Don't make us choose between business and consumer
Dell Web Site submitted by prognatus
05/02/07
Browsing PCs on dell.com could be much easier. Why differentiate between private consumers and businesses? Today a customer have to first choose between Home & Home Office, Small Business, Medium and Large Business, Government and Education.
Why can't ordinary consumers buy servers or Latitude notebooks? Yes, I know we can, but then we have to browse several pages to another section of the web site. This is not very user friendly!
Instead, why not tag the different products with a color recommendation - GREEN for home users, BLUE for businesses, BLACK for gamers & enthusiasts, RED for government & Education, etc. - but list them at the same page! Let us browse all desktops in one operation, all notebooks together, and so on.
430
Clear motherboard specs
Dell Web Site submitted by s_wel
06/03/07
How about the specification of the motherboard included with the hardware selection process information on your Web site like:
-- Number of ram slots
-- Number of pci/ pci express slots (With pci express spec. eg. X1, X8, X16)
-- Processor slot info eg. 775, AM2
This would be useful for people buying a cheap computer in the hope of upgrading later.
660
Dell and the top 100
Dell Web Site submitted by tdavis
06/13/07
Just wanted to say 'Way to go Dell', I know that this is IdeaStorm, however when your company matches Microsoft in products making the top 100 of 2007, and almost ties google as well. That is the day to rejoice and be glad in it.
Pc World Had their "The 100 Best Products of 2007" and Dell has the same count of items as Microsoft, and one less product than google on the list. With that I thought it to be only needed for someone to give Dell some praise. I mean they are striving to become the number one company in Customer Service, and Global Awarnesses (Green).
So Dell this is to you, Great Job, keep up the wonderful work you are doing, and thank you Mr. Dell for the direction you are taking your company. Congratulations on having four top 100 items in 2007!
240
more interaction with Europe
Dell Web Site submitted by linaro
06/08/07
All the interesting things that Dell promotes, like Idea Storm, should be linked and translated on the european sites of Dell commercial. A lot of european aren't informed about this projects, and shouldn't be involved.
240
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Price Configurator!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Dell Web Site submitted by sethdixie
05/31/07
On the Dell Website it should have a price configurator to find the CHEAPEST price for you after you make your confiuration. It could search the featured sale items, etc. Once I was configuring a laptop and I talked to chat and they found it about $70.00 cheaper- who wouldn't take that! I am certain that I looked at all the sale items!
260
Get rid of that ridiculous new checkout system!
Dell Web Site submitted by joeevil5000
06/02/07
I have worked at a Dell Direct Store kiosk for the past 6 months, and Dell's checkout system has been flawless. But now, they are experimenting with a new flash based checkout sytem. It has done nothing but create website problems, and screw up orders. Yes, it's prettyer, but the layout is confusing, and aparenty the webmasters at Dell are'nt very good with flash, because most aspects of it fail. PLEASE do not change the checkout system!
250
Consolidate all "Offer *foo* in *bar*" ideas into a single idea - offer your entire line, and all options, everywhere to everyone
IdeaStorm submitted by solarcanine
06/25/07
Dozens of ideas are posted in this format over and over again. I think most of us get the concept, and it boils down to:
Offer the entire Dell catalog - all OS options, all machine options, all accessory options - to everyone in the world, through every sales portal you have, all of the time.
I don't think it's necessary for a representative potential customer from each country in the world to weigh in with "Offer Linux in Botswana" or "Offer Inspirons to education users in Burundi" when the overall concept should suffice.
Dell, it's obviously a global market out there, and your customers around the world are making their desires known (over and over again) on this site.
Let's consolidate all of that motion and eliminate the almost-duplicate ideas by getting down to the base idea, so to speak.
160
Re-inventing the configurator . . .
Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site submitted by guidedstar
05/31/07
As a 30-year tech sector marketing & sales veteran and long-time admirer, I'm compelled to reach out as I've been amazed as how Dell has lost its way in recent years. Recent considerations of retail cooperation with the devil behemoth may indeed be avenues worthy of testing the waters, but what is so needed is a return to your roots that, in my estimation, is the primary source of your stagnating growth.
I'm a one-man band independent consultant these past five years and I offer free first reviews to my clients. With Dell, I'm familiar enough to give you yours now -
1 - You revolutionized the industry by inventing the configurator, a simple, fast and easy way to customize the product and see all the options and their cost impacts. Along the way, the marketing geniuses have totally polluted the original attraction and today it is a curse. To be sure of getting the options I want and at the best offered price, I may have to come in through five different doors, some of them dead ends, to get five different prices on, essentially, the same thing. Some recent changes have been a minor help, but there are still the endless attempts to engorge my configuration with more sales options and fully unrelated bundles of music players and the like. Lost, completely, is the understanding of why we loved you in the first place. And like a Baby Bell, you're frittering away the tremendous store of goodwill that you once had. The remaining comments are similarly attuned to this concern, not that it is the be-all and end-all of what you should be doing, but fixing the online experience is undoubtedly job one.
