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Stop forcing built in cameras!

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by winoffice Jun 23

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspnnb_1720?c=us&cs...

The fact that Dell is forcing built in cameras on the XPS notebook PCs is already bad. But now, Dell is starting to force built in cameras on other products as well! Now I can no longer get the Inspiron 1720 without a built in camera!

Does Dell understand that not all people will use it? Why then should I be forced to pay for what I will not use? Stop forcing built in cameras. On all of your products, make built in cameras optional if anything, but no way mandatory. 15 Comments »

Ruler for the monitor

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Monitors and Displays submitted by 5pixels Jun 23

This is not my idea. I found it on the web somewhere, when I was looking for a solution to my problem.

http://www.stampandgo.com/pageRULER.html

I am a web designer, I am always having difficult time
measures things in pixels. I needed something
that I can take a look at my monitor with and visually measure
size of my creations 8 Comments »

Please make Ubuntu XPS Notebook cheaper than XPS Vista Notebook

Linux, Operating Systems, XPS products submitted by dki May 26

Hi,
I have tested the price of the default Vista-Notebook XPS M1330 (in Germany) and the Ubuntuversion with the same Configuration. The result was amazing :(:

Vistaversion: 909,00 €
Linuxversion: 923,44 €

Is Vista cheaper than Ubuntu?? I can not imagine.

So my wish: Make Ubuntu-Laptops competitive! 19 Comments »

No more plastic wrap, please

Environment submitted by falbert May 22

In the last shipment of computers I received I was shocked by the amount of plastic wrap used for items like power cords, USB cables, VGA/DVI cables. Do these items really need to be individually wrapped in a plastic bag. I can just imagine the tons of plastic used by Dell annually...

Something to think about 67 Comments »

Add two buttons to IdeaStorm pages: Most recently Voted, Most recently Commented

IdeaStorm submitted by phubert May 7

Not "recent comments", but a display of IDEAS by either "most recently voted on" or by "Most recently commented on" 5 Comments »

Laptop Touch Screens

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by pablohs May 7

There should be an option to purchase any laptop with a touch screen. 6 Comments »

MARKET linux PCs for real, and Open Office, for real

Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by chopdoc May 7

I actually laughed when I read some Dell staffers' comments along the lines of "my research shows the customers want Windows".

Of course the research shows that, of course Dell isn't selling many Linux PCs. Probably the leading topic on Idea Storm has been Linux and Open Source. But that is because Dell attracts mostly "techies" here...not customers.

If you want to sell something, you need to advertise and market it. Microsoft has had a decades long campaign to get into the position they are in. The common consumer thinks Microsoft IS their computer.

Dell has moved forward, but not much, and they have limited and burried the Open Source option and resisted every step of the way. That is a fact, regardless of the lip service Dell gives here.

Open Source, particularly Linux distros can SAVE the customers money. I've crunched the numbers myself, I've calculated the TCO. Stability, reliability, cost.....how and why can Dell continue to avoid the reality of these issues by saying "our research indicates the customers want Windows"?

Give Open Source the marketing exposure it deserves and that the customer deserves. Dell made their name building custom ordered computers. They were known as "the best" in many regards. Then they lost their way. I was optimistic when Mr. Dell returned, but apparently he lost his way as well.

Market the Open Source options for what they really are and do it across the product line. Tell the customers what it really is and don't make it seem like some sort of off-beat secondary option...it simply isn't that anymore unless you continue to make it that.

Check your reaserch, your customers want value....lower prices....reliability..... The answer to that is Linux no matter how you slice it. So SELL it....for real.

Dell could really make a name for themselves again. 13 Comments »

Let Home customers know it's OK to buy from the Business section and vice versa.

Advertising and Marketing, Sales Strategies, Small Business submitted by jmxz May 7

From a conversation with Dell's robert_p, under a different Idea it seems that "Home" customers are welcome to buy from Dell's "Small & Medium Business" section, and Dell's "small and/or medium business" customers are welcome to buy from Dell's "Home & Home Office" section.

