happens when kids go from elementry to Jr High/High School? Well, for the most part, they have to use a PC to do their work.
Why? -- Because its industry standard.  I'm just being realistic... unless your company is into publishing or you have a rock solid Mac IT staff, or hey lets jump off the deep end and say the Board of Directors said everyone must use a Mac, most companies will use and continue to use PCs regardless of design. 
Now, don't get me wrong, this could all change, but if your putting all your chips down on image, color, appearance of what a computer should be, and expect the skills of a comsumer to change just becuase of its appearance, I personally disagree with your conclusions. And my personal opinion, I don't want every mac gadget I own to be white or silver.  
For sake of agrument, I suppose  we could discuss Apple's naming conventions? I think their names are very plain.  Imac, Ibook, IPod, IShuffle, IPad.. (Heard they may need a ICEO now..sry just trying to lighten the topic a bit)  With Dell you have Precision, Inspiron, Latitude and Vostro.   
If we went by name, I guarantee you I would pick Precision over MacPro.

(Back to Topic) I know many people that are on still on a Dell "black box" using a Intel Celeron from years ago and the life cycle out performed the local elementry teacher's mac book.  Thats why I try (yes, said try..) to stay out of arguments about what is better.. Mac or PC; Novell or Microsoft; Intel or AMD;

In the end, the computer of any make/model will only be as good as the user behind it. 

But since you asked - If I put my Alienware 17x next to a MacBook, I personally would choose my 17x. (You did say, "your best performing machines")
Hummm... Alienware  vs. MacBookPro.. yip, I'm sold on the name too.  ;)