brightideas

Better Notebook sound and features

Laptops submitted by foxx 02/17/07

I was looking for a high end notebook for video editing. Every Dell model I looked at was missing something essential.

Most serious is the lousy sound. I can understand for low end notebooks, but high end need A REAL SOUND CARD. I would have been willing to buy a sound card, but that required a PCMCIA slot and you had elimintated those. I gave up.











119 Comments »

Nvidia Geforce 8800M, Nvidia Geforce 9600M GT ON XPS M1730 & XPS M1330, XPS 1530

XPS products, Laptops submitted by helmecj01 12/11/07

I would like to see the Nvidia Geforce 8800M and Nvidia Geforce 9600M GT ON XPS M1730 & XPS M1330,XPS 1530. 37 Comments »

Identify Hardware with native Linux support

Linux submitted by waterguy1960 12/07/07

Please identify hardware choices that offer native linux support in the "build yours" options. And provide hardware choices that allow for a configuration that is entirely compatible with linux. This would be much more convenient that a list of linux supported hardware somewhere else on the website. If a computer model cannot be configured with native linux support, say so on the "build yours" page. I don't need or want Dell to install Ubuntu (or any other linux distribution) on a computer for me ... I just need to know that the computer I'm buying supports linux natively. The notebook computer my employer provided me works perfectly with linux. Unfortunately, despite much research before my purchase, not all the hardware on my Dell notebook provides native linux support. Comment »

Dell's Website must work with Firefox running on Linux

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by qgonjon 07/16/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

It's discouraging to have a Tier 1 vendor (Dell) selling Linux products and yet not really tailoring to Linux. Don't get me wrong Dell, I am not trying to take away all the good you have done. Offering Linux is a step in the right direction and I would like to see more steps taken in a monthly or quarterly basis. But, it seems that the basis for your current Linux promotion is for the Open Source enthusiast like me. I use Linux at home and at work as my main operating system. I use Firefox as my browser and I'm trying to order a Dell Inspiron 1420N. However, it seems that the embedded flash script that shows the different colors choices for the Inspiron is not working under Linux. It also shows that I can't see the different images thereafter. It works with Windows running Firefox as my vmware machine verified. But that is not the type of user that will most likely purchase a Linux laptop.

My request is simple. Can someone fix and verify that this page works well with Linux browser technology? So, that users can enjoy purchasing your Linux products and demonstrate that Dell really cares about their customer's operating system preference.

Dell I wish you the best in this venture as your success in this territory will help the Linux Desktop become a reality to the open source community.





71 Comments »

Get rid of the powerbrick

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptop Power submitted by fcnc05 02/16/07

I have a Dell 17in notebook and I love it. Don't mind to carry around at all. But haveing to unplug, wind up all the cables and pack the power brick together really annoys me. So It would be very nice if dell make available for the large form factor laptop (at least the 17 and 20in) a power brick the same size of the battery, so I could replace it (an internal power supply). A retractable power cord inside would be a plus. Even better if had 1 or 2 batteries cells inside so it could give a 15minutes for emergencies. Why have 6 or 9 cells...it barely gives me one hour anyway....This kind of notebook really is a Desktop replacement, so why bother about batteries? Get rid of the power suplly and it would be MUCH better! 14 Comments »

Multi-OS selection via checkboxes

submitted by xivulon 11/29/07

What about having a checkbox for each operating system in order to allow users to select multiple choices? No checkbox = no OS, multiple checkboxes = Multiboot. The conflict resolution dialog notifes about conflicts between OS and other hardware choices.

Select My Operating Systems:
[ _ ] Free DOS (info) [$0]
[ x ] Ubuntu 7.10 (info) [$0]
[ _ ] Windows XP (info) [add $50]
[ x ] Windows Vista Basic (info) [add $50]
[ _ ] Windows Vista Home Premium (info) [add $100]
[ _ ] Windows Vista Ultimate (info) [$150]
[ _ ] Windows Vista Business (info) [$100]

Ubuntu, XP and all other operating systems should be made available on all machines unless there is a fundamental hardware issue that makes a particular OS unsuitable (an issue that cannot be resolved by selecting a different component). Each item should have an info button which opens a brief explanation, a fair comparison table of all operating systems should also be provided. Details such as bootloader choice in multiboot configuration and disk allocation algorithm are left to Dell engineers to have fun with.

Hopefully that will accomodate most requests relating to OS choice while keeping the interface simple and intuitive. 26 Comments »

Add E-SATA Ports to notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by dvt 02/17/07

E-SATA provides a way to add fast external storage with much better performance than USB or Firewire. Adding an E-SATA port would greatly improve the expandabiliy of Dell's notebook computers. 30 Comments »

Also support HD-DVD and Dual-Format Drives

submitted by alwayz 12/29/07

Why does Dell force the customers to use the Blu-Ray standard and does not offer the possibility to choose? 6 Comments »

Show the Buyer What Different Laptop Battery Sizes *Look* Like On the Laptop

Dell Web Site, Laptops, Laptop Power submitted by jasondunn 11/22/07

It's a really great thing that Dell offers buyers multiple choices when it comes to laptop batteries: there's usually a 4-cell, 6-cell, and 9-cell battery option. Dell always lists the watt hours information as well - great!

But what's ridiculous is that there are no images, illustrations, or written information about the exact sizes of the batteries: specifically, which batteries will stick out of the laptop (the "hump"). This is a really important thing to know, because when I'm buying a laptop I usually want to get the biggest battery possible, but one that doesn't stick out. I just ordered a Vostro laptop and was given the choice of three different batteries - yet no indication of which one(s) was actually flush with the laptop.

