I've deeply looked into Dell's Support Area [forums], and this is "something" like I had in mind. However, as a gamer, the specific forums I'm interested in, are: Tech Talk and Gaming. I personally don't feel it's as user-friendly as it could be. Correct me if I'm wrong, but as for Tech Talk, Dell only keeps the "popular threads" listed, this doesn't currently allow any/all customers to inter-mingle and talk with eachother [more appropriately]. Solutions are listed as well, but not for specific hardware I'm interested in. If I may direct Dell's attention to two forums I browse on a daily basis:
1) http://boards.1up.com/
2) http://forums.nvidia.com/
Dell Forums - Tech Talk:
Looking at "Platform Boards" in example 1), we can see that Console Boards are individually broken down: "Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii" etc. What I'd like to suggest, is that Dell do something similar, but break it down into Computer Hardware: "Videocards, Processors, Motherboards, " etc. These specific Boards would be dedicated to [example] "why a Videocard is a Videocard" - what's OpenGL?, what's anti-aliasing?, what's the point of PCI? what's a pipeline? "Hardware Boards" would allow a customer to educate his/her self on why purchasing an XPS gaming machine is far better than the lower-end budget friendly computers. I understand that Dell currently offers Online Education courses, of which are in the $6,000+ range, of which I'm personally very tempted to purchase. But these courses also ask that the user have atleast 6 months of hardware training, prior to applying. So why educate the consumer, if one provides online courses? Let me answer this, first with two thoughts, and finally two minor situations I've been in, that aren't "Dell-related".
Thoughts:
a) "Applicant should have atleast 6 months of prior Hardware Training" - To me, the first thing that comes to mind is: "aha, so I should just purchase cheap parts from a website like Newegg, and Google.com the parts to make sure their compatible with the motherboard. [which "could" take a lifetime, based on website searches (exluding reading)]. This should be part of Dells Support, because it educates the customer for furthering any possible career [through Dell], and also assists in making purchases, i.e. an XPS.
b) As a hardcore gamer, I would personally prefer to spend the money intended for one of Dell's online courses, and use it for a fancy-new Dell Gaming rig. Having a decent gaming rig already, I'm deeply interested in purchasing an online course. Having specific, user-friendly, hardware information available, via Dell Support, this educates the customer for his intended Online Course, and assists him/her greatly, in purchasing a brand new computer from Dell.
Minor Situations:
a) When I purchased my Dell XPS machine, I bought an Intel Dual-Core processor: it's about 2.6Ghz with 4MB Cache. Shortly there-after, QuadCore processors hit the market. "Quadcore?! That must be 2x faster than my processor! I must have it!" But being a hardcore gamer, I spent a fair amount of time researching this technology, [which should be available in Dell's "modern" Forums, in my opinion] My research lead me to believe that the first models were OF the same speed, but came with another 4MBs of Cache, or quite simply: 2.6 Ghz 8MB Cache. As a gamer, this first model doesn't impress me greatly, and I'd honestly have been greatly annoyed with myself and Dell, IF I had purchased this processor. But this information should be available via forums, for the individual who wants to "purchase immediatly" [it's an amazing jump from a single core processor] But as a consumer, I might not personally want it, because the research would've given me to much of a hastle: If it's on the Dell website, it's direct, it's to the point, and honestly, it's going to be something I want to purchase/upgrade too.
b) There's this PC game scheduled to arrive in September called: "Crysis". When I first heard about this game, I kept hearing "DirectX 10 this, DirectX 10 that". With my Dell XPS order, I purchased two Nvidia Gefore 7950 GX2s, which are 1GB DirectX 9 videocards. I'm a Hardcore Gamer, I would've upgraded my hardware just to play a $50 game. Give or Take, each of my current videocards cost $500. And purchasing one [or even two] Nividia Gefore 8800 cards [DirectX 10] would cost atleast $600 each. But again, doing research, DirectX 10 is only Recommended, i.e. to make the game look the best. It thus far, only appears to be compatible with Windows Vista, and is considered the first "true" next-generation computer game. Technically, my videocards, will be able to run "advanced" computer games, for the next 5-10 years. But all this information should be available via Dell's Forums. If I weren't a Hardcore Gamer, perhaps I wouldn't have been aware of Nvidia's 1GB Videocards, or again "annoyed", that I purchased "low-end" hardware.
