duskd

One Laptop Per Child = XO Computer

Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by trentreviso 04/04/07

Quanta, the hardware company which manufactures Dell laptops, plans to offer a commercial version of MIT's/UN's OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) computer for about $200.

I would love to have such a laptop available through Dell for about $200.

I would also think it a nice gesture to donate a small portion of the proceeds of the sale of each such machine back to the U.N.'s OLPC project.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070329-olpc-xo-manufacturer-to-sell-bu... 6 Comments »

Demo centers

Advertising and Marketing submitted by giosetti 04/03/07

I miss the opportunity to check dell notebooks haptically and visually: how feels the keyboard, what is the display like?

I am brooding if I ought to buy an Inspiron 640M or a XPS 1210. As the latter is much more expensive and therefore a riskier purchase I will rather go the safe way and buy the 640. If I had looked at the XPS physically i maybe had changed my mind for the pleasing factor.

In other words: I miss the opportunity to get a physical impression of Dell computers.

Why not having a demo center at least in some large cities? Ok, that rises cost again and affects the whole infrastructure. 4 Comments »

Horizontal VGA Pocket PC with built-in GPS/Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/TV Tuner

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Broadband and Mobility submitted by richough3 04/03/07

Even though most Pocket PCs are vertical, a horizontal Pocket PC would allow more width for viewing web pages. A built-in GPS is becoming a more common standard and the ability to have an ATSC TV Tuner with stereo sound would be a plus as well. This idea would also work well in a UMPC, but it would need better battery life than the current UMPCs so that it could actually run 4 to 6 hours fully utilized. 1 Comment »

Embeded Linux on Laptops

Linux, Operating Systems, Laptops submitted by philrio 04/03/07

Create a laptop with embeded Linux on a chip as the default OS. This would create a relaible bootable system that would allow multiple OS installations on the hardrive and multi-boot environment. No matter what you'd always have that Core Linux OS.

This idea is the tip of the iceburg. What if you had multiple embedded operating systems ? Now that Mac is on Intel why not embed Mac, WIndows, Linux basic OS's each on their own chip. The HD could be shared by all three. Comment »

New Dells: Optiplex/Latitude: Factory build

Dell submitted by tleavit 04/03/07

Over the past 6 months, we have purchased about 50 PC's with Windows XP on them. While they have XP SP2 on them we find that there is over 50 auto update packages that need to be installed. It takes about 4 full reboots to get them all. This is the problem. It takes a good hour to get the patches up to current XP spec. I would estimate about 250 megs of downloading. For our build site that runs on a T1, this means that not only is it taking my people 1hour to just run auto updates, the office's bandwidth is also hammered for an hour. Dell very much needs to include these updates in its factory build and keep them updates as best they can. 7 Comments »

An open solution to categorization

IdeaStorm submitted by cosh 05/08/07

This was originally posted on May 8. Lots of people were saying IdeaStorm was cluttered, and that spam and duplicates were appearing, that we needed better categories and a search engine that returns better results, and that it was taking too long to get bug fixes and improvements.

I built a new system, a mirror of every idea on the site, to try and sort it out myself, and to demonstrate to Dell that when everybody is complaining, improvements should happen in days, not months.

It has a better search engine than IdeaStorm, and the ability to browse ideas based on the Dell-assigned tags. As well as demonstrating good potential features for IdeaStorm, it should prove useful as it is.

The link:» » New IdeaStorm Categorizer « «

Initially I was trying to get people to help sort the ideas into categories, but I'm considering adding a robot to sort the rest of them out automatically. Thanks very much to people who helped categorize ideas!





501 Comments »

De-geek the hardware

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

Do you remember boomboxes? The portable stereos that you could carry around on your shoulder? Your hardware is starting to look like late stage boomboxes, full of unnecessary lights and design that don't do anything. Go back to basics with the hardware design. Simple is better. Comment »

noise and heat reduction for laptops

Laptops submitted by harborsparrow 02/17/07

Noise and heat matters...my Macbook is quiet, but it gets hot. I place it on a raised plastic kitchen sink mat that lets the bottom breathe--low tech, cheap, pretty and effective! See http://harbor 1 Comment »

Use Real Parts In Laptops

Laptops submitted by laptopuser 02/17/07

The firm I founded used to use Dell laptops exclusively. However, we can no longer use Dell laptops due to the shoddy materials used. Examples of problems we've had:

- In Week 1, Latitude case cracks when picked up by the corner (as you can do with all other laptops!)
- CD drive falls out of Latitude when held in lap
- defective memory
- defective motherboard
- defective replacement motherboard (2x for the same machine)
- screws in laptop strip easily
- pointer stick breaks after 6 months; needs replacement
- keyboard breaks after 4 months; needs replacement
- monitor breaks after 8 months; needs replacement

And there are only 3 of us! On average, we had to have our laptops serviced more than 2x per year each. Thankfully the on-site service is generally good. Too bad we were able to get to know the repairmen!

