catoha

It's all about DESIGN!!!!

Desktops and Laptops submitted by kblobo 06/25/07 **IN PROGRESS**

DELL, where are the original ideas? My brother just bought an Apple Macbook Pro, because he said a Dell with similar specs was too expensive, and Dell does not have an integrated camera onboard for all its products.

And more importantly, where is the cool factor? Dell laptops have no aesthetic style and are nowhere as this compared to an Apple counterpart.

Dell needs to get some industrial designers in-house and start adding some oomph (more capabilities/performance) and pzazz (style) to their products. 5 Comments »

Add higher screen resolution to all home & home office laptops

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by ccpljat Apr 25

I have been using a used [another brand's] business laptop that has a high screen resolution. The cheaper Inspiron laptops can only go up to 1280x800. I cannot be productive on a screen that small any more. At least bump it up to 1440x900 or equivalent. I have basically been forced to shop in the Small Business section to find an affordable computer with a higher screen resolution. 4 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 »

Backlit Keyboards

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by rarmasu 02/21/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

I find myself many, many times in dark or poorly lit environments having to guess the various keys - would be fantastic to have a backlit keyboard - with backlit individual keys as the best option.

I would actually pay extra for that convenience if the option was available.
This could be done for desktops or notebooks.


Check out the white LED backlights on the <ahref>XPS M1730.
296 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 »

M1330 style in more sizes and colors

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), XPS products submitted by kyliemanders 08/06/07

Nearly everyone appreciates the styling of the XPS M1330.



Why not make this look available across the board. Offer it up in 11", 15.4", 17" and 20" versions. Come up with additional colors.

Don't ruin the M1730 and put it in a tacky package like this: [image removed - not public information] 37 Comments »

Improve your internal case designs (Improve airflow + Reduce wire clutter)

Environment submitted by bbr 07/10/07

I've had my Desktop for a couple of years now, and i still shudder having to open it.
It's a horrible maze of tangled wires, connectors and above all "dust" in there.
Sort of like : http://www.zdnet.de/graphics/reviews/pc/200207/dell4500-inside.jpg
or : http://images.digitalmedianet.com/2004/Week_39/z1yf5axb/story/dell_inside.jpg
Wires everywhere, making it very hard to reach any components you wish to replace or clean. It's crazy.

Now, compare that to this: http://www.macrumors.com/downloads/inside25g5.jpg
Yes it's an Apple, a G5 Dual processor model to be a bit more exact.
It looks so clean because Apple designs its own hardware.

Now, i'll leave out the obvious temptation of starting a Vista vs OSX comparison,
and stick to the hardware.

Here's a comparison shot mac-vs-pc : http://www.apple.bg/bul/Docs/apple/hardware/powermac/1102/clutter.jpg
As with others of apple's designs they've always been very clean cut :
http://www.zisman.ca/Articles/2004/g5imac_inside.jpg

Just look at it, perfect air flow : http://www.apple.bg/bul/Docs/apple/hardware/powermac/1102/cooling.jpg
Because of the airflow design it produces much less sound than a normal PC does..
With the fans placed inside the machine to reduce noise output even further.
(From personal experience, i'm able to say that i can barelly hear my mac at work)

Compare that to the front-bottom(dust intake) point intake design (whirlwind) with randomly placed fans inside the case (disrupt airflow) that most normal PCs use. PC Airflow is flawed.
Example : http://www.pcleek.be/Fotoshardware/pc%20case%20open.jpg
Standard PC airflow is inefficient, ignores most major components, and requires extra fans rotating at speeds which produce a "lot" of sound, require a lot of energy to operate, and suck in a lot of dust particles which will reduce the nominal efficiency of your hardware over time.
Because of this design you'll also notice that the edges around your CD/DVD drive will usually have clearly showing edges of dust, because the normal airflow is not aligned to the internal fans. (dust and CD drives does not mix, and can cause faillure of your CD drive)

