7k

better than Mac Mini

Laptops submitted by fastm3driver 02/23/07

This is very simple!
Sell 2 or 3 different Laptops as desktops. Remove the screen, keyboard, touch sensor and battery and replace the keyboard with a flat sheet or metal so you can put a monitor on it. Worst case make it plastic and include a vertical stand. One part to tool up and this would be a smaller volume than a Mac Mini and cost less if based on a 6400. The M1210 would be a good fit too.
It would be so light you could Velcro it to the side of the desk. Very quiet too and would make a sweet HTPC with the buttons in the front.

An improved version would mount to the back of monitors or would have the CD drive in the front. A front power button would be good too.
Include bluetooth, and BT keyboard and mouse, and a USB TV tuner and it could sell for under $1000.
In the past laptops would not be powerful enough, but now they are plenty fast. 6 Comments »

A better way

Simplify IT submitted by hubfam 02/23/07

Simplify! Simplify! Simplify! Simplify! Get it? Cut your product offerings. Make them sleek and simple. There's that word again. SIMPLE. You offer too much. Your products look like they are designed by commitee. Give your designers the abillity to design!!! 20 Comments »

Dr. Janet Montgomery

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by janmontred 02/23/07

If you're going to move the DELETE key 'way up on the keyboard, how about making it large enough to hit? Same with the Home and End keys. I use them a lot, and have to search for them every time. I'll probably end up painting the delete key red with fingernail polish. 4 Comments »

No more VGA ports / Promote DVI and HDMI ports on laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by jeff_c_brown 02/23/07

VGA is dead why keep it alive? Please provide DVI and HDMI ports on your laptops. 8 Comments »

Save costs by getting out of the hardware business

Sales Strategies submitted by notmart 02/23/07

Dell should become an Apple VAR selling all Mac hardware with the user's choice of Mac OS X, Windows, and/or Linux preinstalled. PC's are boring, ugly commodity boxes. Factory-direct customized Macs is really a place where Dell could add value! 5 Comments »

Vista Media Center PC w/ full CableCard Support

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Software submitted by jeff_c_brown 02/23/07

Please offer a Vista Media Center PC w/ full CableCard Support please make sure it follows the following conditions:
- silent
- CableCard support
- Look and feel of stereo quiptment
- Energy efficient 2 Comments »

Set time zone automatically

Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by mazemaster 02/23/07

If my PC really is "made just for me" as your commercials indicate, why do I have to tell it my timezone when I set up a new PC? You know where you shipped it, so go ahead and set the time zone for me. Comment »

I want a linux laptop

Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by pixelnate 02/23/07

I also would like to buy a laptop with linux pre-installed. Specifically, I would like an Ubuntu laptop where I don't have to jack around with wireless driver hacks or the xorg.conf file.

Mr. Dell, you want to know how to help your company? Give the users what we want. Give us the ability to buy a computer off the shelf with the operating system we want to use. And it would be even better if we didn't have to pay the "Windows Tax" on the hardware as well.

Cheers,
pixelNate 1 Comment »

No Vodafone Software pre-installed needed

Sales Strategies, Software submitted by wolfgang 02/23/07

Pls be free for every mobile provider. Dell only for Vodafone customers? Are you selling Dell laptops or Vodafone contracts? 1 Comment »

Modular Card Reader System For Sub-/Notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by wolfgang 02/23/07

Do you know how many memory card systems are available? I don't know. I only know that I cannot find a Dell subnotebook with the card reader I need. (SD & CF) -> Solution: Select the one you need yourself! Comment »

LINUX sur Portable DELL

Dell submitted by christophe 02/23/07

Je pense qu'il serait possible d'installer un système LINUX sur un portable DELL et que je pense qu'il y aurait des personnes intéressées par une offre comme celle-là. Et moi par la même occasion.
J'attends avec impatience une information de ce genre.
Je suis assez content de DELL qui tourne actuellement sous Windows et Mandriva. 1 Comment »

PCMCIA slot for notebook

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by stdu00 02/23/07

I think the PCMCIA slot should be available on every notebook, more and more notebook have only PC Express slot, but till now a lot of pcmcia cards are not available in PC Express.
Actually, I wanted to change my notebook for a brand new Core 2 but I have to keep it just because I use a 3G PCMCIA card everyday.
Thx for listening 5 Comments »

Laptops

Simplify IT, Laptops submitted by hubfam 02/23/07

Why don't you buy a MacBook Pro and copy the thing? Just make your product lines simple! Comment »

turnabout?

Linux, Service and Support submitted by galt 02/23/07

I propose building a system with components that are well-supported in linux/bsd/solaris/whatever, but are specifically not well supported in vista (vendors that don't sign their drivers, for example). this will have twofold benefits 1) encourage consumers to consider alternative oses that will reduce dell's cost-per-unit and 2) encourage microsoft to not unilaterally stop support of useful hardware so that dell can have more freedom in choosing hardware vendors Comment »

MARKETING AND SOFTWARE INSTALLS

Advertising and Marketing, Software submitted by daves 02/23/07

I hope--made to order,ship direct-- will continue as Dells major focus to serve the knowledgable PC consumer that doesnt want to compromise on configuration --that business model will keep prices low and ensure the most updated components will get installed.
Let the other competitors stock store shelves with "low cost" computers with limited upgradability that will be obsolete or even unusable in a few years. Let competitors create,support,and eventually eat the shelf dogs they create.

