englander

update of drivers

Dell Web Site submitted by edstfm 02/20/07

It would be nice if I could go on line and find out specifically what drivers I need and why I need them. As far as I can tell, for now: I have to guess what drivers, etc I should be updating. P.S. I am running Vista Ultimate.
Can't you fix this online approach so that any answer I get is computer model specific? Comment »

I want a linux laptop

Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by pixelnate 02/23/07

I also would like to buy a laptop with linux pre-installed. Specifically, I would like an Ubuntu laptop where I don't have to jack around with wireless driver hacks or the xorg.conf file.

Mr. Dell, you want to know how to help your company? Give the users what we want. Give us the ability to buy a computer off the shelf with the operating system we want to use. And it would be even better if we didn't have to pay the "Windows Tax" on the hardware as well.

Cheers,
pixelNate 1 Comment »

Compatiblity

Linux, Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by omaha 02/20/07

Make all Dell pc's linux and vista compatible.
Make all Dell printers and xtras linux/mac/vista compatible.
If components or systems doesn't work with both/all, dont sell it.

Then Dell will be a major force in compatiblity progress - it will sell like danish pastry!

Avoid preinstalled software. ( Some - like Norton 2007 is a nightmare to get rid of)

Provide a more or less universal DVD with all optional software. When customer inserts the DVD - Auto check it by using eg serial number - grey out what the customer didn't buy. The rest is a customer's CHOICE. Comment »

Offer Industrial Strength, Quality Keyboards and Input devices

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies submitted by kenjennings 02/24/07

A long time ago there was a company called Northgate. Their computers were OK, but their keyboards were so great they started selling them separately. Heavy, mechanical, and durable, they provided perfect tactile and audible feedback. Working with those keyboards was a joy. People loved them so much there is still a continuous trade in old Northgate keyboards on Ebay.

Most of Dell's keyboard only look pretty -- actual use is like typing on a marshmallow. Quite a few people in my office have replaced the Dell keyboards with something else they bought.

Also, offer better mouse controllers. Something in the category of a Kensington Expert mouse (trackball), my personal favorite. Again, quite a few people in my office have replaced the Dell mouse with something else they bought.

The option of bundling Wacom graphics tablets would also be a good idea for those powerful systems advertised for graphics.


Update 2007-03-28: Perhaps Dell was listening a little bit or I didn't notice this before, but I just spec'd out a high end business laptop and one of the optional accessories listed was a Wacom graphics tablet. COOL!

2 Comments »

Let me choose the hardware I want

Sales Strategies submitted by mlubby 02/25/07

I purchase Dell products for my home, business, and others and am very frustrated in that I can not configure a business system with the video card that I want even though it is available on a low end home PC. If you are going to offer hardware options why would you restrict what systems I can add it to if there is no physical limitation. If you have 10 video card SKU's in your entire inventory, let me pick from them all.

Another example is that all of the home user config's now require you to chose Windows Vista, however the business class machines can still come with XP. Why would you limit it on one side and not the other? As a small business we usually purchase Dimension workstations and can no longer get XP on them, but our Latitude laptops are still available this way. We don't purchase the Optiplex line because the cost per unit is much higher and we can't get the right hardware mix. As a business we have many software titles (AutoCAD is one big one) that are not ready for Vista and you are pushing us down a path we don't want to go down for another 6 months. Give me the choice please.

Small business drives the economy and we are getting over looked. In order for a SMB to survive we need flexibility and options. 5 Comments »

Make a laptop power supply that doesn't stink

Laptop Power submitted by eauxnguyen 02/18/07

Each of the four Dell laptops I have owned all sit gathering dust with failed power supplies. This might be acceptable if it were one or even two of them. The most recent are two Dell Inspiron 8600's I bought for my kids 3 years ago. Both of the 8600 power supplies died at two years of service. If we wiggle the cord just right at the brick it might work for a bit, then no more. I bought one more power supply new and it failed too. What does it take to make a power supply that just works? My now 7 year old Thinkpad power supply continues to work fine and my kids take it everywhere. It will take quite a bit to convince me to buy a Dell again because of this bad experience.

