Dell for Soldiers

November 12, 2007

Posted By:  haler

62 Votes

Status: Partially Implemented

Promote

My step-son is leaving for Iraq in January. His mom can't afford a laptop for him and neither can I, but I thought it could be done if everyone in the family could contribute via a site, then when there was enough, you could ship him a laptop!

This could be a great "community" PR thing for Dell -- Set up a website, soldiers could register -- somehow they are qualified, then anyone could go and give $5 to a few people. When the solider gets their laptop, they could receive a list of email addresses of the contributors if the contributors cared to share it -- then they could be pen pals too.

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Status Update:  Please see richard_m's comment for further details.  Thanks for posting the idea! 

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  • Jan 25, 2008     Comment Link

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    Posted By: debbiegamble

    My son just left for Iraq last week. His friend took a laptop and was able to get internet service while still in kuwait(where they do inprocessing) and just being able to see him on webcam and he see us was a boost for all of us! Yahoo messenger has been a wonderful way for us to keep in touch. They sad part is, his friend is the only one in a tent of 200 plus soldiers to have this laptop. He does his best to share so others can talk to family members back home but since they are so busy during the day, there is only so much time that the soldiers can get online. I am surprised computer companies have not donated computers to set up for these soldiers in transition. These soldiers are either starting a long tour, or on their way home from a long tour, either way, they are homesick and need to talk to and see their familes and their families need to see them. Surely there is some way to donate 5 or more computers to these processing centers
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  • Dec 28, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: catalyst

    FYI - Since Santa may have delivered some of you a new Dell for Xmas, I thought you might be interested in this link to the VMware Converter http://www.vmware.com/download/converter/download.html For Vista fans: The software allows you to convert a physical machine (IE Your old XP System) to a virtual machine which can then be xfered to your new Vista machine and run as an XP VM on Vista with the Vmware player. Both player and converter are free for personnal use. For Linux fans; The current issue of Linux Format Mag pg. 60 Has a great "How To" on Inverting a windows system to Linux. The concept involves booting from the Linux Live Distro CD Partitioning the drive correctly with the linux OS Converting the windows physical system to a VMDK, Installing the linux OS to the physical system, (since the previous windows OS is now a Virtual Machine file), then booting up the new Linux OS from the Physical System Download the Correct VM Player, (Linux Mag likes Virtual Box) Your physical system is now inverted whereby Linux is the Boot OS and the previous Windows OS can be run as a VM on top of it. http://www.howtoforge.com/vmware_converter_windows_linux
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  • Dec 18, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: catalyst

    Another good link for multible VMware Linux Distro's http://vmplanet.net/
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  • Dec 18, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: petzymathuram

    Catalyst?...Kevin Rollins?.....the person who was in the Executive Review Board from 22.12.'04 - 9.5.'06 as long I was there?....;)
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  • Dec 17, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: catalyst

    Here is a great Link for VMware Ubuntu 8.04 Alpha FYI http://www.vmware.com/appliances/directory/1121
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  • Dec 7, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: petzymathuram

    Hi Richard, I'm happy to see Dell people participating...not bad I thought all have forgotten ideastorm...;)
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  • Dec 7, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By:
    sugarbear

    @Dell richard, don`t forget the desert camouflage. The skins would be the easiest. A lot of laptops in Iraq can`t reflect any light in the field from the outside case. I`ve shipped camo duct tape to my step son, to cover the outside case. Or offer desert camo duct tape as an option. Yeah, I know it sounds funny.
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  • Dec 6, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: richard_m

    We're still looking into how to best do this, but in the meantime, www.yoursishere.com can be used to accomplish this. Military personnel can go here and ask for family and friends to contribute to his/her computer fund. Not as servicemen specific as we'd like, but it's, um, servicable, and, for those whose humor leans this way, kind of fun.
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  • Dec 3, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: petzymathuram

    Hey Mike is here.....yep.....the "Future is Virtual"......;) well Future is present goals...;)
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  • Dec 2, 2007     Comment Link

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    Posted By: catalyst

    Future is Virtual http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLWfj4ZlI3Q

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