arclight

Make a calendar with all COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas

Advertising and Marketing, IdeaStorm submitted by krasmussen 09/22/07 **REVIEWED**

One of the biggest annoyances with IdeaStorm is that the horizon for an idea being implemented is very blurry, if at all existing. If you're lucky, you get "third quarter 2009", but mostly, there is no timeframe at all. This leads to the feeling that not much is being done, and exactly that feeling is what IdeaStorm should be eliminating.

Therefore, I propose that you make a list or calender with all the COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas with timeframes for all of them. Just a "december 2008" would be nice, or better yet, "deadline 31st november 2008".

I don't know if this is connected with some goal management inside Dell, if it is, maybe you should work on improving that, too?






Today, the best way to know the progress of an idea is through Ideas in Action, our Weekly Update or Dell comments in the thread.






19 Comments »

Stop Overcharging on Notebook RAM

Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by realskript 08/28/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Dell really... REALLY need to stop overcharging... and when i say overcharing... i mean atleast double what you would pay to pick up the ram yourself.
On XPS Notebooks... you are charging $500 for 4GB of ram... when you could easily go pick them up at your local computer shop for $250... and pocket the other half of the $500...

It would be nice if dell could save the customers as well as the company itself this hassle.. and start charging NORMAL prices for an upgrade in RAM.

thanks =D

PS..... PROMOTE THIS!!!!











86 Comments »

Start offering DELL products to the general public in Poland

Dell, Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by lukasz.wisniewski 11/12/07

According to today's local newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza [1], by 20th November, 11:30 to be more exact, Dell will just have manufactured their first notebook in Lodz, Poland. Unfortunately, even though I am inhabitant of this city, it is more than unlikely I will buy DELL notebook anytime soon.

Firstly, the current policy of your company in Poland is "Only for enterprises and institutions" (original in Polish: Tylko dla firm i instytucji). Such a approach seems to me to be more than just bizarre. Do you happen to realize Poland is something like 38 milions of your potential customers? Just for instance, in my city, there are two big public universities, several private ones - you see the universities but not the students. Is this of your concern? I guess not but Apple is already there offering discounts for students.

Secondly, start distributing preinstalled Ubuntu for Poland as well. I actually do not see the point why you do this in UK, Germany or France and not in Poland. People of Poland are more eager to install open-source products, just let me remind you that according to XiTi monitor [2] open-source Firefox browser has market share of 39.6% in Poland, whereas in Germany - 38%, France - 23.9% and UK just 18.7%.

Thirdly, by preinstalling Ubuntu I mean making it an option anywhere where there is an OS selection option on your website. I clearly see no reason in the world why you keep offering such a miserable Ubuntu notebook in Europe instead of something more powerful - Inspiron 6400n with Intel T2130 processor. In your opinion, how impressive is that nowadays?

Last but not least, DELL, please stop participating in this devoid of good sense campaign "Dell recommends Vista..." which is sarcastic. You really do not have to put down this sentence on your website as in Poland you force people to use Vista leaving no other choice.

Take all these remarks under your consideration unless it is OK with you that Poles should travel to Germany in order to buy your notebooks. Hear our voice, DELL!

Signed,
Lukasz Wisniewski
student of the Computer Science
Technical University of Lodz

Links:
[1] http://miasta.gazeta.pl/lodz/1,35136,4662983.html
[2] http://www.xitimonitor.com/en-us/browsers-barometer/firefox-july-2007/index-1... 53 Comments »

Standardize Power Cables for Laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by badblood 08/27/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Nothing is more annoying than laptop power cables that are not interchangeable from one computer model to another or from one brand of computer to another. Power cables have been standardized on most electrical applicances, including desktop computers for decades.

Make an effort to promote and implement standard power cables for laptops.


Please see dawn_l's comments below.
93 Comments »

There should be an option of having no trialware on all computers

Software submitted by jervis961 08/23/07 **REVIEWED**

Here is a news article about trialware and how Dell feels that regular customers want it but small business ones do. Do they not look at the ideas here?

"Not interested in all of the trial software that clutters up new PCs? You're not alone: According to Dell's recent research in both focus groups and broader surveys, small-business users overwhelmingly view trialware as an irritant, not a benefit. That research has led Dell to axe the extras from its new Vostro line of small-business desktop PCs and laptops. Eliminating demo applications is a major step for Dell, which has caught flack for the quantity of trialware on its consumer PCs. (One frustrated customer went so far as to develop a "Decrapifier" utility. The company says that consumers who buy PCs for personal use do express interest in preloaded trial software, but that small-business users have different needs. By eliminating the trialware from Vostro machines, Dell says it has cut the system setup time in half. For now, Dell is the only major PC manufacturer to ship small-business systems without preinstalled trialware as a standard practice. (Some competitors, such as HP, allow customers to choose a no-trialware configuration.)"