2 - Help Me Choose used to mean something once. Today, the help links do not provide significantly helpful information, for either first-time buyers or advanced users. For example, even for me, staying on top of meaningful information on the current crop of processors and that competition is difficult. The point is that you have tremendous opportunity, hidden in a major interface redesign that builds in real help, to go back to being the one to educate the world, being the expert we come to, where we can expect straight-talk and real answers. Go back to EARNING more of that goodwill.
3 - The ever-present pricing joke. Endless emails screaming of "three days only!" are so yesterday. Really, they never were from this industry, but badly force-fitted here. The joke is the opposite reality . . . hurry up and buy before we reduce the price even more. Worst, I can come in through different doors and get different prices. To do my own due diligence as a buyer, I have to spend several hours wading through playing your game. There is no one place I can clearly see all offers and options - is that not clearly a dis-incentive to my buying today? There ARE ways to address that need to bring in business, but they seem lost (and truly not only to you). Here's the first idea, provide a 30 day price guarantee that gives a credit in Dell products for any reductions in price you make (requires that monolithic price standard).
4 - Differentiation. Your product marketing group seems a tad lost too. Together with the marketing folk, it feels focused on a hip generation of gamers and not the most of us. One significant opportunity seems to me to be in the form factor offering. Mostly, no one really desires a tower chassis anymore. You've got small form factors that you barely market. Smart marketing would have the first question of the new configurator be what size footprint do you want and would you like us to explain the tradeoffs? That most PCs never get opened by the consumer, would seem to me to be a "no-duh" that if you SOLD small footprint, reduced noise, heat and space, you'd dramatically upsell into this differentiated product, not very available at Best Buy. There are a ton of other opportunities too. Please take them and take back your place of leadership!
Okay, enough, you get the drift and either you sense we're onto something or I'm already deleted. But before I sign off, a couple of positives. Thank you for the recycling effort. It is the one thing in recent history that brings you goodwill, at least from me. And thank you also for the Foundation
Maybe Michael needs a fresh, outside voice not beholden to any interest other than truth. Be well! Tim Brady www.GuidedStar.com
370
Ditch the Home/Small Business/Enterprise trichotomy
Sales Strategies, Small Business, Laptops submitted by majid
02/17/07
What products I am interested in do not correlate with myself or my company size. It used to be that high-end thin-and-light laptops would not be available in the Home segment, only the Enterprise segment. I'm sorry, just because I am a small-business owner or a home user does not mean I am ready to settle for inferior options deemed "good enough" by the powers that be.
This whole notion of three segments is a relic of a company-centric rather than customer centric marketing culture.
4033
Dell List Computer Configuration Options in order not random.
Dell Community, Dell Web Site submitted by jorge
06/25/07 **UNDER REVIEW**
Dell list computer configuration options in an ordered list not random!
When configuring a computer a list of options for lets say the processor should be in order based on speed or price, here's an example from the Dell Precision M65:
O Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5600 (1.83GHz/667MHz) Dual Core [add $37.35]
O Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7600 (2.33GHz/667MHz) Dual Core [add $398.40]
O Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7400 (2.16GHz/667MHz) Dual Core [add $207.50]
O Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7200 (2.00GHz/667MHz) Dual Core [add $103.75]
* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (1.66GHz/667Mhz) [Included in Price]
Whats up with this list? Totally confusing or leads to confusion, for the average Joe, yet again today I had to explain that Dell just lists things randomly not in some optimal way.
The list should read like this (or in reverse but in order):
* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (1.66GHz/667Mhz) [Included in Price]
O Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5600 (1.83GHz/667MHz) Dual Core [add $37.35]
O Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7200 (2.00GHz/667MHz) Dual Core [add $103.75]
O Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7400 (2.16GHz/667MHz) Dual Core [add $207.50]
O Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7600 (2.33GHz/667MHz) Dual Core [add $398.40]
Make it so and quite confusing your customers!
Start Jul 2nd :  provided by florida web site design .
730
Improve the hardware building page
Dell Web Site submitted by bbr
06/25/07 **UNDER REVIEW**
- Currently -
I surf to dell.com
and see a number of options. i can't click these but instead are presented with a popup which asks whether i'm a normal customer, small company, large company, and some others.
First issue :
If i want to order a Desktop, laptop, or anything at all, it should in theory not matter at all where i'm coming from, how big my business is, or what i'm willing to spend.
i come to dell to order a desktop, or laptop, and that's it.
Request : Remove the popups, and make the first choice basic to simply :
- desktop
- laptop
- server & network
- accesories
- help & support
Now, let's assume i clicked the consumer section in the desktop menu.
You are then presented with 3 "packages" you could say.
While i'm not directly against this sort of set up (i'm sure it's direct, userfriendly and easy for an average user). i notice that the options from "small business" are similarly distributed. and equally vague.
If you click one of these options, you're taken to yet another sub page with about 3-4 preconfigured systems that suposedly fit into the category which you've selected so far.
After this you can "configure" the computer to some extent.
