landoftheshark

show the picture of the actual mouse included

Dell Web Site submitted by ro_bro May 29

on your dell website for home, you can't see the picture of the actual mouse you're going to get. No matter what you select, you see a generic image of what seems like an old ps2 mouse.

Can we see what we're actually going to get?

Also, I like for example, tigerdirect.com. They actually have numerous pictures of what you're going to get, at different angles, etc. You see everything in the box.

I wish dell would do the same, or something similar, rather than showing generic images. 2 Comments »

Standardize Laptop Hard Drives - banish these connectors

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by georgecoffey May 20

I wanted to upgrade my hard drive as it had a second Hard Drive Bay. When I purchased a new hard drive from a local PC Store, it wouldn't go into my new laptop. I had previously checked that it was a SATA HDD and Laptop. However, when I took out my system Drive(the one that came originally), I did notice a little connector was on it.

I went to my local PC store again to see if they could provide me with the connector, but they said go to the PC Manufacturer. So I contacted Dell, and they said you should have bought it off Dell meaning I would have to spend €300 at least on a very expensive hard drive. Whereas in a PC Store you'd get them, for far less. However, I don't understand how PC Stores can sell Laptop Hard Drives without this connector. My idea is to standardize Laptop Hard Drives without this connector cause if a newbie to PCs, wanted to upgrade their hard drives and found that they couldn't it would be a complete waste of money.

I'm beginning to wonder are Dell the only company that have these connectors the fact that the PC Store didn't have any knowledge on them. 13 Comments »

Label the CDs with which models they affect

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Simplify IT submitted by djtansey May 20

Label the Resource CDs, and any other machine-specific CDs, with a list of which models it supports. This would make it much easier for IT departments to file their resource CDs for further use. 5 Comments »

Give Open Source Software a Higher profile On Dell.com

Dell Web Site submitted by aikiwolfie May 22

From InformationWeek.com : Open Source Quality Improving, But Development Assumptions Need Revising

This report confirms what open source supporters have known all along. Open source developers deliver very high quality code. As such Dell should be giving the open source developers it uses a higher profile on Dell.com instead of hiding them away in some dark recess out of the way!

At the very least give your own in-house open source developers more exposure! They deserve it after all the top quality code they've produced, tested and tweaked. 3 Comments »

Keep the XPS Product Line

XPS products submitted by dabrace1984 May 12

According to Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/12/dell-dropping-xps-focusing-on-alienware) Dell is going to be dropping the XPS product line and focusing on the Alienware brand for gaming and high performance computing. Promote this Idea to let Dell know that we need to keep the XPS desktop and laptop product line. 31 Comments »

give the origianl CD of the OS and not an ISO

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Service and Support submitted by siger May 19

when there is a problem with the Master Boot Record the ISO can't repair it and we have to go to a reparation company.

Please give us the original disc and not an ISO. IT Is more expensive but , more satisfaction for the customer. 8 Comments »

Offer Ubuntu Netbook Remix OS on your Ultra portables

Linux, Operating Systems, Laptops submitted by jervis961 May 25

The new Ubuntu Netbook Remix OS will be announced the first week of June according to an interview with Canonical chief executive Mark Shuttleworth.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/25/canonical-ceo-says-ubuntu-netbook-remix-bu...

The OS is Tailor made for ultraportable type systems. They have been working with Intel on the project so it should run very well on the Atom Processor

33 Comments »

Availability of LED LCD SCREENS in FRANCE and EUROPE

Monitors and Displays, Sales Strategies, XPS products submitted by mdevoucoux May 17

I've alrady posted this idea but it wasn't very explicit :

LED Screens are available in US on the XPS M1530, but they're not in Europe.

Here in Europe we'd like to order a Dell XPS M1530 with an LED screen, given the benefits it provides compared to CCFL screens. Thousands customers expect an LED display is available for this model to order the computer.