Dell offers a broad amount of software choice and minimal software shipped. Read jeremy_f's post on the options we give our customers





131 Comments »

Linux Hardware Compatibility List

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by s3indiana 02/20/07 **IN PROGRESS**

Create a listing of Dell hardware that's compatible with the major Linux distributions (Fedora, OpenSuse, ubuntu, Freespire) providing compatibility with not just systems (desktops and laptops) but include peripherals (printers, camera's, flash drives, compatible routers, etc.). Include levels of compatibility so the reviewer can make an educated choice. This would provide the greatest assistance for those looking at alternatives...

We're working to add something like this to our linux.dell.com wiki. Click here to see what john_h has to say.




30 Comments »

Easier way to OPT OUT of Dell selling my private information

Advertising and Marketing submitted by ninefoot3 10/17/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I rec'd a brochure yesterday saying Dell and DFS were going to share my private info with other 3rd party companies for marketing purposes. Well, it said that in about 5,000 words or so. At the end is a box stating that I may opt-out of this by calling the number listed or writing a letter (including certain info) and send it to the listed address.

I chose to use the phone method. After being shoved around to a few people, I finally got someone who could help me 'opt-out'. This involved 'opening a case' as if I had a technical issue with my account.

My IdeaStorm suggestion, hey Dell, make it easier for us to OPT-OUT of your attempts to make money off of my personal information. What's the matter? Didn't make enough money off of my patronage to Dell products and the interest rates charged? Getting an extra $1 for my name, address and age information going to help Michael Dell get a new boat? C'mon!

While I'm disturbed that Dell wanted to sell me out, I'm more disturbed that Dell made it difficult for us to opt-out. A simple URL would have been nice. I know, that would make more people opt-out and Dell would have less names to sell. It's like a mail-in-rebate or the lack of a cancel button in the account information at freecreditreport.com, you HAVE to call, and since that's a pain in the neck, most people will sloth themselves into something they don't really want. 42 Comments »

Downloadable, PDF format, full technical specs for all systems

Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site submitted by benjesuit 06/12/07 **REVIEWED**

Before I buy, I would like to have the options of downloading the full technical specifications of the system. Not just the brief specifications. Place a link under "tech specs" tab that allows you to view or download the full specification PDF file for those of us who care about and understand such things. This way everyone is satisfied.
We are looking to improve the specs pages by making them consistent across all product lines, provide more in-depth specifications and making them available in a printable format.





35 Comments »

HDMI Enabled HDTV PC Monitor hybrid

Monitors and Displays submitted by joeevil5000 06/02/07

With HDMI video cards on the horizon, Dell could possibly offer HDMI enabled monitors, with a configurable option of an HD tuner built in. Dell already offers component enabled monitors 24" and above, which is awesome. But, having HDMI, would future proof them, and a built in tuner would also be a plus. Yes most HDTV's support VGA, and DVI, put suck as PC monitors. Having a solution that would be capable of being it's own independent HDTV, and support high-end monitor resolutions would be a huge plus. Comment »

Numerical Keypad on 17" Laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by colonel62359 04/29/07

As a sales associate in a common Canadian big-box store, this is a common trend. Laptops with screens larger than 15.4" are generally used less as "on the road" laptops, and more as portable desktops. Many individuals do not wish to use a separate keyboard; as such, many 17" machines now come with a built-in numerical keypad in addition to the typical 88-key laptop keyboard. This is one major point that has deterred me from considering a Dell laptop, considering that I do a lot of typing and frequently use the NumPad. 1 Comment »

Make the battery sizes an industry standard.

Laptop Power submitted by rotthund 05/01/07

I remember an old Dell laptop I had for work. It had a battery bay and a media (CD-ROM/floppy drive). The batteries could be installed in either bay. Two batteries could be installed even.

AA, AAA, etc battery sizes are standard and makes life so easy, people don't think about it. I like the fact that my Nikon and a Pentax camera can use CR-V3 or AA batteries. AAs will run all of our cameras! 1 Comment »

Offer A Free Downgrade From Vista To XP

Operating Systems submitted by huper 04/24/07

I for one have had it with Windows Vista. I find this software so full of bugs that I am spending more time transferring log files to Microsoft than getting actual work done. They are certainly not paying me for my time to repair their flaky software! When I got my Dimension E520 it came loaded with a 2.8Ghz Duo Dual Core Intel Processor, 2GB of RAM, 256MB on an NVIDIA card & 2 - 250GB hard drives. Surely this system would be powerful & I could focus on writing & getting work done quickly. But no, the slow speed of this operating system taxes the hard drives & CPU so they are regularly running at 75% & 89%. I have tried changing the swap file to use a different drive, removed non essential services as well as swapping out memory from one slot to another. I have used every OS both client & server since DOS 1.0 & this is by far the worst! (Except maybe BOB or ME). Dell wants to give users an upgrade to Windows Vista within a certain time frame. How about offering a downgrade to XP for people who don't want Vista? Otherwise I will be checking into which Linux version will best run on this hardware.
MCSE since 1996 & now an extremely disgruntled Windows Vista hostage! I will happily surrender my Windows Vista disk for one with XP it!! 18 Comments »

Now You Choose - Concept 2

Gaming, XPS products submitted by dell_admin1 04/25/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

Participate in the product design process! Dell is using IdeaStorm to decide between two new product design concepts. Vote on your favorite and weigh in to tell us what you think.