But the actual options are fairly limited and fall short of my expectations... so i need to go back 2 pages and select a different system in the hope of having more options with that other system.
- The future -
Request : Either add a sixth option to the front page, or a fourth option to one of those sub pages that basically reads "Build a computer"
From this link you'd be taken to a step by step process where you select what kind of computer you wish to build.
- Options -.
The frame.
The basis of all computers, and how much you can put "into" the computer.
you'd start by choosing the frame for your computer.
- Dimension E52x
- Dimension C52x
- Dimension 92xx
- XPS 710
etc
Once you've selected a basic frame for the computer its time for the mainboard(number of slots, and socket type) and powersupply(output), cooling system(heatsink, h20, active or passive) and after that the processor type and speed.
Having completed that, you get an option for the operating system and memory(preferably chooseable per slot).
Then secondary parts such as the CD, DVD, Blu ray drive, DMD, SSD, etc
Monitor, etc
I can't provide everything in a 100% detailed manner, that'd be up to Dell obviously.
But, a more expansive "build my computer" page, based on this idea could be very interesting indeed.
430
Dell add Skype to Tech Supports Abilities
Dell Web Site, Service and Support submitted by jorge
06/29/07
Dell give Tech Support Skype abilities so they can be reached for free (literally) which reduces cost for Dell and it gives video support so customers can show tech's any visual issue if needed. Same for Support they can visually show customers what to do through Skype video! Even if the Tech support person has bad English they can visually communicate and resolve issues.
You already have the chat feature but no video, this will aid support in so many ways!
Do it now!
PS: even if you don't use Skype I'm just talking about Skype type features, like over the net voice (VOIP) and video, I don't care if its Dell-ype or something else, Skype is just the in word at the moment. So don't go getting antsy about the name, ok.
Start Jul 2nd:  provided by florida web site design .
110
Add comments field to order form!
Dell Web Site submitted by kyliemanders
07/22/07
Dell, I've ordered many systems from you guys over the years and it would be great if there was a comments field in the order form.
I have always wanted to add special instructions or make a comment like "Please don't install Google search on my Vista box". There is no space for user free text.
Please disregard if this is a duplicate post.
140
More details please
Dell Web Site submitted by cliffordp
05/02/07
Especially with only selling via direct-sales, Dell needs pictures, pictures, and more pictures...along with info, info, and more info. When I buy a computer, I want to be able to see all the ports on the back, know the power supply wattage, know the number and location of USB ports, motherboard specs, etc. As a partial owner of the company and someone who's purchased many and influenced others to purchase many systems from Dell, I think the company would benefit from increased transparency and info of a system. It would also help turn "built but not bought" systems into "bought" systems because of a greater connection to the system. Having built and not bought many systems before, I would really connect if I could SEE and sort-of FEEL the system since there's no store I can do this in. I hope this helps the company and others; it would really help me have more confidence in buying a system online. Thanks for Dell's IdeaStorm.
330
Ease of use (or lack of)
Dell Web Site submitted by anji
07/30/07
I would love to see a site that's easier to navigate. The site is ok, but a bit busy when it comes to the menus. Dell could use something like tinyURL. Often I need to give people URL's and I don't want to, because they are too long and hard to pass on orally. I usually end up walking them to the page I need to get them to, and even that is a bit cumbersome. I say a shot of simplicity is in order here... at least the parts that deal with help.
100
Help me choose a machine
Dell Web Site, Service and Support submitted by massyn
07/17/07
Instead of picking an Inspiron, Lattitude or Optiplex model, give us the ability to choose the amount of RAM, CPU, hard drive, etc, and then display a choice of target systems based on that criteria. Usually the same spec machine is cheaper on a different class of system.
400
Dell Community Site
Dell Community, Dell Web Site submitted by jervis961
07/29/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
Dell currently has several websites reaching out to customers: Direct2Dell , IdeaStorm, Dell Forums and StudioDell. The problem is that they are too hard to find and spread out across the web. Why not have a central site that is part of Dell.com that would be a home page to all of them. Redisign the Dell.com home page to 3 simple links: The Dell Store, Dell Support and Dell Community. The community site would be the place to go and interact with like minded people, learn more about Dell systems and suggest ways to improve Dell. Dell take tighter control with dedicated moderators, users could create their own profile and avitar, special coupons and contests for members, maybe even a section of free downloads like Dell screensavers and wallpapers. This would be a great way for Dell to show its customers that their relationship doesn't begin and end with the sale of a product.
Please see Jervis961's comment below
250
Show the Vista performance rating during system configuration.
Dell Web Site submitted by jervis961
02/17/07 **UNDER REVIEW**
People may not realize that Vista gives your computer a performance rating based on several factors (processor, RAM, hard drive and video card).
Dell should show the performance rating on the side as you build your computer and update it as you go along changing the configuation. This should give people a guage as to if an upgrade will really improve your overall performance and also what kinds of games and programs your new computer will be capable of.
4953
 track my votes
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