Dell for Soldiers

Dell Community, Service and Support submitted by haler 11/12/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

My step-son is leaving for Iraq in January. His mom can't afford a laptop for him and neither can I, but I thought it could be done if everyone in the family could contribute via a site, then when there was enough, you could ship him a laptop!

This could be a great "community" PR thing for Dell -- Set up a website, soldiers could register -- somehow they are qualified, then anyone could go and give $5 to a few people. When the solider gets their laptop, they could receive a list of email addresses of the contributors if the contributors cared to share it -- then they could be pen pals too.











27 Comments »

Linux Customer Survey

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by aikiwolfie 11/12/07

I've noticed Dell likes it's on-line surveys. So why hasn't one been done for Linux? If it has can we see the results?

Conduct an on-line survey of customers asking them if they have;

1 ) Heard of Linux?

2 ) Used Linux in the past?

3 ) Intend to use Linux in the future?

4 ) Currently use Linux?

5 ) What are/were the systems specs of the PC Linux was installed on?

6 ) Which distributions have they used?

7 ) Which distribution do they prefer?

8 ) Why did they stop using Linux?

9 ) What problems have they encountered using Linux?

10 ) If they haven't heard of Linux, what do they think Linux is?

11 ) Do they want to buy Dell PCs with Linux installed?

12 ) List the applications you use the most on Linux.

13 ) Are there any applications you would like moved to the Linux platform that are not currently offered on Linux.

14 ) Is there any particular piece of hardware you'd like to see supported in Linux?

15 ) Would you like to see better hardware virtualization support, better bleeding edge support and better thread handling (processors are hardware too) 99 Comments »

Stop Using SALESFORCE.COM Forum Software

submitted by aikiwolfie 11/11/07

By all accounts possibly with the exception of Dells the SALESFORCE.COM forum software is pants. It has too many bugs and we the members of the community who freely give up our time and bandwidth don't like it.

SALESFORCE.COM

FORUM SOFTWARE

IS PANTS!!!

Outsourcing, Philippines is the way to go!

submitted by daryldeal 11/11/07

Hey Dell, im just wondering when are you guys gonna expand your customer and tech support services in the Philippines? i mean, to say it frankly, i'd rather talk to a neutral accent'd filipino that would work with you to resolve a problem than a thick indian accent'd Indian that would speak like a machine gun that would rush the resolution in your concern. 13 Comments »

AMD on higher product lines in Laptops and Desktops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies submitted by daryldeal 11/11/07

Lack of AMD processors in the more expensive product lines in laptops in desktops is really non-consumer budget friendly. I mean, AMD nowadays provides the best Price/Performance ratios. Dont get me wrong saying INTEL core 2 duos arent, but AMD provides headroom flexibility for us consumers to have the best Price/Performance ratio for a laptop and desktop that we would surely enjoy, without not paying that much for performance.

For example in gaming. you guys can rig a laptop or desktop with a good/best performing AMD processor thats definitely cheaper than Intel C2D's. WIth that you can put additional firepower in the Video Card. Get my point? Now thats the way to go, Best price/performance ratios.

Get AMD's in those higher product lines of laptops and desktops, so that the consumers can experience the Price/Performance ratio to the fullest. 9 Comments »

X-MAS offer

Sales Strategies submitted by petzymathuram 11/12/07

- Coupons
- Greeting cards for all the customers
- A key chain with a small light ( can be used like a torch)
- Customer Referral- X Mas-offer (Give a different name for the program)
- Encourage students with online marketing as a part of the Customer referral offer (sale of Dell) as discussed earlier
what else?
Anything more friends? 16 Comments »

Online Bill pay

Service and Support submitted by rescuehog 11/12/07

One thing I do not understand, a computer company that has no way for there customers to see there account balance or pay there bill online. Even Home Depot has a web site that you can see your account and pay your bill online. With the technology today why is a company that specializes in computers so far behind in customer service. How much easer would it to for me to want to upgrade if I knew how much I had to spend and had the ability to manage my account online. At Home Depot I can look online at what they sell, see what my balance is and buy what I want. How about transporting your company into the new millennium, I am tired of waiting for my paper statement. 13 Comments »

Adapt the T-Mobile XOgiving approach in your holiday sales promotions.

submitted by catalyst 11/12/07

http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/free-wi-fi.php< one year of complimentary T-Mobile HotSpot access.
T-Mobile USA is proud to offer you one-year complimentary access to T-Mobile HotSpot in recognition of your support for the Give One Get One program. As you help children in developing countries stay connected, educated, and enlightened - T-Mobile wants to support you by keeping you connected to those who matter most to you.