Bury this as unoriginal if you will but this is probably a truth for quite a few formerly loyal Dell customers. Comment »

Preinstalled Linux system or compatibility data sheet

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by nick1974 02/26/07

It would be very useful to find computers with linux preinstalled (at least just one distribution, i.e. Debian) not only in the server line but in the home pc line too, or, at least, to make it avaliable a data sheet with the linux compatibility of every single pc. 1 Comment »

On-line Support Requests

Dell Web Site, Service and Support submitted by weisen 02/19/07

My only problem with Dell is that no matter how their customer service tries to satisfy large customers such as my lab, even the simplest, most straightforward matter takes at least 20 minutes on the phone and most of that is spent repeating my name, my phone number, my address -- all things that rarely change.

Dell needs online submission of support requests.

Here's how it worked with IBM:

1. All customers, no matter how big or small, could register for on-line support requests.

2. When you need help, you log in and provide the proper serial numbers (your contact info is already in the system) and describe the steps taken to attempt to diagnose and/or resolve the problem.

3. The request is triaged to the proper group and **they call the customer back** when a specialist is ready to talk to them.

4. As the call progresses, the customer can log in to see what steps are being taken to resolve any open calls. Each support specialist logs conversations and part shipments are automatically tracked online.

This eliminates: 1) wait time on hold, 2) repeated discussion of mundane details such as shipping addresses and phone numbers, 3) mistakes made during #2 and is simply a must-have for anyone with a large number of systems.

Often with IBM and a routine problem, I would receive a call back simply to confirm my shipping address and to notify me that, for instance, a replacement disk drive was being shipped. The same routine RAID disk failure was never less than a 20 minute ordeal and most often 40 minutes with Dell Gold support.

Online support submission is a win both for Dell and for the customer. I'm baffled that it hasn't been done yet.

p.s. -- online "chat" with a technician is not the same as having a web form. The web form takes 5 minutes while the "chat" means that I simply have to wait for a technician to look up part numbers, ask the obvious questions, and simultaneously help other customers. 1 Comment »

Produce a very cheap model for unexperienced users who just want to surf, chat and make homework

Desktops and Laptops submitted by scollin77 02/23/07

I think that Dell should make a very cheap bundle with open Source Software in order to Chat, Navigate through the Web and make their Homework.

Something like the One Laptop per Child Idea but not necessarily focused on children, as old people who are not familiar with computers could use it at a faily low price.

We dont need the 80Gb hard disk and all the fancy stuff to do this... just a reasonable processor and a decent network card.

Maybe it could run mobile OSes... I dont know... but I think there would be a market for this kind of machine. 2 Comments »

No extra software installed and OS install dvd or cd

Operating Systems, Sales Strategies, Software submitted by rlmars1 02/22/07

No extra software installed and include an Microsoft install CD or DVD for the OS. The same as if we haed bought a copy at retail or OEM. I want to be able to format my drive and renstall the OS if necessary rather than an image of the PC at time of purchase. also would give me the option to do a repair install if necessary. Comment »

More Ports!

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by brentrowan 02/23/07

More USB 2.0 ports in the laptops. My Inspiron laptop only has two, yet it also has TWO HUGE LEGACY PORTS which I never use. Sheesh! 1 Comment »

Volume control wheel + OSD

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by ra0 02/26/07

I've worked for 2 months with an Asus W5F. And I have to say there is a lot of interesting concerns on this laptop. But I've just discovered a new addiction : a wheel to control the volume on laptop.
The last time I've known such an addiction was the 1st time I used the wheel on a mouse. After this experience, it was quite impossible to work on a computer (especially dealing with text editor or web browser) with a classical 2-buttons and no wheel...
From now on, I cannot imagine something more convenient than a wheel on right side of latopt to easily control the volume of my laptop. Especially to mute the system. It is always a pain to remember what are the Fn keys to control the volume. Whenever it is working... (when the CPU is 100% throttle, Fn keys are not very efficient...). And it is the same with ability to control the volume with mouse wheel (it is a pity to find the right place for cursor on the screen for sound volume being adjusted with mouse wheel...).
Second, to get it more comfortable, there is also an OSD menu displaying the modif in volume level. A pleasure...
And you can of course find the old Fn keys to Mute/Up/Down volume control...
As I said : I've just developped a new addiction : Please Mr. DELL, add a volume control wheel on your laptops !!! 1 Comment »