Now, back to Mac:
Front metallic cover and sideplates : http://www.tweakers.net/ext/i.dsp/1056403028.jpg
Detailed side view G5 : http://www.wap.org/journal/powermacg5v2/powermacg5v2.jpg
Detailed side view Mac Pro : http://www.professional-pr.info/Apple/Bilder/06/macpro/macpro_inside.jpg
Notice the heatsinks on the right, and the 4 Hard disk panels in the center.
The CD/DVD drive(topleft) can be removed in 1 motion, just like the side panel for the CPUs

Easy to access all components,
Easy to switch hard disks, (single button eject)
Easy to plug in extra memory, (no wires blocking access)
Instant access to the processor (1 button panel remove)
And so much more.

In my opinion it'd be a great revolution if Dell stepped away from the "standard" PC design and improved their hardware in this manner. Easy access, Good air flow, Easy to clean. Less wires needed. (better for the environment as well)

The problem however, is that dell machines are limited to "standard" mainboards.
Because of this it's almost impossible to allow much creativity with the hardware placement inside each case.
Perhaps dell can sit around a table with Intel or another popular mainboard designer and come up with a more customized version for the improved desktop layouts.

Improving the case hardware layout to fix the airflow will make a cleaner look, yield better performance, reduce energy consumption, improve harware lifespan, and in the end you end up with a much more enviromentally friendly computer. 8 Comments »

Internet Laptop Design Contest

Advertising and Marketing, Laptops submitted by mucho 02/16/07

In order to get direct input from Dell customers, and tie more closely with consumer trends, why not sponsor a contest over the internet to design a line of laptops for home/consumer use? This would tie into Dell's philosophy of direct relationships. So the new laptop would not only be built specifically for you, but also DESIGNED directly by Dell customers. Of course, designs would have to be reviewed by Dell engineers to be sure that they are technically feasible and can be built within cost constraints, etc... Seems like this could be a very cool way to design a new generation of home/consumer laptops thru collaboration directly with Dell customers. 9 Comments »

Stop designing "For Microsoft" (as most of your products are labled) and start designing for your customers.

Dell submitted by jmxz 03/15/07

I think it's telling of where Dell's priorities lay when most of your boxes has a sticker that says "Designed for Microsoft [XP or Windows or Vista]" on it. Wouldn't it be better if you designed your products for your customers first; and particular software vendors's agendas second?

At my previous company the most important software we ran on Dells came from Oracle - a competitor of Microsoft. I'd feel much better if I could have gotten a computer from you that was "designed for Oracle clusters" rather than the systems I got from you which were clearly labeled that they were designed for a company with a vested interest in seeing Oracle fail. And even more uneasy since that particular vendor (Microsoft, if you hadn't guessed yet) had in the past had projects deliberately making competitors software fail and/or give error messages in unexpected ways:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/11/05/how_ms_played_the_incompatibility/
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+emails+focus+on+DR-DOS+threat/2100-1001_3-22512...
Considering that history - I'd be pretty wary of running Oracle on machines "Designed for Microsoft". 9 Comments »

NICE New Dell montor! Keep making great designs like this.

Monitors and Displays submitted by jmxz 05/18/07

http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/dells-ultra-thin-concept-lcd-with-displayp...

Dell's ultra-thin LCD concept with DisplayPort going retail?
...
Remember that super swanky Dell monitor concept we went ga ga over back at January's CES? Yeah, we still find it hard to believe it's a Dell design. Well, it'll apparently be up for sale later in the year.

Use magsafe power connectors

Laptops, Laptop Power submitted by badblood 05/20/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

MagSafe power connectors, by Apple, are magnetic power connectors that pull out harmlessly when the cord is tripped upon.



They are very cool and quite sensible.





