Fixing the reasons for poor images...not publicity stunts
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Service and Support, Desktops and Laptops submitted by infinitelink
Aug 7
In the old Inspiron XPS (first Gen) I noticed that the inside of my machine is beautifully organized and MADE to take apart: that's a point up for Dell...if it could get the things together the public sees it in a bad image for (techs who know only how to read a script and say 're-install windows" or "we'll send a replacement...again"; exploding/overheating/melting machines (quickly fixable with an upgrade to better, more heat-conducive materials), etc.), and start excelling competitors in creativity and pushing the envelope in what it offers as far as features and the "all in one" device that everyone is looking for...but nobody seems not to compromise on (i.e., thin, light, sensitive tablet, long battery life, optical drive, decent HD {not the tiny SSDs}, good speaker, mic/camera {camera would be great if it swivelled to record what's going on in front of the user}) and other improvements, the little details and "we'll do more" can-do attitude...it would beat out competitors.
DELL has an image problem: and turning green-machines a few linux-lappies isn't the key to fixing it. It's like a politician caught in bed who goes out after to charities to promote how good he is: but people aren't complaining "DELL is evil", they're complaining "they're making junk" (which, I think, can get exaggerated).
If you ask a recommendation for business-line machines...Lenovo. If you ask for a good tablet...usually HP. If you ask for service...uh oh. If you ask for "cheap"...DELL. But that's about all, unfortunately, whereas DELL used to be for great, knowledgeable service and standing beyond their machines, diverse and varied customizability, quality, dependable machines. Now it's "hot, fading plastic, falls-apart, and CHEAP": and unfortunately that's usually what I hear from people about DELL besides "NEVER BUY A DELL".
I've personally had very good, and very bad, experiences with DELL techs: some are nice and very helpful; others just read a script and follow its steps: but I can not only do that at home, but have been around enough computers to have an idea of what could be the problem when one arises.
Step one, in the true-blue vein of capitalistic enterprise, needs to be the streamlining of bureaucracy and can't-reach-me procedures: don't send out a tech, send out engineers: have them diagnose the problem and forecast what could be coming in advance.
Keep a guiding vision...else a thousands voices pull a million directions and kill everything: but do incorporate more ideas/suggestions: and don't just do the popular ones...have your guys look through these and find the smart ones, and implement them. There's one, for instance, about using an epoxy newly developed that dissolves when heated to above 300 degrees (Fahrenheit, I think) in order to enable easier recycling of computer parts (should be thinking "reuse=less cost" if done efficiently). Why should that have to get popular first?
If it's a great design idea, or something people really want and pine after...implement. If it's
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Trade Ability...?
Environment, Service and Support submitted by infinitelink
Aug 4
Dell is amazing for having post-warranty repair service; I am considering using this on a Gen 1 XPS; however I also know about the clogging problems those systems had with dust (and the design flaws), and I never did get to use it without having to lift it even more from a surface for air intake.
This got me thinking...if Dell is able to offer repair services for older machines, why not recycle reusable components and also use it to repair "problem" machines that have brought Dell a lot of flack? Particularly, though, I mean in that if a part can be put into another machine which avoids those problems, is compatible, while allowing the switch (and so you wouldn't have to keep old parts stored) then why not?
Barring cost, etc. the basic premise is that a customer sends-in a machine for repair, but paying extra, Dell basically send them a new machine...utilizing their old parts as far as possible (Hard Drive, Ram, Screen, touch-stick and pads) to mitigate the cost: something of a hybrid between a repair service and a new-purchase service.
You guys are pretty intelligent: so if this could in some way be possible, let me know: school is coming up and I have a magnificent old XPS (the screen was great, DVD/CD+/-RW was great, etc.) that is dead either because of overheating issues that nobody would ever fix, or possibly (according to a lot of users) an sensitized sensor that might be killing the machine (rather than what techs have been thinking: motherboards). I never could get decent help--or even my on-site warranty to be honored; but I thought of this and I think it's a way for Dell to not only deflect some past criticism, but also create a new sort of service, that is of course, if it's viable and possible: I'm hoping something like it would be greatly beneficial to both Dell and the customer.
Here's to success! : )
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Don't trademark common terms...
Dell, Service and Support submitted by infinitelink
Aug 3
I've heard, and perhaps the reports are unfounded, however it is spreading that Dell is trying to trademark the common idiom "cloud computing".
I really hope Dell isn't serious...and if it is I think the Tech community deserves a retraction and apology.