I feel if Dell decides to directly retail a large line of computer configuations and go head to head with competitors"toaster" models the increased costs to Dell will adversely affect all of Dells PC business. If Dell creates standalone stores it would be a disaster.

While "Pick up at a store option" and "immediate trade" could be plusses for some on-line Dell customers it would work only if the stores are widespread--such as Radio Shack. Dell --if it enters the retail business in existing stores -- should limit "buy at store" items to only high quality large displays, powerful workstations and notebooks--for the emergency business and impulse buyers.
If the store presents quality but minimal Dell shelf space/inventory and a "Direct to Dell" online access point booth--so walk-in consumers can view and try Dells best then custom configure and order a computer privately at the store-- costs might be limited.

My thought on the "free" Software---
Dell should refuse to offer and not install any software that doesnt meet minimum standards of quality and is not unobtrusive.
I do like --robust full version software suites --with a min. 60 day trial period supported by the software manufacturer--and an effective pay and download unlock key or a complete uninstall option.
I dont like--wimpy or less than full version "Trial software" that automatically grabs file extensions as their own,sprinkles shortcuts everwhere, bulls its way into the startup folder,start menu, and task bar, nags with reminders to buy at every mouse click, sneaks in additional ISP and email programs,and automaticaly signs me up for "upgrade" to the "fully working version", "news"--advertising, and "cannot be completely uninstalled".

Comment »

relook your portable PCs

Laptops submitted by tm 02/23/07

Dell range of portable PC haven't changed look for a very long time.
The last changes are not happy ones.
One can sense the attempt to do something but it is a failed attempt would it be just to have sedate looking PCs.

I'm not looking for a good looking PC but at least if it could avoid being ugly : too thick, plastic apparence that dull and awfull brown. Even the new silver seems a cheap relooking.

In France (well I live) Dell is the choice of "poor" or greedy companies, very little chances that someone starts a Dell PC at home, generally it is a professionnal PC from a greedy company.

Their apparence make them look like devices designed under soviet era, when look was considered under the utility aspect.

PS I second the idea of having linux PC available, because with vista we will have less and les the opportuniy to keep XP, and if we have several computers we don't want to be pushed into taking vista, with its probable consequence of having to double the memory for hardly the same performance. 1 Comment »

Improve quality and design for notebooks

Laptops submitted by olz 02/23/07

Dell's reputation regarding the quality of its notebooks is poor. The design is bland and unattractive.
IBM/Lenovo quality and Samsung or Sony kind of design would be great.

As a side note,
an ultra-light notebook (<1>=1.66Ghz,
silent cooling,
2 Gb memory (upgradable up to 4),
100+ 5400rpm PMR silent hard drive, (solid state when 64+ Gb are affordable...)
touchpad,
DVD writer (external if the target weight requires it)
and the look of Sony TX3 or SZ4 series or Samsung Q40
and the quality of a Lenovo X60s
and the price of a Lenovo X60s or Sony SZ4
would be a killer ! Comment »

EXTERNAL GRAPHICS CARD DOCKING STATION FOR LAPTOPS

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Gaming, Laptops submitted by gsus 02/23/07

Essentially, the biggest problem with laptop gaming is the lack of power and ability to upgrade. Most of the laptops these days cannot keep up with the high powered laptops and SLi or Crossfire setups. A proposal should be to use the existing docking port located on most XPS systems and allow it to use an external graphics card. I have seen the option of using an external graphic card docking station in the BIOS in my M1710, and this would allow for greater flexibility and shelf life of your systems. In addition companies such as ASUS have announced plans for the XG Station, a PCI-E connector that would house a external video card, say a 8800GTS.

In particular with the launch of the 8800 series Nvidia cards, many laptops users are going to be left out with respect to gaming. Dell could help to expand the longevitiy of their product lines by allowing gamers to upgrade the one thing that matters most, graphic processing power. These external docking stations could allow users to swap, upgrade or change video cards as they see fit.

In conlcusion, considering the XPS line of styling, it wold not be a problem to fashion and mold a aesthetic docking station. Comment »

USB gaming perefierals

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Gaming submitted by jjkoch 02/23/07

You should make a line of gaming hardware (mice, keyboards, joysticks, racing wheels, etc) that are catered to gamers and use the wireless usb interface. Also, provide an upgrade to existing laptop owners to embed the wusb reciever in their laptop because, cmon, no one wants a dongle sticking out of their oh so sweet xps laptop Comment »

Provide correct drivers when given service tag

Dell Web Site, Service and Support submitted by mazemaster 02/23/07

If I go to support.dell.com to download a driver and enter the service tag, I am presented with a list of drivers for all hardware that could possibly ship with that computer model. Why can't you list only the drivers that are in the actual computer that I bought? As an IT professional who manages computers with dozens of hardware configurations, that would be extremely valuable to me. At least offer the option to display only the drivers for hardware that you actually put in the computer that i bought. Comment »