jamesavery

Change the You Are Here link on Ubuntu product pages

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by tekhawk 10/17/07

Change the You Are Here link on Ubuntu product pages so that clicking it does not take you from the Ubuntu products and make it impossiable to return with out retyping the url......

found that out while researching my other to post today 7 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.




31 Comments »

Dell Outlet: Show actual configuraiton information (match main dell.com site)

Dell Web Site, Monitors and Displays submitted by bodean97 10/15/07

It would be nice to see that actual system configuration information in the Dell Outless that is similar to the details when ordering a new system.

This is important espeically with the notebooks since they have a lot of panel and network options. just saying it is a 15.4 or 17 in is not enough. How does a buyer know if it is a wxga, wxga+, wuxga..etc... 5 Comments »

Turn your most powerful laptop into a desktop

New Product Ideas submitted by badblood 10/18/07

Why not remove the keyboard and screen from your most powerful laptop and turn it into a desktop?

Jazz it up a little with shiny paint, in different colors, add a wireless keyboard and matching monitor and mouse.

There you have it a beautiful, functional slim form factor desktop computer. 9 Comments »

Enable us to change an existing idea vote, if we make a mistake

IdeaStorm submitted by cosh 05/01/07

A few times I've accidentally clicked on the wrong button, or voted after reading the title of an idea but wanted to change it once I read the whole thing. Could you make it so we can still click the promote button after demoting or the demote button after promoting?

Better than having inaccurate vote counts because of clumsy people like me!

Thanks! 131 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".







19 Comments »

Dell: Support Open BIOSes for Linux

Dell, Linux submitted by phubert 10/10/07 **REVIEWED**

An Open BIOS for Linux would free it from the DOS legacy code and speed boot times.

The current BIOS is a legacy throwback... it's time to replace it!






Our current priority is to expand Linux availability by bringing more platforms and languages to market. Read what daniel_j has to say.





26 Comments »

coreboot (formerly LinuxBIOS) instead of proprietary BIOS

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by yesmathew 02/20/07

coreboot (formerly known as LinuxBIOS) is a Free Software project aimed at replacing the proprietary BIOS (firmware) you can find in most of today's computers.
- Fast boot times 3 sec.
- Runs in 32-Bit protected mode almost from the start
- Can boot Windows too...

External links:
- http://www.coreboot.org/Welcome_to_coreboot
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linuxbios<

An Example:
- http://wiki.laptop.org/go/LinuxBIOS 93 Comments »

Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware

Linux submitted by gergnz 02/19/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I don't care whether the OS is pre-installed or not, I want all the hardware to be totally supported in the Linux kernel without in mucking around. I currently have a Dell M1210 and I wish the modem would work, just in case I need it. The web cam would work, just in case I need it. At least the Intel wireless card is totally supported. Thanks Intel!!
Drivers are available for Linux to make some but not all hardware work. We continue to work with our partners to provide for better hardware support. See more specifics from john_h.




186 Comments »

High(er) spec Ubuntu laptops for UK/France/Germany

Inspiron products, Linux, Laptops submitted by jarocooke 08/24/07

I am literally sitting here willing to buy a Dell Ubuntu the second it is available, however there are a few things that it must have:

1. FSB of 667Mhz (at least)
2. A Core 2 Duo processor
3. A 1440x900 display

These things are all available options on the US 1420N model and were they available in the UK I would already have bought one. Please offer a higher spec laptop with Ubuntu installed as soon as possible. 4 Comments »

ONE SHOPPING CART PLEASE (dell.com)

Dell Web Site submitted by ootleman 02/16/07

Why split it up into 4 different shopping carts (home, small business, etc)? I still don't know how it works. 1/2 my products go into one cart, 1/2 my orders go into the other, possibly depending on where I was browsing from.

And, then, seems like the shopping carts expire after a few hours. After all that time spent configuring, why not keep it around longer.

Matter of fact, why not split the site up at all? If I click on desktops - show me all desktops. Do I, as a small company, need differ computers then a medium business? Please show me everything and let me figure out what works best.

6 Comments »

Make laptop lid lockable

Laptops submitted by badblood 05/06/07

Put a physical lock on the laptop lid, with a key. I've never seen that before, and it beats a screen lock any day. Could be a theft deterant too. I mean why steel it if you can't open it....

10 Comments »

Give discount for the delays

Sales Strategies, Service and Support submitted by saleemohaib 08/29/07

These days there are delays with some of Dell products. I think as good gesture Dell should offer extra discounts to customers who order products with extended delivery time.

Vote and comment. 23 Comments »

Portable laptop style monitor

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by pentox 10/04/07

Create a new product that is a portable secondary screen for your laptop. Have it be essentially the same screen as a laptop, and shape, but instead of a full laptop's worth of hardware shrink the base down and contain only a battery. Connect that to your external display port on your laptop to essentially get a dual screened laptop. All that you would need to do is to have a vga/dvi cord to connect to your laptop and possibly a power cord to charge the secondary screen.

