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.
100
Use Electronic Paper Screen for Day-Light Users users
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Printers and Ink submitted by marvindanig
May 2
Its very difficult to read the laptop screen in open daylight under the Sun. Especially, in a developing country like India, where people have to run and meet clients under the sun n do all reading while finding a suitable angle to turn the screen on... its annoying to adjust angles to connect optically with the text literally and the eyes get strained ultimately.
Using a layer of electronic paper screen (I know of company named e-ink.com which makes electronic papers) will help users like me to use the laptop more ergonomically. Not only that the electronic screen would consume power at 1/3rd the rate of an LCD or LED would ... Giving me more action time between two charges for the lappy....!
A paper screen can be read under the sun and requires alternative lighting for the night use (just like paperback books). It will suit a very large category of eye-conscious customers and give opportuniy to design another awesome category of LAPTOPS.
190
prservice
Service and Support submitted by jomoralesmd
May 2
You should consider service in Puerto Rico to be local.My recent experience of having to talk to people in Panama to fix my XPS was horrendous.It took weeks and your expense must have been at least 3 times the cost of simply replacing the system.
120
BACK TO BASICS
Service and Support submitted by hrchee
May 2
OUR TWO DELL SERVER USED TO HAVE A SUPERB SERVICE.
NOW, OUT OF GUARANTEE, DELL'S SERVICE OUTSOURCED COMPANY IN BRAZIL DO NOT BOTHER TO ANSWER OUR CALLS AND CLAIM THEY DO NOT HAVE SPARES FOR A 4 YEAR OLD SERVER!
BACK TO BASICS DELL.....
AND KEEP A CLOSE WATCH OF YOUR OUTSOURCED SERVICE PEOPLE.
60
Dell Small Business vs Dell Home
Sales Strategies submitted by jamesmoroni1
May 2
The split between Dell Small Business and Dell Home has been an endless source of confusion and frustration for price-sensitive customers. I don't see the need for the two separate divisions. I've purchased computers from both, and keeping track of where I bought which machine is very frustrating. It also makes it harder to be sure you're getting the best price.
Dell SB and Dell Home should go away -- it should be just Dell.com. There could be special options for people who want to purchase several machines at once, but there's no need to have separate storefronts -- the needs of small businesses and home users are very similar.
370
Simplify configuration choices
Dell Web Site submitted by jamesmoroni1
May 2
Configuring your new PC at Dell.com should be a pleasant experience, but it's needlessly complicated. Here's how it should work:
You click to start building a laptop, a slim desktop, or a full-size desktop.
Your next choice is processor. There should be a dozen choices here, and there should be a simple chart comparing performance bewteen the processors. I know that's not an exact science, but we should get at least a generalization.
Third choice is memory. This is really easy: 1 gig, 2 gigs, three gigs, or four gigs. Four choices, minimum pain.
Then you choose your video card, hard drive, monitor, and everything else.
When I'm shopping at Dell.com, it's frustrating to have so many different models with so many configuration options. I'm forced to decided between different models that have different memory and hard drive configuration options -- even if they're really the same box underneath the skin. I suspect this has arisen from an effort to confuse the costumer into spending more than is necessary -- that's no way to run a company.
80
 track my votes
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