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Offer Windows XP SP3 because it benchmarks on Dell XPSM1710's twice as fast as Vista SP1

Operating Systems submitted by jmxz 11/27/07

CNet article here:Windows XP outshines Vista in benchmarking test

Published: November 27, 2007, 5:13 AM PST
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Windows XP outshines Vista in benchmarking test

New tests have revealed that Windows XP with the beta Service Pack 3 has twice the performance of Vista, even with its long-awaited Service Pack 1.

Vista's first service pack, to be released early next year, is intended to boost the operating system's performance. However, when Vista with the Service Pack 1 (SP1) beta was put through benchmark testing by researchers at Florida-based software development company Devil Mountain Software, the improvement was not overwhelming, leaving the latest Windows iteration outshined by its predecessor.

Vista, both with and without SP1, performed notably slower than XP with SP3 in the test, taking over 80 seconds to complete the test, compared to the beta SP3-enhanced XP's 35 seconds.

The tests, run on a Dell XPS M1710 test bed with a 2GHz Core 2 Duo CPU and 1GB of RAM, put Microsoft Office 2007 through a set of productivity tasks, including creating a compound document and supporting workbooks and presentation materials.

Offer a dual display option with desktop configurations

Monitors and Displays, New Product Ideas submitted by coachcg 11/19/07

It would be great if in the monitor selection of desktop configurations we had the option of purchasing dual displays with the system. It is easy math to figure out that cost per pixel of such a set up is MUCH less. 16 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 »

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 »

Make a calendar with all COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas

Advertising and Marketing, IdeaStorm submitted by krasmussen 09/22/07 **REVIEWED**

One of the biggest annoyances with IdeaStorm is that the horizon for an idea being implemented is very blurry, if at all existing. If you're lucky, you get "third quarter 2009", but mostly, there is no timeframe at all. This leads to the feeling that not much is being done, and exactly that feeling is what IdeaStorm should be eliminating.

Therefore, I propose that you make a list or calender with all the COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas with timeframes for all of them. Just a "december 2008" would be nice, or better yet, "deadline 31st november 2008".

I don't know if this is connected with some goal management inside Dell, if it is, maybe you should work on improving that, too?






Today, the best way to know the progress of an idea is through Ideas in Action, our Weekly Update or Dell comments in the thread.






19 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 »

Rebadge and sell the [Dell] miniOne

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

Coming out in early 2008 the miniOne comes with 3G, HSDPA with WiFi worldphone packing 16GB of flash.

Make it the Dell miniOne.

33 Comments »

Dell list out the expected lifetime of CPU/GPU Thermal Grease to alert users of when they sould re-grease for optimum performance.

Servers and Storage submitted by jorge 07/08/07

Dell list out the expected lifetime of CPU/GPU Thermal Grease to alert users of when they sould re-grease for optimum performance.



3 Comments »

Continue to supply Windows XP drivers for all systems.

Operating Systems, XPS products submitted by audiofree 07/10/07

Let’s face it, Vista regardless of how Microsoft is trying to possession is not what all customers want. Some of us want to continue to use XP, it’s a lighter faster OS that does what we need. Please continue to support XP drivers at least. I want to buy one of the new 1420s or 1520s but can’t because not all the drivers are available. If you’re not going to sell the laptops with and XP option at least make the drivers available so those of us that want to install XP on our systems can. 20 Comments »

Options Available in USA Should be Available Everywhere

Dell, Sales Strategies submitted by icediver 07/10/07

I live in Canada and was under the impression that Dell offered the "No OS" option on all systems. I tried to order an Inspiron 1521 with no OS and was told I couldn't. An e-mail exchange with Dell customer service revealed that the option was only available for all systems in the USA. In Canada, and I assume in other countries as well, it is only an option for selected systems.

There is no logical reason for this type of regional discrimination. Dell should make all options that are available on a system available in all countries, not just the USA. 6 Comments »

Sell bags with integrated solar panel to charge computer

Environment submitted by badblood 07/14/07

Offer a laptop bag with an integrated solar powered panel to let us charge our phones, notebook and mp3 players.

15 Comments »

Homer Server Appliance Box

Servers and Storage submitted by johnnilsson 05/27/07

Dell should create hardware that's usable for home server appliance things.

That could mean HTPC applications. P2P services such as VoIP, BitTorrent, XMPP. Backup storage. HTTP, SMTP, IMAP, DNS and other web-services for the home.

Requirements for this kind of hardware would be
Low noise, preferably silent and nice design so that it can be placed in living spaces.
Stability and low power requirements for reliable and cheap 24/7 operation.
Development community for innovating and developing software for new uses. Dell involvement in community to provide infrastructure, support (both techincal and legal) and modify/extend the hardware as the need arises. Preferably open source platform.

See Neuros Technology [1] and NSLU2-Linux [2] for inspiration.

[1] http://www.neurosaudio.com/
[2] http://www.nslu2-linux.org/ 6 Comments »

Dell storage

Dell submitted by mathoda 05/03/07

Design a Dell for home users to use as a storage server. Make both a Windows and Linux version.

The currently existing choices in network attached storage devices can be bewildering to a home user.

If you could simplify how to use the storage server, so that configuration is taken care of near automatically, that'd be really powerful in the marketplace. 2 Comments »

System Security - Fingerprint Scanners

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

I would like to see computers have some new technology added like Fingerprint scanners. Stolen computers are an issue and adding this will create a better level of security. The only downside I can see would be if one person sold the computer to another and didnt reset the scanner.