One thing that really plays heavily on my mind whenever i'm looking at a new laptop is the screen size. It's a big tradeoff between the weight/size of the laptop and how much screen real estate i'm going to have. It would be nice to have a product that would be similar to carrying around a second monitor in a much more portable form. This would allow a business traveler to have esentially a dual screened laptop and still keep the weight of their primary laptop low.

This is in the same idea as modular docking bays were in the past (I remember laptops that had docking bays that were portable docking stations to have their CD drives and other drives optional, but not always needing to carry the weight).

Apparently Accountants would love these. 22 Comments »

Switch to New Lithium-Sulfur batteries: Carries a longer charge, double the lifetime, Environmentally friendly, no toxic heavy metals, cheaper to produce, lighter weight

Environment, Laptop Power submitted by reg 06/10/07

Recharge Lithium-Sulfur over and over again. Sulfur is cheaper than heavy metals, and friendly to the environment. No toxic metals, and also better performing in colder temperatures. Lithium-Sulfur batteries also weigh less than Lithium Ion batteries.

More Power, Lower Costs, Safer for the environment, Easier to carry:

Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.



We Need A New Source of Power! MORE POWER! 13 Comments »

Stop the deceptive advertising

Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site submitted by jervis961 09/20/07

Dell (along with other companies) likes to advertise low priced computers that then need upgrades to make them what most people would consider usable. In the process Dell makes people pay unreasonable upgrade costs to increase their profit margin.

With all the number jumbling Dell cannot keep its own website pricing in line with print ad pricing and this is where you can see just how badly people are getting ripped off.

Here is an image of the price and specs of the current $499 notebook offer on the Dell web site.



This image is of the current print add $499 notebook when upgrades are added to make it the same computer as the online offer.


So if an unassuming person calls in or uses the print ad's "value code" they get less computer for the same money. I could go on all day showing how Dell charges unreasonable upgrade costs.

Here is an article I found online about the same topic. http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/BIZ/709200379 30 Comments »

Dell Bounty -- Ubuntu Bounty

Broadband and Mobility, Dell Community, Linux submitted by tekhawk 09/07/07

anyone ever look at the dev pages on ubuntu's website
well they have bounties on there that people can try to claim by solving issues and developing part to software that the team doesnt have someone that can do it already or doesnt have the time to deal with it

i think it would be an effective system for dell to use with its linux offerings offer bounties on drivers and other such things im sure that if given the specs for some of their wireless network card and a bounty someone would gladly race to see who can build the drivers first

something that if the specs where released for the interfaces and bounties where given that i can think of are

laptop web cams
802.11n cards

any other things people can think of that given the information needed could be community deved post it here maybe dell will see the light and let us help with drivers and get this ball moving faster "and maybe make some extra cash on the way" 11 Comments »

Produce a PC 1st Aid Kit

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by badblood 10/05/07

Make a little, portable, 1st Aid Kit full of all the things you need to do emergency work on a PC, including tools, recovery and diagnostic discs, and lots of other things besides.



14 Comments »

Don't make it difficult for people to find Ubuntu machines

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by xivulon 08/09/07

Ubuntu is now shipped to Europe, but it is hidden away and not that obvious to find. If you did not follow the news, you would probably have missed it completely. What link do people usually follow when buying a laptop at dell.co.uk? They follow the most preminent links:

Notebooks > Home > Home Essential Notebooks

This is where they usually end up to: http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/notebooks_good?c=uk&...

The inspiron 6400 does come with Ubuntu, but do you see a "Select with ubuntu" button anywhere? I don't think so. If you want a Ubuntu machine you have to get there via a completely different route, by selecting the OS first (on the less visible left column) and then the machine... You can do that for XP too, but with XP you can also select the machine first and then the OS. Why is it not the same with Ubuntu? Moreover, if you click on the laptop image, it will automatically select Vista (thus giving it far more preminence).

So, I am glad Dell started shipping Ubuntu, but to me it looks like they only want to make informed geeks happy, while hiding the option to average joe. If Dell was really serious they should have Ubuntu listed in the customization section of each and every supported machine.

Customize your Operating System:

* Ubuntu Linux [subtract £30]
* Genuine Windows XP [Included in price]
* Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Basic - English [Included in Price]
* Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium - English [add £23.50]
* Genuine Windows Vista™ Ultimate (32Bit) - English [add £117.50]

There is already a conflict-resolution message, so you could easily signal incompatible OS/hardware choices. The above is what I call "choice", anything else is muddling the water. 6 Comments »

Sell a licenced CODEC pack for Ubuntu, preinstall it, then advertise it.

Advertising and Marketing, Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by benjesuit 10/05/07

CODECs such as MP3, M4A (Ipod), and DVD mpeg playback.

Sure, all these CODECs can be downloaded for free but there are legal issues in doing so.

Expand Ubuntu customers by going legit and ready it for mainstream use. 8 Comments »