IdeaStorm can help take your idea and turn it into reality.

Promote

Not exactly a new idea here, I just wanted to sum why creating hardware for developers may be a great idea for Dell.

1. Developers know their computers, and will really value good, solid hardware. If a laptop is good, it will get popular among them.
2. Their numbers may not be that big, compared to the rest of office workers, but they are the ones who often have the most to say about what the company will order. Even if they don't make the final decission, they are always the ones to ask for advice.
3. You don't save money on your tools. If it's a good and trusty tool, the developers will happily pay for it.
4. Many startups let the developers choose their laptops, in order to lure the best ones.
5. Remember ThinkPads? Part of their huge success was their popularity with developers. It's gone now though, as they didn't keep up wih the high standards.

On the other hand, this can be risky for Dell, because:

1. Developers have really sensitive (sometimes oversensitive) [redacted] detectors. And they love to gossip. If you don't deliver what was expected, it can be painful for the reputation.
2. It's not a gaming laptop or a laptop for web browsing and office apps. It will really be used at least 8 hours a day everyday, mostly typing all the time. It will also often get to run not-quite-correct programs that can be trying to do weird stuff with the hardware. It has to be able to take that and not fall apart. If it doesn't, there will be a lot of complaints.
3. It's the main tool for the next 3-4 years (2 years at the minimum). Developers will choose it very carefully. Even small things can make them go look somewhere else.

7 Votes | No Comments | Report Abuse