T-Mobile HotSpot broadband Internet service is available at more than 8,500 locations throughout the United States. Your complimentary year of service is valued at more than $350! Just use any Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as your laptop computer or a Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phone, and you can connect and communicate your way.

T-Mobile HotSpot locations in the United States include most Starbucks, Borders Books and Music, FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Red Roof Inn locations, many airports, and various airline clubs of American®, United®, Delta, and US Airways®. Get connected at a nearby T-Mobile HotSpot Comment »

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 OS

submitted by bubuasb 11/12/07 **NOT LIKELY**

Dell should create its own operating sistem like Apple 55 Comments »

Fix the screen swivel problem on Dell laptops

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by sumit_singh2002 11/12/07

My Dell Inspiron laptop's screen swivels and looks like someday it would fall apart. this has been the case with many of my other using Latitude and Inspiron. I m seriously thinking of NOT buying my next laptop from Dell and am sure there are many more like me who would have a similar opinion. FIX IT 7 Comments »

On Dell Ads

Advertising and Marketing submitted by dwood 11/12/07

Lately, many of you have seen my idea about Dell making more commercials (I swear that I didnt steal anyone's idea for that one >.<)

Well, the latest dell commercial has been lacking. I think Dell should host a contest to see who can come up with the best script/video for a Dell Commercial!

1st Prize: The person gets to introduce his commercial as the winner and it gets aired 200 times on various stations AND the person gets a free product of the highest line of products Dell sees fit, and one idea of the winner's choice automatically gets put under review, (from ideastorm)

2nd prize: Gets aired over teh Dell.com site and the person gets some random thing Dell decides, like an all-new something and an Idea from Ideastorm the user likes gets put under review

3rd prize: Some cool prize, like a new graphics card or something of the user's pick 15 Comments »

Allow Third Party Power Adapters

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptop Power submitted by zcrane 11/12/07

Currently Dell won’t allow a user to charge their batteries with a third party charger, such as a Targus Universal Power Adapter. Dell has some sort of a power adapter identifier that will only allow you to *power* the notebook, but not *charge* the batteries with the said charger.

This is a horrible case of forcing customers into purchasing the Dell branded power adapter, even if a different company produces one that fits the user's needs better. This is like saying only a Dell branded mouse will work with a Dell notebook... ridiculous!

Dell, this needs to be changed, and changed soon. 21 Comments »

Compression artifacts in dell.com images

Dell Web Site submitted by jack_123 11/12/07

A fairly noticable thing - when you open the dell.com homepage in a browser, the central, large image (feturing a new desktop, laptop etc.) has irritating compression artifacts - out-of-place, blurry random pixels around sharp edges. This is especially visible for dark text on light background. Because of that the text looks messy and is harder to read.

The artifacts appear because of JPEG compression of images. JPEG compression is good for photos, but generally terrible for anything that has text.

The solution would be to use a different compression that does not distort the edges. 4 Comments »

Continue to include good, flexible diagnostics...

Desktops, Service and Support, Software submitted by lordcobol 11/12/07

... on a bootable CD.
Our newest Optiplex croaked recently, with Windows saying it had encountered a problem and was shutting down to avoid making things worse.
I booted the diagnostics CD before calling tech support, and was able to tell them that we had problems with memory and cache. This likely saved *HUGE* amounts of time while tech support might have been telling me to troubleshoot a Windows problem, or a bad disk, etc. Things like this can make the difference between my generally good experience with Dell support, vs the complaints I hear elsewhere.

Windows-based diagnostics would have been useless, because we couldn't get into Windows at all.

What really scares me is the crummy diagnostics on the other brands I have recent experience with. I couldn't find any diagnostics at all on a recent Velocity Micro PC. Systemax used to include a bootable diagnostics CD, but you couldn't select which tests to run -- just crank it up overnite and check the results many hours later. Now I find only a non-booting DVD with a Windows-based "stress test" which lets you specify how long to run but nothing else. And like I said about Windows-based diagnostics.... The best non-Dell diagnostics I have seen were Gateway's, but sadly I had to run them too many times for too many problems, so Gateway and I are over.