Still, I would like to see this and I am sure others would too. 31 Comments »

Carry Dell Ink Cartridges At Dell Direct Stores

Printers and Ink, Sales Strategies submitted by xx_e_deizie_xx 05/08/07

I would like to see Dell ink cartridges held and sold at Dell Direct Stores kiosks around the nation. I really don't see the big deal Staples carries our ink cartridges. Comment »

Develop a lightweight integrated router/WiFi/File server/print server

Broadband and Mobility, Servers and Storage submitted by pschachte 04/25/07

I believe there is a market for a small, quiet, low power SOHO hub device that handles all networking needs out of the box. Such a device could sit quietly on a shelf or in a closet somewhere and act as the central networking hub for a household or small office. It would have 4 or 8 network ports, either an inbuilt ADSL or cable modem, or perhaps just an upstream network connection, and act as an 802.11g (or n) hub, so it would fill the role of router. It would also have bays for 2 to 4 3.5 inch hard drives, and a couple of USB ports for connecting printers. It would not need very much processing power, so it could use a low cost, low speed, low power CPU. It could be implemented on a low-cost linux base using SAMBA to support file and printer sharing. Bonus points if it also supported either hardware or software RAID. Also bonus points for some kind of in-built automatic backup to one of the installed hard disks, or better still some kind of time machine functionality as in the upcoming MacOS X 10.5. All administration should be done through a simple inbuilt web server as is commonly provided by routers. By putting all the functionality into a single device,the size, cost, and power usage (think green) could be kept down, and a unified view of all networking-related services could be presented to the user. 10 Comments »

Dell Modular Computer

Desktops, Environment submitted by reg 04/25/07 **NOT NOW**

It would be great for Dell to make a 'Blade' Type MidTower computer - slotted cartridges for the CPU, Graphic Card, Hard Drive, DVD Burner, 2CD Burner Drive.

All modules slotted - the buyer just picks and chooses what they want : 1 CPU with 1 Nvidia card, 3 Hard drives, and 2 DVD burners. A micro tower should hold 4 slots, a mid-tower size should hold 7 slots, a full tower 12 slotted modules.

Truly custom config your machine - easy assembly, slot, locking lever action - just like the Blade servers and RAID hard drives. Tired of a puny 2.0 GHz dual core? Unlatch and remove the CPU/RAM module - insert your new 3.0 GHz Quad Core with 4 GB RAM module. Keep all your data/software/hard drive/CD Drive in place.

Easy repair, easy upgrades, easy maintenance. Dell should do this: Modular computing. The time is now.

I think they used to call this a 'passive back plane' system - all cartridge modules connect to a high speed bus - so a cartridge would hold a 'motherboard' module (cpu + RAM). The hard drive would be a module, the video card - a module, the DVD drive - another module. Interchangeable parts make easy to configure, easy to upgrade systems.

Environmentally supportive idea too - less waste, less land fill. 21 Comments »

Home Hub PC

Broadband and Mobility, Environment, Desktops and Laptops submitted by threequarks 03/19/07

Instead of buying 2 or 3 PC's why can we not have a central very high performance multi user box with both built-in 802.11abgn & WUSB connecting via wireless to everything including the monitor. The antenna could be built into the case which would be razor thin and wall mounted. The advantage of wall mounting would be enhanced wireless performance This would allow for a multi user PC serving 3 or more monitors and keyboards via wireless.

Windows has had the ability to provide a simultaneous multi-user environment to home users for many years now but Microsoft and the Hardware vendors don't want you to have it as it affects their revenue. Isn't it about time consumers got together and demanded a multi-user license for one Home Hub PC at a fair price for the home user.

The big advantage of this configuration is environmental as one household would have one PC!

Specification of Home Hub PC

It would support possibly two, three or more wireless monitor, keyboard, mice, speakers and a printer all using WUSB. Multi display support is already possible via the DisplayLink technology. So we are talking about a multi-user environment within the OS. Options already available for this are Multi user desktop or Hi-Share .

CPU - This would be give a big boost to the sale of multi-core CPU's for AMD or for Intel. In AMD's corner is a dual CPU quad core environment. Intel has a similar offering here

Wireless Monitor Yes a wireless monitor is possible. A recent article on this using wireless usb at engadget.com outlines new products based on IC's developed by Display Link. These IC's could be offered in the near future as standard by monitor manufacturers. With resolutions as high as 1600 x 1200 full specs of these products can viewed by clicking here You could also order it in a number of colors.

The case could be based on a typical 1u server case similar to the one here at mypccase.com. However this does not really cut it for me as I am sure with a good design team you could get some curves into the design and create a case that would provide an easy access and upgrade for components like the display card, ram, hard drive. I imagine it opening like cabinet doors hinged on the left and right side or possibly sliding open. Also I imagine it to have a larger surface area overall to provide more PCI expansion slots, RAM, Hard Drive options. The specification would not be compromised in anyway by the case. You can have the top of the line spec but in a stylish case in a number of different colors that you hang on the wall.

Wireless Cards would be built in - wireless 802.11abgn card and a wireless USB hub.

Wireless speakers are already here at best buy so of course would be included with the transmitter built into the case with each user having their own wireless speakers.

A wireless printer would be included pre-configured within the windows setup configured to be accessed by all users simultaneously. 3 Comments »