dondimon

Laptop dock with automatic hard drive backup built-in

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by djwaters Jan 15

I'd like to see a desk dock for the Latitude and Precision notebook ranges that contains a hard drive identical in size to the one in the laptop.

Whenever the laptop is docked, the drive should sync with the laptop's internal drive, thus backing up the entire configuration. This should happen seamlessly with minimal configuration, it should 'just happen'

In the case of a drive crash, or a laptop being lost/stolen, the drive would be able to be restored instantly via a utility hardwired into the laptop when it's docked.

Data backup and disaster recovery all-in-one. Great for business, fantastic for IT departments, very useful to the end user. 3 Comments »

Stop Gouging on XP builds

Sales Strategies submitted by pattyboy Jan 6

In the same vein as overcharging for Ram, STOP over charging to spec XP on your system.

It's all part of the same profit at the expense of your customers scheme. Make the people pay 5 times MSRP for ram that they HAVE to buy to run Vista bloatware, or make a cool $120.00 to let the customer choose a more efficient, powerful OS in XP.

either way, it shows Dell's current ethical virtues. 3 Comments »

Offer 64-bit Versions of Windows Vista

XPS products submitted by jefisher Jan 14

I have been searching for a new laptop and would like to future-resist the purchase and take full advantage of the 4GB RAM that I would like to include, however the only versions of ANY OS that Dell supports is 32-bit only. Dell needs to offer up the 64-bit versions so that 1/2 the warrenty is not voided when I load the 64-bit version from Microsoft using the same licence (which yes is valid). If MS can offer up these disks, why cant Dell? Support 64-bit Computing now 90% of the computers sold at Dell.com can support it. 20 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 »

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 »

Make the dell ubuntu models available through the main webpage

Dell Web Site, Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by rajeevbhatta 06/19/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Instead of having the model listings on a different webpage ( www.dell.com/open) have these models available from the product search you have on the main page or a link available through the main page (www.dell.com)

When I go to dell.com and I search for the product model numbers I never can find them I have to go to the other page and then I see it. The only thing I saw on the main page is a small flash ad which then takes you to the page.

Why cant you place these models with the other models on your page.........





30 Comments »

Wireless Control to Start and Shutdown PC

New Product Ideas submitted by badblood Jan 15

Make a little wireless controller to switch on, shutdown, lock or unlock your computer. Like the ones for cars....

16 Comments »

XPS M1530 Led Monitor lighting

Monitors and Displays, XPS products submitted by valerio.gioia 12/27/07

Led lighting for XPS M1530 displays would be a really interesting option. Many people would choose that display since there is less power consumption and led life is really higher than CCFL tubes! 23 Comments »

Glossy Color Finish on Dell XPS M1530 and M1330 DELL can you Implement this!!! Please... this is well protected from scratch

XPS products submitted by bryan14c Jan 11

well watch this video to see how dell's XPS 1330 and 1530 Glossy Color
in red and scratch test very nice Gorgeous. i hope Dell would implement this design of Glossy Color just watch how vibrant the red color on Glossy finish imagine the blue, black , white, etc color option, if this would be implemented as an option Now to the XPS 1530 and 1330, Dell staff , administrator have you implemented this idea? i hope you could implement this!!! NOW!!!

this picture and video is from dynamicZ here is a link http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=202510<

@ this time its not finish it seems to have bubbles but the finish product is so shinny and well protected from scratches





it seems to be bubbly and not smooth because the process is not finish you will have to remove the excess air and water but overall it will be a glossy finish and well protected from scratch 16 Comments »

Easier way to OPT OUT of Dell selling my private information

Advertising and Marketing submitted by ninefoot3 10/17/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I rec'd a brochure yesterday saying Dell and DFS were going to share my private info with other 3rd party companies for marketing purposes. Well, it said that in about 5,000 words or so. At the end is a box stating that I may opt-out of this by calling the number listed or writing a letter (including certain info) and send it to the listed address.

I chose to use the phone method. After being shoved around to a few people, I finally got someone who could help me 'opt-out'. This involved 'opening a case' as if I had a technical issue with my account.

My IdeaStorm suggestion, hey Dell, make it easier for us to OPT-OUT of your attempts to make money off of my personal information. What's the matter? Didn't make enough money off of my patronage to Dell products and the interest rates charged? Getting an extra $1 for my name, address and age information going to help Michael Dell get a new boat? C'mon!