In general I find that the "More Information" link does a poor job of providing the customer with the information they need about the given accessory or feature option. 11 Comments »

Need Gigabit Ethernet in M1530.

XPS products submitted by hoodedthing 12/06/07

What about Gigabit ethernet...? It's really not new technology, and it's pretty dissappointing not to see it in the m1530. It wouldn't be that hard to implement now.. Just start sticking gigabit ethernet ports in the laptops instead of 10/100.

This kind of thing is pretty easy to do, it's not expensive for you guys, and makes a huge difference in transfer of files for wired internet. Put gigabit ethernet in the 1530. 9 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 »

Dell Must Use Ubuntu Stickers! {Pics Inside}

Linux submitted by thebittersea 06/10/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

96 Comments »

HDMI, HDMI, by God almighty, HDMI

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by benjesuit 09/25/07

HP has had it on their notebooks for 1 year now. Come on Dell! What's it going to take to put in an HDMI port? Most of the new LCD TV's today input HDMI.

And I'm surprised that the new XPS 1730 has no HDMI port. DVI is so yesterday and is not forward thinking at all.

Your next generation Montevina based models MUST have HDMI.

And yes, this is a dupe. A dupe of my own post even. But I want to buy a Dell. But without HDMI, it makes it difficult. 30 Comments »

Goal: Dell FREEDOM Box - A Fully Open System for Home Users by 2010

Dell, Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dpic 11/29/07

Set a goal of having at least one fully open system for home users by the end of 2010! This would be Dell's greatest endeavor yet!

The Dell FREEDOM Box | From the software, all the way down to the hardware, a completely open system

Software:
* A fully open source operating system with no restricted software like Gobuntu.

Hardware:
* All hardware must follow these rules--
1. The interface to the hardware must be explicitly made public, so the hardware can be used freely.
2. The design of the hardware must be made public, so that others can implement it and learn from it.
3. The tools used to create the design should be free, so that others can develop and improve the design.

This movement is already making headway and progress will continue to increase. Dell is already getting involved--

It has been stated that Dell has a goal to have open Linux drivers for all Dell products. Dell, keep the pressure on your vendors to open up!

Support OpenBIOS and Open Firmware!
"Among its features, Open Firmware provides an instruction set independent device interface. This can be used to boot the operating system from expansion cards without native initialization code.

It is Open Firmware's goal to work on all common platforms, like x86, AMD64, PowerPC, ARM and Mips. With its flexible and modular design, Open Firmware targets servers, workstations and embedded systems, where a sane and unified firmware is a crucial design goal and reduces porting efforts noticeably."
- http://www.openbios.org/

Already, there is huge support for replacing proprietary BIOS
- http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/62549/LinuxBIOS_instead_of_proprietary_...
- http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/74358/Dell_Support_Open_BIOSes_for_Linux
And there is the Open Graphics Project
- http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/72320/Help_The_Open_Graphics_Project<

This project would put Dell at the heart of the movement bringing Freedom, Reliability, and Innovation to the world of technology! Does one really need to ask why this would be better than proprietary technology?

20 Comments »

coreboot (formerly LinuxBIOS) instead of proprietary BIOS

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by yesmathew 02/20/07

coreboot (formerly known as LinuxBIOS) is a Free Software project aimed at replacing the proprietary BIOS (firmware) you can find in most of today's computers.
- Fast boot times 3 sec.
- Runs in 32-Bit protected mode almost from the start
- Can boot Windows too...

External links:
- http://www.coreboot.org/Welcome_to_coreboot
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linuxbios<

An Example:
- http://wiki.laptop.org/go/LinuxBIOS 90 Comments »

Show The Max Resolution For A Video Card and Monitor Combo

submitted by youthenme Jan 3

It would be nice when you are buying a computer if you could see the specs on the max screen resolution you could get when you pick certain video card and monitor combinations. 2 Comments »

Temperature Sensors on XPS Motherboards

XPS products submitted by thomasp94 12/17/07

Temperature and fan speed sensors should be a standard feature on ALL XPS motherboards. And we should be able to monitor them using any sensor program, not just in the bios or with a Dell specific program. 1 Comment »

Let Us Build A PC Without Microsoft Works or Office!

Software submitted by aikiwolfie 12/22/07

Dell I have absolutely no need for Microsoft Works 8.0. Especially on a PC designed for multimedia entertainment! Please give me the option of having a PC without any office software at all.

Please SIMPLIFY MY IT experience by giving me the opportunity to avoid the uninstall process. 26 Comments »

Linux Drivers for All Dell Devices

Linux, Monitors and Displays submitted by grifter 10/24/07 **REVIEWED**

If Dell truly wishes to promote their Ubuntu line of computers then they should make sure that all of their devices work properly with the OS. For instance, the SP2008WFP monitor, while it does display everything fine, does not have drives for Linux systems of any kind. This is most certainly a hamper for any Ubuntu users to want to buy a Dell peripheral.


Please see john_h and matt_d's comments
14 Comments »

Sell Linux PCs Worldwide - not only the United States

Linux, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by ergo 05/02/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Dell has now decided to sell computers with Linux pre-installed. GREAT MOVE! But for the moment, it only concerns the US... Here outside the US, we can't wait to buy a pre-installed Linux Dell PC! Please sell Linux PCs worldwide!


Check out the details on Dell Linux systems worldwide!
522 Comments »