87 Comments »

Smoother/More rounded Chassis Design

Servers and Storage, Desktops and Laptops submitted by leonardo_corezola 05/30/07

I think Dell should design more rounded and smoother chassis for their desktops/notebooks/servers. That's the impression I get from Apple chassis designs and all their stuff when I see them. Some Dell designs are ok, but they look a bit old. Look at iMac/iPOD/iPhone - they all follow the same style of design. It looks nice when we see them. And probably that's their biggest differential when customer are "eye-choosing" a computer/acessory.

Just do it simple, smooth, light. An Eye-Candy.

** If you like the idea, please promote. **
Thanks :D 23 Comments »

Invest in New Notebook Design

Laptops submitted by mauro 02/20/07

In my opinion, the design of Dell notebooks is tasteless, at best. Even if there is some effort visible in the latest models, design does not seem to be a high priority when building new notebooks. There is no "I must have this thing" feeling when you see such a notebook for the first time. I recommend to send the designers out and study e.g. Apple products or some italian kitchen stuff like ALESSI or so. Maybe it would also help to hire some good industrial designers.

I do not propose to develop a fancy design that only attracts a few really stilish freaks, but just to avoid the more or less random arrangement of buttons, speaker holes and ports on a notebook case and replace it by something that simply makes "a good impression". I think that investment in design would have a good and fast payback since a notebook is a commodity and people more and more care for design (and low noise) than for the latest processor or harddisk. Comment »

Better design for Notebooks with no visible labels & stickers!

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by jordy 02/27/07

Please give me shiny clean Dell machine made by top industrial designer, with no sticker or labels, it so simple!
You can still stick them all at the bottom of the machine if required so, as well on packaging!

J 1 Comment »

Let customers vote on Dell's best PC designs

IdeaStorm submitted by solarium 03/02/07

Put a few novel interesting PC designs out there for this community to vote on directly.... then you'll really see the value of this site.

Customers will vote on the best of the best designs. Comment »

New laptop design, please!

Laptops submitted by henca0315 02/19/07

We all have been waiting for a new laptop design.Intel platforms come and go, and dell designs remain the same. Introduction of SantaRosa platform in May is the perfect oportunity for Dell to give us a new Design. Comment »

New XPS Design

XPS products submitted by undefined 02/27/07

Make a new XPS design (XPS Gen 6 or XPS 800) Comment »

Light durable long lasting notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by datof 09/13/07

You should make notebooks that are
2.1 lb (under a kilogram),

have
8 hrs battery life,

have
waterproof keyboards,

and are fairly durable.

an example http://www.kemplar.com/panasonic_r6.php#Specs
sony also makes light laptops

I believe people would be willing to pay a premium for good quality thin and light notebook and also make sure it's easy to type on. people are even willing to import this notebook at a premium to obtain it. currently the lightest laptop on the website is 3 lb which is a world of difference compared to a 2 lb laptop (such as the asus eee pc) 1 Comment »

Dells pricing needs to be more competative

Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by jervis961 09/06/07

My son is begging for a laptop, his current Dell Desktop is on its last legs anyway so I decided to look around. I can find a notebook for as low as $319.96 on sale at box stores and from $450 online from manufacturers. The cheapest Dell I can find starts at $549 and has worse specs than what I found elsewhere. I looked at desktops as well and the story is the same. I even checked the Dell outlet and they don't really even discount items that much there.

I'm trying to support Dell but they aren't really helping me help them. They need to be more competative with their pricing. 26 Comments »

Visible Link to IdeaStorm on main Dell site

Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site, IdeaStorm submitted by ipaw 07/01/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

IdeaStorm should have a visible link and explanation on the main Dell site as well as a Desktop shortcut on all new installations.

I've been a Dell customer since my XPS-500 back in the mid 90's and I only just found out about IdeaStorm through a PodCast.

If people know they can have a voice and make a difference, they'll use it.

Thanks


This idea has been partially implemented, as our new home page now has a prominent link to "Dell Community" - within that page are links to IdeaStorm and our other community properties, including Dell Community Forums, Direct2Dell, StudioDell, etc. Thanks for the idea!!!
34 Comments »