While I'm disturbed that Dell wanted to sell me out, I'm more disturbed that Dell made it difficult for us to opt-out. A simple URL would have been nice. I know, that would make more people opt-out and Dell would have less names to sell. It's like a mail-in-rebate or the lack of a cancel button in the account information at freecreditreport.com, you HAVE to call, and since that's a pain in the neck, most people will sloth themselves into something they don't really want. 42 Comments »

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 »

Implement an Option of an Intel Core 2 Extreme and a Intel Core 2 Quad processor and the new PENRYN processor on XPS 1330 and 1530 and a higher Graphics Card 8700gt or above

Sales Strategies, XPS products, Laptops submitted by bryan14c Jan 9

dell should implement a Core 2 extreme processor as an option for the XPS 1330 and 1530 and a first quad core notebook , because the high end models have this , why not on the 1330 and 1530 XPS is high end right? and also why stick to 8600gt that there is a 8700gt or above graphics card , well the XPS 1530 and 1330 overall design is great slim light, well as an addition dell should also implement a PENRYN processor

26 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 »

Pre-Installed OpenOffice | alternative to MS Works & MS Office

Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart 02/17/07

Provide OpenOffice.org for free pre-installation alongside Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office. OpenOffice.org is more capable than Microsoft Works, and a serious competitor to Microsoft Office, at a fraction of the cost (it's free!)

OpenOffice.org can open, create, edit and save Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.

Provide as OPTIONS for pre-installation many other high-quality free software programs such as:
- Firefox: web browser with popup and privacy controls; say goodbye to Internet Explorer infections!
- Thunderbird: email program with free anti-spam and privacy controls
- Pidgin: instant messaging all-in-one program for popup-free MSN, Yahoo, AOL and others
&nsbp;[ed: GAIM was renamed Pidgin in April 2007 to settle the issue with AOL's trademark on AIM]
- PDFCreator: creates Adobe PDF files from any program
- Scribus, Inkscape & GIMP: desktop publishing, freehand drawing & powerful image editing
- Audacity & VLC: multi-track audio editing & universal all-in-one media/video/movie/DVD player
- Stellarium & Celestia: planetarium viewer & outer-space mapping, like Google Earth, but for our Solar System

Pre-installed quality free and open source software drastically lowers the cost of new PCs, and helps prevent software piracy. Cast your vote for Linux and other free software. Cast your vote for the Universal Education PC [ed: article removed/merged by dell_admin] utilizing free software.

CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Quality free and open source software is well behaved, and may be legally pre-installed on PCs, and legally shared with friends and family, sharing is encouraged! Cast your vote for consumer CHOICE and public transparency at Dell.
562 Comments »

Have Firefox pre-installed as default browser

Software submitted by robinjfisher 02/19/07 **REVIEWED**

Does what it says on the tin! Most people only use IE because they aren't aware of other browsers - they think Internet Explorer is the Internet! What would really drive take up of alternative browsers is if Firefox was pre-installed as the default browser so that when people look for the "Internet" in Windows, they are using FF.
Firefox advocates at Dell have initiated discussions and driven action around exploring alternative internet browsers and experiences. As you can tell from our response to the Linux community, open source continues to be a part of our conversations about new products and services.





775 Comments »

Make XP/Linux drivers available for all model even if only Vista is pre-installed

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Operating Systems submitted by vineets001 09/24/07 **REVIEWED**

There are good hardware models coming out. And only Vista is pre-install option. If people want to wipe off Vista and install XP or Linux, let them do that. Make a commitment to have the drivers available.


We're working on having drivers for the hardware we ship more widely available. Click here to learn more from john_h.





28 Comments »

Tell us what WiFi chipset a laptop has.

Broadband and Mobility, Dell Web Site, Linux, Laptops submitted by tonyb2006 08/29/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Tell us the WiFi chipset used in a laptop before we buy it so we know if the WiFi chipset supports a feature we want, or if it supports Linux or another operating system that we intend to use. The WiFi chipset being like "Intel ipw2200" or "Broadcom BCM4306", or "Ralink rt2500".







17 Comments »

Ubuntu Dell Repo

Linux, Service and Support submitted by tekhawk 07/20/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

basicly a simple idea dell to support the ubuntu community a little bit by running a repo for its laptops and desktop if nothing more to support the software that they install on the system and to provide driver updates theses repos should be setup on the machines before shipping so that the users can get the driver updates quick and easy and offer driver on there for all the drivers that there are for dell machines that are support on linux not just the shipping lines

so that user might find that other machines then the ones you ship with ubuntu can easly be made into power ubuntu operating machines


As matt_d has said below, we have repositories for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, Novell/SuSE Linux Enterprise Server, and a growing one for Ubuntu. Check it out here http://linux.dell.com.
76 Comments »

Linux Hardware Compatibility List

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by s3indiana 02/20/07 **IN PROGRESS**

Create a listing of Dell hardware that's compatible with the major Linux distributions (Fedora, OpenSuse, ubuntu, Freespire) providing compatibility with not just systems (desktops and laptops) but include peripherals (printers, camera's, flash drives, compatible routers, etc.). Include levels of compatibility so the reviewer can make an educated choice. This would provide the greatest assistance for those looking at alternatives...

We're working to add something like this to our linux.dell.com wiki. Click here to see what john_h has to say.




30 Comments »

No Extra Software Option

Software submitted by ootleman 02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Would love the ability to have a clean Vista install. No AOL software, no earthlink software, no google software - just a clean, original OS.


Check out jeremy_f's update on our current software options.


590 Comments »