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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.
95 Comments »

Make is possible (and easier) to buy laptop batteries online (Australian site)

Dell Web Site submitted by ratkeeper 11/05/07

I have an XPS M1330, and I want to buy a spare battery from the Australian/Asia-Pacific Dell web site. I browse through to accessories and laptop batteries. It doesn't matter if I click on Inspiron, Laitude or Percision, all I get is the same 5 batteries, all of which are for various Inspirons. Also, when I click on Inspiron, Latitude or Precision it pops open a new window (ick!).

Compare this to the Canadian or US web site, and you'll see exactly how this process should be. Well laid out, displaying all laptop options, even giving you the ability to enter your service tag number and have it display the batteries that are right for you.

It's a shame that the Australian/AP web site is so different (and behind) the North American counterparts when it sells the same products. 2 Comments »

Put a physical bluetooth switch on laptops

Broadband and Mobility, Laptops submitted by badblood 10/30/07

So you can easily switch it on and off and see that it's on or off.... 9 Comments »

Plug and play laptop screen

Laptops submitted by badblood 10/30/07

Let us remove the laptop screen whenever we want and use it wirelessly. 5 Comments »

No docking station support for XPS

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), XPS products submitted by kjertil 10/30/07

The XPS M1710 supported a docking station.

The XPS M1730 however have lost the support for docking stations - I hate to have to attach all of the cables i have again, and again - each time I return with my XPS....

The XPS M1710/M1730 is a much a laptop, as it is a desktop to me, and therefore I have all sorts of attachments: monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, printer, etc.

So please include docking station support with the next XPS - with the price we are paying for XPS machines - docking station support should be included. 8 Comments »

laptops and ports

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by lodore 10/30/07

hello,
i think dell laptops should have a DVI connector instead of the older VGA connector.
also i think dell laptops should have gigabit ethernet connections where possible.
post your thoughts.
lodore 6 Comments »

Dell's Advertising is Dead. Fix it.

Advertising and Marketing submitted by hoodedthing 11/01/07

Back in the day, whenever I got my Dell, there was the Dell Dude. That was great advertising, reaching a huge age range, and forming a near-fanatical fan base. I'm a product of that fan base, and that's why I'm still using a Dell and planning on getting a Dell notebook later this year. It was a good thing.

I won't argue about the fact that the Dell Dude is no longer in commercials, but the present commercials are a joke. Who would you target with this kind of thing?



The point is, though, that you should advertise what you used to advertise, namely:
1) Cheapness, whether it is in the starting at price or not.
2) Deals! Ends soon!
3) Why you WANT a Dell.
4) Why Dells are COOL.

The idea elsewhere on this site about having users upload their own commercials and the best ones being selected and used is a great one. Advertise this site even, get more people involved (people like to feel involved, it makes them feel important), get another mascot or icon that people will look forward to seeing in a commercial, have Chuck Norris do a five-second clip saying "Chuck Norris uses a Dell", anything to get creative ideas into mouldering Dell advertising dept. Apple is out there kicking rear in design and advertising, and it hurts me to see it whenever Dell isn't anywhere near being able to compete.

On final note, whoever thought up IdeaStorm needs a raise.

Edited 11/3/07. Added in part about Chuck Norris, took out two clips of praise for IdeaStorm, realizing that nobody needed to hear that. Also fixed picture link, which appeared to be broken. 5 Comments »

Include cleaning and screen protection cloth with laptops

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by jkeating 11/02/07

A nice dell branded cleaning cloth should be included with new laptops. This cloth would be used to clean the laptop sceens as well as lay on top of the keyboard when the laptop is closed to protect the screen from keyboard imprints. If a cloth is included it is far more likely that this cloth would be used to clean rather than some other cleaning device which may damage a user's screen. 10 Comments »

Offer video out (3.5 mm Audio AND Video connection)

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by visiocloud 11/02/07

So most handheld media players (zunes, iPods, etc) have the ability to output video through the "heaphone jack" (3.5mm jack) and they output to composite audio/ video (red, yellow, white cords)

This is known as supporting video out.

Just a note, the other side of the cord doeds not have to be red white yellow connection, it could be any ray of connections, which I'm sure dell could easily integrate into a cord.

Yes I know video out though the 3.5 jack isn't the hiughest quality, but the times I am looking for incredible quality, I will spend the time to get the other connections setup. This is more forwhen I am in the middle of class, and the teacher wants me to show something on my laptop to the class on the tv or on the projector, quick, simple, easy.
Or when I am at my freinds how and we want to quickly watch some stand up comedy in the movie room, well there are no vga, connections on the hardware that I am plugging into, and there are no dvi/ hdvi connecctions on my laptop, so I am stuck usually having to transfer the movie to my zune (because it supports this easy connection) or going and finding a svideo to composite video conversion cord, and a 3.5 to composite audio cord
which aren't usually lying around the house and make the whole situation more complicated.