Systemax & VM are better than Dell in terms of bloatware and power supplies, but I hesitate to recommend them to anyone who doesn't have his own diagnostics CD.

PS, the repairs went ok, and the on-site tech ran the same diagnostics to prove it. 3 Comments »

Make 'em Strong

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by bsmmoney 11/12/07

I personally don't care so much about weight if the argument is between that and robustness and sturdiness of my laptop. The plastic shells just aren't cutting it. My laptop (i9300) has suffered screen damage and the headphone jack has pulled completely out. (several cases listed on Google) My high school has issued us i600ms as well, they don't work for students! I would like a consumer (student) version of the Latitude ATG. The average student would appreciate a laptop they could depend on at school, stick in their backpack and know the laptop will power on and look good after a long day at school. The only thing more frusterating than homework is a new scratch on my case! If the notebooks could be metal or at least have some metal ribbing inside with reinforcements on all the ports, jacks, appendages, etc. I would be pretty happy. Oh...The pads around the screen peel off too easily.
Please help out! 4 Comments »

Educate the Customers about "Phising"

Dell submitted by petzymathuram 11/13/07

The customer needs to be educated in a lay man english and properly instructed "to avoid clicking such Phisings"

- Phishing is a modus operandi where in a customer gets an e-mail that deceptively claims to be from a particular enterprise (like your Bank) and asking for account sensitive information.
- Phishing is a spoofed e-mail that closely resembles the Bank notices. The mail aims to convince customers to divulge account sensitive information such as Credit Card Numbers, Passwords and PINs, Bank Account Details etc..
- These Phishing mails have a legitimate-looking URL or an image, which when clicked directs the affected user to the Phishing site where in the account sensitive details are captured.
- Alternatively, sometimes the customer is asked to download and install "Security" software attached to the spam e-mail and doing so by the customer, the scamster can retrieve all the account related details.

Especially when dealing with financial dealings/ emails. 2 Comments »

Who won the environment contest

Dell Web Site, Sales Strategies, Service and Support submitted by badblood 08/30/07

Dell ran a contest to see who could come up with the best idea to improve Dell's record on protecting the environment. We were promised the results on a Friday some weeks ago, but mysteriously the result never came.

Tell us who won. Or tell us that no one did because all the ideas were stupid. Tell us anything. Just don't tell us we'll get the result by Friday! 152 Comments »

"I detest the 'leaked' design of XPS M1730 and will wait for it to be redesigned."

XPS products submitted by lorax1284 08/17/07

If you DO NOT LIKE the design of the XPS 1730, and are willing to give Dell the time to 'fix it', you should PROMOTE this thread, as a vote AGAINST the design, but willingness to WAIT for it to be improved.

If you LIKE the design do NOT vote.

If you are UNWILLING TO WAIT for the design to be reworked (you will buy another notebook instead of either this design or waiting for a revision) DEMOTE the post. 13 Comments »

DUDE! You're Getting Soo Sued! was Dell, you're going to get sued!

Dell submitted by jorge 08/10/07

Dell, you can't rig your computers to avoid us determining you're lying on the price of the OS!

Dell is purposely not allowing the configuration on like models to compare Open vs Microsoft, by offering only selectively similar but not unique processors in their computers, for example on the Dell D530N vs D530

D530N Processor list:

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4300 (2MB L2 Cache,1.80GHz, 800 FSB) [Included in Price]
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6320 (4MB L2 Cache,1.86GHz,1066 FSB) [add $50 or $2/month1]
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6420 (4MB L2 Cache,2.13GHz,1066 FSB) [add $100 or $3/month1]

D530 Processor list:

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4400 (2MB L2 Cache,2.00GHz,800 FSB) [Included in Price]
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4500 (2MB L2 Cache,2.20GHz,800 FSB) [add $50 or $2/month1]
May delay your Dell Inspiron 530 ship date
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6550 (4MB L2 Cache,2.33GHz,1333 FSB) [add $100 or $3/month1]

Why not have the same processors? Or all of them listed, why the limitation?

Oh you don't want us to do a straight comparison to determine you're ripping off customers, thats why!

FreeDOS = $0 not $50, $100 or what ever it is you're charging. 67 Comments »