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Public Education
Education, Desktops and Laptops submitted by infinitelink
May 6
While SSDs are increasingly more popular in lay-media, I recommend that Dell ensure that well into the future the traditional HD will be nigh available: reason being that SSDs, far as I know, wear-out very quickly after a certain number of write cycles.
Personally for important data and, well, unimportant data, as it's my data, I want to ensure it'll keep on being available and safe-enough, which the good 'ol platter-drive provides. SSDs are too fashionable and for being soft and quick to die. I wish that the media would make this more known: buy an ipod touch today...expect it to die in, maybe, a few years. : (
I like this order: SSDs backed-up by HDs, and only used in those little gadgets rather than for important stuff; tape to back-up HDs for especially long-term uses (suprisingly the tape holds up quite well when preserved correctly). Note: not saying Dell should (or should even consider) tape, just saying I hope it keeps HDs around for quite a while, even considering that HDs are less reliable than advertised, they're more dependable than SSDs.
Thus it would be nice that, when SSDs become more available at Dell, that education be provided (i.e. pages describing the pros, cons, and these details--more ably than I can!).
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A Worthwhile Portable
Laptops submitted by infinitelink
May 2
Much ado was made about the Macbook Air and the envelope drama, and yet much healthy criticism (I recommend this parody: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=hardy_power&num=1) also came, and Lenovo's response (as seen in the Parody).
Lenovo made a mistake, though: the tiny SSD, which costs far more than people like for such meager room. They limited their appeal to many...especially talk entry-level, new-comptuer, standard space is now in the range of 250 GB (I still think 100GB is a lot!).
Permit me to eschew pragmatism and time-saving to point-out the state of business in modernity: companies aim to extract as much as they might in profits today (and still have customers), whereas pre-capitalism it might take enormous effort to break even or become profitable: people working just to survive. Entry-level is the expect fair, while another category of products are passed-off as “premium”, and so we are told “expect premium charges for premium products”. This is fine and dandy…but often the “premium” products are prettier or more niche than functional…and companies that create such an image for themselves become the subject of murmuring: such as how many my age talk about Macs being more a status symbol than useful. (more later.)
If Dell made an Ultraportable without the cost associated with the label “ultraportable” (like charging more for Margarine by calling it a "health food" since it's without fat), tablet technology (quality enough for artsy types), ensured the ports and CD/DVD/whatever drives were present, and tried to keep the cost down to levels the college-kids can deal with (not the generous mom or dad send-away gift): that'd be the killer we're all waiting for. I might add that I had an Inspiron XPS with the 1920x1200 screen and people coveted that screen "real estate": and it's dead now (the motherboard), but if you make that an available option, it would probably please not a few techy/engineer types. Put something like this together, maybe the options (unless you say "this is just standard...go for it, you know you want to") for good mics and speakers/subwoofers (like the XPS), you will have crafted the product we're looking for...though pay especial attention to the ergonomics and complaints/wants of tablet users: people are picky...and it's this that gives you a business opportunity. : )
Note also the popularity of functional but lesser machines like Asus’s PC too: people really don’t want to pay much for tech, especially when the popular perception is that hard times approach. My recommendation, taken or left, is to positions yourselves as offering quality goods, with quality servicing, and a promise of many years of repairs: that is, justify a $1000-2000 computer by promising repair-services for longer than that normally available…make a product that’s useable for 10 years (despite advances and falling costs of even better tech), something people will be comfortable and satisfied with, and romance your customers more than anyone: start first and remain first in this endeavor to outpace and lead beyond anyone else who attempts this.
P.S. Dell has a grievous reputation, at the moment: more and more people who I'm around are all saying "I will not get a Dell again". They may have one now...but they're looking to HP, Lenovo, etc...and moreoften Mac. The support needs an upgrade, the components better assembly and engineering...and the heating issues especial attention. If you guys aim for very decent pricing, yet high-quality product (give yourselves the fair but exceptionally hard-worker image) then you'll make a killing: the image Mac has but doesn't always live-up to (support, breaking the devices that people “jailbreak” from Apple lock-in and Orwellian control…rather than saying “be free” and garnering to themselves an even better image and social likeability {I’m seeing these activities start to back-fire on Mac amongst many peers}).
Good luck, I hope you consider all this: I'd love to undertake the endeavor myself, but competing with the big boys in the hardware space is tough and slightly less interesting than other possibilities, though it might be fun to gain capital for other aims. I do also appreciate how tough it is to cater to so many, and squeeze profits out of hardware…do this, though, and I’m privately betting that such a product, no more than $2000, with 2-4 GB Ram, decent graphics OPTIONS, a large HD…will make a killing: even if it takes volumes to squeeze-out large justifiable profits.
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