Simply put, I am asking for a very simple integration of video out through 3.5 jack.

Serve the majority, not the Jorge 4 Comments »

Higher refresh rates on large LCD Monitors at native resolutions.

Monitors and Displays submitted by bugfreezer 11/04/07

I really want to get a larger LCD monitor (24" or higher), but I hesitate because I am looking for a higher than 60 hz refresh rate - I see the flicker at that freq. Please get the specs improved on those larger monitors to support 75-85hz vertical refresh rates. 8 Comments »

IdeaStorm: "Talk with the Moderator" Button missing on IdeaStorm

IdeaStorm submitted by jorge 11/05/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

For some odd reason I was reading the "about" tab today and if you actually get to bottom and last paragraph you'll read that we have a "Talk with the Moderator" button some where on this site! Has anyone found this button?

Check out the top of the page!





33 Comments »

Produce a small USB connected Vista SideShow device

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by jervis961 11/05/07

Windows Vista has the SideShow function that some companies are now incorporating into products. What about all the customers who would like to use this function but lack the money or need for a new system. Dell should create a few plug n play type small displays to fill their need. 7 Comments »

Hidden USB

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by luscombe 10/07/07

I use some programs that requiere a usb key, as well as my wireless mouse.

Thats means there is something sticking out of my usb port at all times, getting bend and messing up the port.

I'll like to see a space under the laptop with a little cover, that once removed provides acces to at least 2 usb ports.
That way I could live my usb key and mouse fob on it at all times without them getting busted. 6 Comments »

Built in/ Express card GPS

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), New Product Ideas submitted by visiocloud 10/07/07

I love having GPS on my computer but it would be nice not to have to deal with all the wire, I think an express card or an internal gps option would be awesome. 29 Comments »

AMD based XPS Models, especially the M1330!!!

XPS products submitted by fragro 10/11/07

Build the M1330 with AMD Kite- vow and Puma- Plattform in Future!

PS: The M1330 is one of the Best Notebooks you have! Stay On! 2 Comments »

Apply an Energy Star Rating System to your Products

Environment submitted by badblood 05/18/07

Everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment. Choosing an energy efficient appliance is one way to do this while saving money. Apply a star rating for all your products, which rates their energy consumption and ability to be recycled.



9 Comments »

Admit it - you were wrong....Send Steve Jobs a bottle of Champagne.

Service and Support submitted by badblood 10/22/07

Ten years ago this month, Michael Dell said Steve Jobs should ```shut down'' Apple Inc. and return the money to shareholders.Dell then had a market value of $4 billion to Apple's $700 million. Apple's valuation has since soared to $150 billion, more than double that of its rival. Last month, Apple passed PC leader Hewlett-Packard Co. in market capitalization for the first time.

How the winds of success are fleeting.

Admit it - You were wrong.

Send Steve Jobs a bottle of Champagne.

35 Comments »

Suggestion: display comments in latest-first order

IdeaStorm submitted by phubert 02/23/07

A number of 'threads' are getting a bit long. It takes awhile to scroll down to the latest comments.

Latest-first (at least as an _option_) would eliminate this problem.

**

Also: PAGINATE thread displays so only the first page is loaded when the user selects the topic! 50 Comments »

Offer bluetooth on all Dell computers at no extra charge - make bluetooth standard.

Broadband and Mobility, Sales Strategies submitted by badblood 09/17/07

As in Free Bluetooth.

Make it a time bound promotion if you can't or are unwilling to sustain it.

After the promotion, make bluetooth a standard on all computers. Integrate the cost in the price of the computer - and reduce the cost while you are at it.....(Kudos jmxz) 9 Comments »

Stop describing computers as 'solutions'

Advertising and Marketing submitted by badblood 10/25/07

I've never understood why computers and software are described as 'solutions'. On dell.com there is a little box with links that says:

'Solutions for: home and office, small and medium business, etc'

'Solutions' are by definition methods for solving problems.....as well as mixtures of ingredients...

So I am reading that little box and trying to figure out a) why dell thinks I have problems to be solved; b) how does Dell know what my problems are anyway and c) what would make Dell think that a computer might be a solution to my problems which are mostly psychological and emotional anyway?

Anywho, mostly I use computers not because I have a problem but because they help me do things or learn things, because I have no choice at work, or because they are entertaining.

So stop calling them 'solutions'. Think of something else, something a little more positive, that reflects why most people use computers.....

Thanks. 10 Comments »