When we switched to ThinkPads and later MacBooks, we have not had similar problems. In fact, we don't really know how good the service is because the machines just work. 2+ years on the ThinkPad, nearing the first year on the Macs without a single incident.

You have to fix the quality gulf. Comment »

Offer small business/home users systems with entertainment components that are high end but not exclusively for gamers at aggressive prices

Desktops and Laptops submitted by rrrrrrr 02/17/07

The XPS / Lexus analogy is a little far fetched in an industry that uses standardized components. We bought a lot of Dell computers when they were priced well. In the last couple of years, many of Dell's premium units have become overpriced and the company has become insensitive to the educated computer buyer in my view. Save XPS for the gamers. For example, Dimension 9200 desktop computers should be available with media center components at great prices with well priced media center component and graphic board upgrades available.

In short, give us the value in the small business/consumer space that addresses computers as multifaceted. There is a complete void in your desktop line that is being usurped by your misguided focus on XPS. Knowledgeable consumers see right through this attempted gross margin grab. Dell has really stumbled in this arena and given a great deal of business to others especially HP primarily via the Retail Channel.

I would further echo the suggestion of others that loyatly rewards be offered to your loyal and evangelical core user base. Comment »

Simplify the Product Design - Use Less Plastic!!!

Environment submitted by wakel1mh 02/17/07

The laptops shouldn't squeak and creak when handled.

Power adapters should be smaller.

AC power jacks on laptops shouldn't break under normal use. 1 Comment »

MAKE SWEEPING CONSUMER FRIENDLY CHANGES TO PRODUCTS

Dell Web Site, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by mani 02/17/07

I have been a loyal fan of Dell PCs for a while and currently own a Dell XPS laptop and Desktop, due to my satisfaction with the overall quality of the products experienced so far. However before purchasing a new pc I was reluctant to buy from Dell when I should not have been because of my earlier happiness with the products... why?

1. Price was a huge factor, many competitors offered PCs at same specs or more for much cheaper! Dell is supposed to be competitive as it is an online only dealer > saving on costs but why are we not benefiting from this? HP laptops for example were much cheaper. Price discrepancies in Dell products as well... in the UK Dell products are incredibly more expensive than anywhere else making them very uncompetitive in the market especially the higher end ranges.

2. The base specs were slightly behind what competitors offered at the same time.

3. Make the customization more flexible to allow consumers to remove unwanted preoloaded software for example, most common configurations can easily be streamlined to avoid increasing costs.

4. The website should be more user friendly... it is hard to navigate and messy, it should be more efficient and informative. Its hard to find out specifications of a PC in detail or any offers available at the time. The layout should be simpler less flash and more function.

However, as I previously mentioned I am very happy with the quality and design of my Dell PCs so please do not let it falter as this a prime motivation for buying from Dell as its name so far has been synonymous with quality.

Good Luck! Comment »

Multi-Purpose Portability

Laptops submitted by chiefjohn 02/17/07

Consumers are becoming more mobile and require not only portability in our notebook systems but multi-tasking. Market a system that provides GPS navigation, MP3, XM/Sirrus radio capability, audio books (example Garmin 7200/7500 systems) with the added features of a notebook system. An "all in one system" that would appeal to the large mobile market users' group. The system must be easily transferable between vehicles with touch screen capability. Comment »

Dell for Life

Sales Strategies submitted by dawnsouth 02/17/07

I recently sold a small business, and we used all Dell computers, so I am "brand loyal". I think Dell could tap into multi generational loyaly by giving special discounts, trade-ins, discounted upgrades, multiple purchase discounts to families who become part of a Dell program "Dell For Life".

Then Dell would become a partner in a family's desire and ability to stay up with technology & try new products. If interested, I would like to discuss this idea further.