When we unveiled the XPS 710 H2C at CES this year, we also uncovered it. There were a limited number of systems sprinkled throughout the show floor that had a clear side panel allowing easy viewing of the patent-pending two-stage H2C liquid cooling system.

Since then, more than a few people have suggested we offer a “panel with a view” as an option for our XPS 710 line. Now we need you to vote for one of these two options and, most importantly, share some reasons why you like it.

This “Now You Decide” vote campaign will be open from Wednesday, April 25 to Friday, May 11. The design that gets the most votes will be featured in a future generation of XPS gaming desktops.

Air Purifier / Filter for the Dell desktop PC

Desktops, Environment submitted by kyliemanders 04/06/07

Most people leave their desktops on 24/7. Since we already have a cooling fan in place why not give us a removable cleanable air filter.
This would keep the inside of our Dell PCs free from unsightly dust as well as purify the air we breath.
You can make additional profits selling replacement filters. These could be scented or offer health benefits such as reducing allergens. These would be applicable for both Vista and Linux PCs. 16 Comments »

5 minute "battery backup" on notebooks to allow fast main battery switching

Laptop Power submitted by hjwasson 04/23/07

I would like to see Dell notebook computers incorporate a small internal battery that would allow users to quickly swap out their depleted primary battery with a fresh one - without having to power off or hibernate the notebook first. Hibernation sometimes fails on resume (although far less often than Standby), and shutdown/reboot takes too long when you're in the middle of an important meeting. I've been told that Apple MacBooks allow you to swap out batteries without shutting down first.

Another alternative would be to have hot-swappable module device bays that would allow placing a secondary battery in the bay (in place of the optical drive). This is done on the IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad line of notebooks. If the notebook could run off the secondary battery while the primary battery was being swapped, that would be fine, too. 20 Comments »

High-end keyboard option

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies submitted by carlolsen 04/20/07

I spend a fortune on the latest hardware, but the only keyboards I can find are all cheap pieces of junk. I would like a keyboard that matches the rest of my system, and is comfortable. Since I spend 8+ hours a day typing, I will pay for extra comfort.

How about an ergonomic layout keyboard with the following features:

Soft top buttons (I have repetitive stress issues with the tips of my fingers, and soft keys would be so nice! - right now I solve the problem by coating the tops of the keys with velcro fuzz)

Braile on top of keys (Not just for blind people - I put braile tops on a keyboard once just for fun and found that it really added to the comfort of the keys by providing some texture, and also it makes it easier to find the keys without having to look at the keyboard)

Split-style ergonomic layout, but with two "B" keys, one to hit with left hand, and one to hit with right hand.

Black in color (so it does not reflect), but with adjustable backlighting on keys or maybe just glow in the dark letters, so that it can be seen in dim lighting conditions.

Full size layout with full size numeric keypad, and arrow key layouts.

Physical switches to disable the "Windows" key, and any other similar keys that can be dangerous when pressed at the wrong time, such as "Sleep" or Power" keys. 4 Comments »

High DPI 24-inch monitor

Monitors and Displays submitted by st_0_0_0 04/20/07

How about a 24-inch LCD with 2560x1600 resolution? I love the size of the current 2407, but the 100 dpi seems a little too low-res. 9 Comments »

Built-in FM transmitter

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), New Product Ideas, Laptops submitted by chewd 04/20/07

Many people who buy laptops immediately go out & buy an FM transmitter so they can listen to their music or whatnot wirelessly on the car stereo or living room hifi. USB FM transmitters are already on the market which act as a soundcard as far as the OS is concerned and draws power from the USB bus so theres no need for disposable batteries. The one i bought has a range of 30 feet.
Why not build it into the laptop?

This would enable users to use any FM radio as their computer speakers with the touch of a button. 4 Comments »

Laptop hard drive speed

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by drl 04/20/07

The laptops need 7200rpm hard drive options. After my 5400rpm OEM HD failed I replaced with it with a current model 7200rpm drive. It used .5 watt less power than the OEM and noticeably added some snap and pop to the feel of the machine. My use is business and the laptop gets flogged all the time. 3 Comments »

Multiple power input jacks on laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by chewd 04/20/07

Laptops should have at least 2 possibly 3 power input jacks. Preferrably on the left, right, and rear sides.

The power input jack is on the rear of my inspiron, while the media keys are on the front. This means that I cannot position the laptop on its rear with the media keys facing up for easy access. If there was also a power input jack on either side, i could plug into whichever one was convenient to my current situation.

Additionally, power jacks are very suseptible to damage. Breaking that jack instantly renders your whole machine useless, it is truely the achilles heel of the modern laptop and i have seen many good machines ruined like this. Having other ports on the sides would mean you could just plug into one of the other ports & keep using the machine. 3 Comments »