Open Office / Linux users, please read

Linux, Software submitted by beefman 02/23/07

Folks, I think everyone appreciates the level of interest, support and enthusiam for Open Source products. If you're looking to get heard, you're MUCH better served to vote for an already written idea that best fits what you want to achieve. The S/N ratio is seriously low right now. 300 posts on offering Linux, 200 on offering OpenOffice, 150 on offering a No OS option out of 1600 are nowhere near as effective as three-five VERY well written posts that outline the issues at hand. I'd even go as far as to say several such posts exist. A blizzard of linux-alike posts only lessens the utility of this site and makes it more likely Dell will just ignore it. So rather than scrabbling away at the keyboard and posting yet another "OFFER UBUNTU!" idea, find one that best fits what you want and vote for it. 7 Comments »

Linux, linux and more linux

Linux, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by 2aperson 02/21/07

I have not used any flavor of Windows on my machine for years. Moreover, I will not purchase a computer from any vendor that does not allow the purchaser a choice of operating systems (and that does not mean a choice of different versions of Windows). Thus in the past, I have built my own computers. Should Dell start to offer an operating system choice, I will seriously consider purchasing a Dell in the future. (I do plan on purchasing a new computer this fall.) 2 Comments »

Please give us a choice

Operating Systems, Sales Strategies, Software submitted by man19950901 02/22/07

Please give us a choice :
- to select OS other than vista or XP
- to select browser other than IE
- to select Office other than MS OFFICE
- to select cheaper other than expensive
- to select our prefer "Server OS" other than Win 2003 or Vista Server

Please let us Choice mine. No need default
We buy your hardware and choice our prefer software Comment »

Please support Linux - This Would be Great turning point in the HIstory of Dell Computers

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by bhadrah 02/26/07

Dell can be industry leader and can show ways to other PC makers by supporting Linux on Desktops & Laptops. This can be great turning point in the HIstory of Dell Computers by """SUPPORTING FULLY""""" Linux on desktops and Laptops. 1 Comment »

Linux Wireless, Video Drivers

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux submitted by brokencrystal 02/23/07

Make the drivers for your wireless cards available for those of us who run Linux. I bought a Dell Inspiron 1501, but there are no Linux native drivers for it. I also have the ATI graphics Radeon Xpress 1150, but no Linux drivers available for it. It would be great if Linux drivers were available for all the hardware you make and sell. 4 Comments »

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 »

Bring Tech Support Back to North America

Service and Support submitted by psulions2007 02/25/07

I've never touched the 24/7 phone line tech support, and have always used the online chat support and never had a problem. However, I just used the email tech support for the first time and it feels like I'm talking to one of those bank scammers in Nigeria. This is utterly ridiculous...I can't believe I have to try to go through the email word for word trying to understand what this support technician is saying.....add to that the fact that the person comes off as rude in the entire email, and you have a technical support level that rates almost, but not quite, one star.

I think people as a whole would even pay slightly more money for their computers if tech support was brought back to the U.S./Canada. Comment »

Make those laptops display lid hinges unbreakable and offer a guaranteed 6 year free repair for a hinge that breaks

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by mahei 02/19/07

I had two laptops in the past 6 years with a broken hinge at the display lid because i always have my notebook around with me at home, university, work, clients etc.

I will never again buy a laptop which does not look mechanically stable - it's a total waste of money to pay around EUR 1000,- for something that breaks just because some engineer saved 20 cents in the design of the construction. 1 Comment »