Thanks,
Dawn South
uniformccp@aol.com Comment »

Computers that Deliver

Advertising and Marketing, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by bruceneuman 02/17/07

Minimum design of computers should mean robust capabilities. Do not produce a computer with a minimum makeup in order to offer a good price. Computers have become like appliances. Consumers want a machine that can do it all out of the box. So, compete by offering machines that make sense at the best price you can without all the confusion that now abounds. I think consumers will eat it up. PS - Michael Dell first offered this kind of marketing with PC Limited, machines that were better and faster. They caught on. He should get back out front and sell them. Comment »

How To Lower Dell's Service Costs

Service and Support submitted by googideas 02/16/07

True story. I bought an Inspiron in December. The plastic hinge somehow ended up cracked (I had bought the full warranty).

I called Dell (I live in Singapore). The next day they came out to see me and replaced the hinge. The woman on the phone had asked me if I had any other problems and I mentioned my CD-drive had frozen a couple of times. I also honestly told her that I wasn't sure if it was Microsoft software doing this, MusicMatch Jukebox, or what. I am not a techie.

They replaced the drive without even asking me about it.

I don't think there was anything wrong with the drive itself. The service guys were from an outsourced company (not Dell service techs but contracted). Since they had no stake in Dell they didn't care whether they gave me a new drive or not.

My question is this: what cost control measures are in place to mitigate the "giveaways" as per the above? Do you test returned components? Do you provide your outsourced service companies around the world stats on what the likelihood of failures for each component are, or are you leaving it entirely up to their own discretion?

I wonder what would have happened if I'd complained about other components? Would I have a brand new computer? It shouldn't be this easy, and it must drive the consumer price of your products up. Now you know.

adam Comment »

How Better To Process All Ideas Submissions

IdeaStorm submitted by googideas 02/16/07

I think you know you are going to get tens of thousands of ideas/posts. You might want to buffer the immediacy of the postings.

It will allow you to filter out or dump posts which have nothing to do with the intent of this site.

It will force you to vet ideas which might be of great worth to you, without a any hint of them getting "out there".

You might want to put a spell check feature on here to help avoid us having to read posts with many typos.

You might want to change your terms and conditions by adding the following condition:

"In rare cases Dell reserves the right to waive its own terms and conditions for the purpose of negotiating a purchase or other contract or otherwise secure the IP to the idea."
(you might be missing out on some great opportunities by discoiuraging the revelation of them.)

Nominate a third-party like a KPMG to act as a go-between for those instances when an idea from an individual attracts your interest. In other words, implement faciliatory procedures so that you can become truly entrepreneurial (no slight meant here whatsoever but let's face it, big business does not understand how to attract ideas and new business as well as it could be done).

Ideas are going to be the currency of tomorrow so it is a good plan to prepare yourselves for exchanging this currency. An Ideas Division staffed by generalists will enable the true out-of-the-box generation of ideas.

Sometimes it is the Uneducated who by the nature of their lacvk of knowledge is able to freely ask the questions which promote discovery. Often the experts are too close to the subject matter to free up their heads.

adam 5 Comments »

How to use this site? Problems, Solutions, and OPPORTUNITIES

IdeaStorm submitted by phubert28 03/29/07

The NAME of this site is IdeaStorm.

Repeat a few times.

Let me suggest it should be used as follows:

(1) state a problem you see with Dell
(2) offer solutions
(3) point out OPPORTUNITIES you see FOR Dell
(not problem related, but rather new, constructive directions)

There ARE many posts on this site along just these lines.

Raw demand ('gimme Linux') may have its value, but, once stated, all that can be added is a metric ('how many?'). 2 Comments »

Offer a New Line with upgradability for laptops AKA Video Cards

Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by snowbob230 02/18/07

Offer a line that has the option to completely customize your entire laptop, from size, video cards, color, etc. Then along with that give them the option of operating system including Linux or none at all.

Last but most importantly offer upgrades for laptops, mainly video cards. So that a year from now someone can just upgrade there video card instead of buying a whole new laptop.

However, whether you can do that or not give us an option to build our own laptop. With the ability to decide whether we want windows XP, Linux, None at all or Vista 1 Comment »

Great idea for Audio and Video Proffessionals

Laptops submitted by henchan 02/18/07

I have a great Idea for a laptop that would really be great for Audio and Video professionals.
I don't want to give it away for free though.
And by posting it here, I give up all rights, right? 1 Comment »