At this time, I'd like to re-route back to "Hardware Boards". I've spoken with a great number of Dell and Alienware [my previous supplier] Technicians. Over the phone, when diagnosing my technical issues, I'm asked to "unplug" this and "connect" that. Without educating myself on Dell's website, Dell, in my opinion, needs to learn, that the customer isn't the Technician. True, they can walk you through it, and Hardware although easy to spot, the certain cables are not. And if the average Dell customer is like me: 6'6'' with large-thick stubby fingers, then removing a small plastic black bar from videocards isn't exactly easy. Which brings me to another forum board - maintenance:
Dell needs to offer an "accessories" bundle that the customer can purchase via their website. This bundle would include "Spray Air" [for removing dust from the chassis], appropriate screw-drivers, and any other peripheral needed to maintain and diagnose their technical issues with a Dell Technician. I'm not attempting to insult Dell when I say this, but Dell needs to understand, that as a customer, I "may" not know a thing about the internal parts of my PC. "You want me to try and unlock that piece way back in there?!" I personally live in a house with 5-9 people, [some travel, some are in school], but what we do have are "random tools" in a rusty tool box. When a Technician asks you to remove something, and you think you have the right tool for it, - you check, and the tool is missing from the box, someone in your family has misplaced it. So how does one assist in diagnosing the problem? As a Dell customer, I'd be more then happy to purchase this "accessories" bundle, so my tools are on-hand, and never get misplaced. [accessories could be explained as to why they assist in/with the different parts of your chassis] Without tools, a PC isn't a "one size fits all", it's just like trying to disarm a bomb, but one wrong cable, and *boom*. The Maintenance Boards could also include things like: "how often you should clean the inside of the chassis", "when should you replace the RAM? [other than the obvious fact that the PC is slowing down]" "fans make alot of noise, here's what you can do to replace them" etc.
I'm not currently aware, if Dell sells Servers to it's customers, but I'd also suggest making this a Board. I'd also suggest, that Dell make an "Internet" Board. "What's Cache?" "What are Cookies?" "Why can't I just copy an embedded HTML code from a random website, and paste that into Notepad?" [Start -> Accessories] The idea behind this, although not directly Hardware related is to broaden the computer enviornment for the Dell Customers. And for "window shoppers", it displays a sense of: "hey, Dell's smart, their making themselves look good, I'll purchase from them immediatly, I'm impressed."
Futhering the Dell enviornment, as with all forums, comes "General" and "Off-topic". General Topic doesn't go into Hardware specifics, it's more user based. Customers could post about their feedbacks, opinions, suggestions, and even new gaming news - "hey guys, did you hear?" Off-topic is directed towards any and all things that don't include Dell. "So why have it on the website?" It's what someone could consider the "Ultimate Dell Hangout Lounge". Ranging from Myspace pages, to even something funny someone saw on YouTube. It also helps, when someone's head hurts from learning about all the Above Mentioned Hardware. In doing so, they drink a warm cup of Java [pun intended], sit back, and "socialize" in the Off-Topic section. I would strongly suggest that "Dell Technicians/Forum Moderators" have their screen names color-coded, i.e. different from the customers, so we could identify them as such. As a customer, it's comforting to know, that Dell can easily communicate with it's customers, and make a few "LoL (laugh out loud) posts on the Off-Topic section. It also brings the customer back to the thought: "Dell's friendly, Dell's easy-going, I'm Impressed, I'd like to purchase from them".
And of course the IT Board - I was personally interested in learning more about DellConnect: If Dell can take over your entire computer with just a few letters/numbers, and an acceptance, what's to say the other 6 Billion people in the world couldn't do the same without? What is this program more about? What other Technology does Dell have up it's sleeve in the near-future? Where does it all come from? This would be a major selling point for me, if I were a "Dell Window Shopper".
All in all, what Dell's done thus far, is a good step, but I personally feel it could be alot better, by being much more user friendly. A happy customer, is a welcomed customer. And once "modernized", in my opinion, they'll feel even more welcome, at Dell.com. Thank you for your time, hope to hear from you. Best regards,
Daniel
simba1983100.0
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