This is very useful since often computers in the "Small Business" section may be more appropriate for home use (the Latitude's light weight and reliability make it a great college computer); and often computers in the "Home" section may be more appropriate for office use (where the better graphics options in Home are valuable for graphical visualization). It's also useful because an identically-spec'd system may be cheaper the Home Section one week, and then be cheaper in the Small Business section the next.

I think many Dell Business and Home customers are missing out on the best deals and failing to find machines that meet their needs because the home user's are afraid of falsely claiming to be a business and because the business customers are afraid of falsely claiming to by buying systems for personal use.

So a few ideas:

1. Assuming robert_p's right in saying Home Customers are welcome to buy from Small Business - add links to the Home product pages saying "If you don't see what you need here, check out Dell's Small Business section. You're welcome to buy those for Home use too".
2. Assuming robert_p's right in saying Small Business are welcome to buy from the Home section - add links to the Small Business product pages saying "If you don't see what you need here, check out Dell's Home section. You're welcome to buy those for Business Use too".
3. Extrapolating - if it's also OK for Home an Small Biz customers to buy from Dell's "Large Business" and "Government, Education, Healthcare & Life Sciences" section, add those links too.
4. Make a price comparison engine that compares the prices of an identically spec'd system from each of Dell's sections so I don't have to manually dig through all of your painful to navigate website sections to compare Home vs Small Business myself. 2 Comments »

Service Tags on monitors

Monitors and Displays, Sales Strategies submitted by ekozel Apr 14

It took 3 hours to get a replacement monitor for a bad monitor. Unfortunately Dell does not service tag monitors. In a 350 PC environment the business user doesn't always have access to records 1 or 2 years old. Also in this environment monitors and PCs move around and sometimes the pc it was ordered with is no longer the PC it's attached to, or if it was ordered without a PC makes it's very difficult to get a replacement monitor. You should consider placing a service tag on all monitors so that they can easily be tracked back to the origin of sale. Expecting the customer to maintain a record of hundreds of monitors and which ones were purchased when and the order number just isn't a feasible solution. It aggrivates the customer and takes too long to find a solution to get the replacement monitor they need. If not a service tag a serial number. 3 Comments »

Enforce the age limit on Ideastorm during REGISTRATION

IdeaStorm submitted by phubert Apr 14

Since there has been a -small- flap over the age limit for IdeaStorm participants,

ADD a "birth year" choice to the registration submission form, and at that point inform those "under 18" of the restriction.

This would end any questions or confusion after-the-fact. 20 Comments »

If I ran Dell laptop division

Laptops submitted by steve121 Apr 14

1. All laptops would be built with easily removable hard drives.
2. I would discount new laptops about $50 for purchase without a hard drive.
3.The owner of a new Dell laptop would be able to remove the hard drive from the old laptop, put it into the new laptop in 4 minutes or less. The new machine would then start and all the old files , programs, itunes, photos, ect. ect are on the new machine.
4. There is no stress to the new purchase. No screaming. Everything just works. 38 Comments »

PowerConnect Feature REQUEST!

Servers and Storage, Software submitted by maguu Apr 16

hi

it would be nice if dell adds some additional features to it's power connect switch series!

1st
Layer 2 Security enhancement
Dynamic ARP Inspection (see cisco for implementation details)

2nd
switchport protected
protected ports cannot communicate with each other
(for example useful in a dmz network there you want that your servers cannot communicate with each other only with the firewall...)

3rd
dynamic vlan assignment via radius
get your switch software ready for NAP, NAC
support dynamic vlan assignment over radius!!! (RFC2868)

4th
support DHCP Option 82
includes switch id in a dhcp request packet

thx 5 Comments »

Do not scale back build-to-order systems

Desktops and Laptops submitted by masterr Apr 5 **ALREADY OFFERED**

Today in the news I read that Dell "is moving away from its build-to-order model to reduce costs. Dell is limiting the degree to which buyers can dictate specifications while expanding its line of prepackaged models". Please do not do this. The options build-to-order system is what sets Dell above some of the competition. By scaling this back and removing customization choices you remove some of the appeal of buying a Dell machine online. Please do not scale this back.


Please scroll down to see Dawn's comments below.


21 Comments »

Dell: join in! Offer a low-cost Linux PC!

Linux, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by phubert Apr 2

It appears Dell remains afraid of Microsoft... and here is an answer we haven't heard from Dell on IdeaStorm:

"The top PC makers have so far treaded carefully. Dell's website sells Ubuntu computers in a separate section for open-source PCs, out of direct comparison with Windows machines. Dell spokeswoman Anne Camden said the placement reflects the fact that Linux is still not a mainstream consumer product."

From the USA Today article:

Burst of low-end PCs could boost Linux

"Business computing suppliers are finding open-source desktops especially gaining traction in cost-conscious developing markets. For example, IBM and Linux vendor Red Hat recently launched Microsoft-free desktops for Eastern Europe.

One buyer is Aleksandar Spagnut, a director of Moscow-based Rushotel, which needed new desktop PCs for a hotel-building project. Spagnut said his company saved 30 to 35% over comparable Windows machines. He added that Linux PCs are now common enough that a snowball effect is emerging, whereby technical support and "drivers" — which essentially tell programs how to interact with hardware — are much easier to find." ****

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/software/2008-04-01-cheap-pc-linux_N.ht... 19 Comments »

Wi-Fi Catcher on Laptop, what is the point

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Broadband and Mobility, Laptops submitted by lukemcurley Mar 31

Can Dell re-consider the inclusion of their Wi-Fi Catcher application as I do not see the point of it over the standard Windows Wi-Fi manager. It is to no benefit to me, actually I have found myself turning off Wi-Fi by accident when trying to use it, which means I pushed the switch the wrong way.

Also there is not need to have a physical switch to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, your switch turns off both. This should be a software implementation, a small icon on the notification area of the taskbar which has the option to turn off bluetooth and wifi with a click. This will cut a fraction off the cost to manufacture each laptop too. 3 Comments »

Make XP/Linux drivers available for all model even if only Vista is pre-installed

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Operating Systems submitted by vineets001 09/24/07 **REVIEWED**

There are good hardware models coming out. And only Vista is pre-install option. If people want to wipe off Vista and install XP or Linux, let them do that. Make a commitment to have the drivers available.


We're working on having drivers for the hardware we ship more widely available. Click here to learn more from john_h.





28 Comments »

Avoid Glare On Screens and Notebook Frames

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by bobetsue 02/20/07

Glare and reflection from high glare screens, screen frames, and notebook computers is annoying and distract from function and use.

In stores, this may be a marketing ploy. Consumers may not fully understand the problem of glare. Online sellers like Dell should inform buyers when shopping whether the screen and case are "glare" or "nonglare."

When "nonglare" was introduced to television, shoppers considered it an advantage worthy of extra expense. In the art world, nonglare glass is considered worthy of extra expense.

How did we ever get glossy screens?

Dell should offer customers a choice between "glare" and "nonglare." 226 Comments »

Use magsafe power connectors

Laptops, Laptop Power submitted by badblood 05/20/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

MagSafe power connectors, by Apple, are magnetic power connectors that pull out harmlessly when the cord is tripped upon.



They are very cool and quite sensible.





87 Comments »

water cooled blade server

Servers and Storage submitted by a20052006 04/03/07

I have read and seen that blade servers are very high density and produce a lot of heat so why not include water cooling into the backplane of the blade encousure to allow for even higher power density and allow the usage of chilled water systems that may already be present. With the water cooled systems you would have near silent servers as well as excellent cooling. 1 Comment »

Blade server variations

Servers and Storage submitted by chunt 02/20/07

It would be useful to have some specialized blade servers. For example a Windows Storage Server blade with fibre channel and TOE. Comment »