DELL: you lose customers beacause LED Screen isn't available on the XPS M1530. I find it unfortunate that in Europe we can not choose the same components as the USA.

I appeal to DELL: Please, make LED screens available in Europe for the XPS M1530, we expect that to order them.

Please DELL users, promote my idea because DELL do as if we, European customers doesn't exist and let Led creens available only in the USA : you, americans and others people, be helpful with us.

Thanks 46 Comments »

Optical mice only please

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by falbert May 22

How come we can still get in 2008 mechanical mice. Come on guys, in 2008 there should be only optical mice available. Also please make it clear on the web site what people are purchasing. 25 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 63 Comments »

Linux Survey Results

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by mrlinux11 03/28/07

How about posting the Linux Survey Results ???? 7 Comments »

Have Ubuntu on Dell One

Linux, XPS products submitted by daniel117 Mar 12

After hearing a couple magazines and people say Vista has glitches, I think Dell's best computer ever (and best counterpart of Apple's Macs) this computer company should start looking into Linux more, especially Ubuntu. Oh sure, Dell didn't get enough people into Ubuntu, but that can be easily fixed by putting Linux into Dell One. Dell is missing out on more sales from Ubuntu fans and all you geeks out there. Not much of them, but popularity would spread and soon Vista is in the dust (not that I hate Vista, but I like Ubuntu better). 11 Comments »

TV Commercial for New Ubuntu PCs

Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by josmar52789 05/03/07

Dell should produce a new commercial for the Ubuntu PCs. It could tell the consumers of America why Dell has chosen to pre-install Linux on mainstream computers and hopefully promote the advantages of this new endeavor. Plus, it's likely that Dell's Linux initiative would be much more successful. 115 Comments »

Better Hardware for Linux

Linux submitted by poolem 04/06/07

At www.dell.com/linux Dell offers the choice of configuring a Linux system but with very low system specs (1.2MHz Processors, 4200rpm HDs). Is Dell willing to offer more main stream hardware systems to support Linux; like the XPS Line? Just because Linux doesn't "need" as high of specs as a MS system doesn't mean we don't want higher specs as a Linux user. Comment »

Make Linux laptops match their Windows counterparts

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Laptops submitted by lengau Mar 31

I was comparing the 1525 and the 1525N today. Here's a list of what (as of 2008-3-31 18:39 CDT) the Windows laptop has that the Ubuntu one doesn't:

Processors:
Celeron 540
Pentium Dual Core T2370 (NOTE: The Ubuntu version has T2330 instead - perhaps it would be good to have both options on both laptops?)
Core 2 Duo T5750
Core 2 Duo T8300

The Windows laptop doesn't offer the Core 2 Duo T5450, but the Ubuntu one does.

Display:
1440x900 display (See: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/76248 )

Hard Drive:
80GB (5400 RPM)

The Windows laptop is missing:
250GB (7200 RPM)

Optical drives:
Combo drive
Blu-ray Combo
Blu-ray Burner

Note: This gives only one choice (DVD burner) on the Linux laptop.
Also, Nero for Linux (as well as DVD+RW-tools) burns Blu-Ray discs.
Blu-Ray support on Linux machines has been requested for quite a while now (see: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/73129 )

Wi-Fi:
Dell 1505 (supported according to http://accessories.dell.com/sna/products/Accessories/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&... )
Intel 802.11n (AFAICT, The 1505 is an Intel chip - can anyone tell me if these are the same chips?
Dell 1395

Mobile Broadband:
I'm not sure if these cards have Linux drivers, but this functionality should be available to Linux users.

Bluetooth and Wireless USB
Dell Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Bundle
Dell Travel Mouse (with Bluetooth Technology)
Dell Bluetooth Stereo Headset (w/built-in Mic)

Personally, I think that all three of those should be under the "Add my accessories" section, but they should still be available.

Battery:
I couldn't figure out any way to include a secondary battery with the Windows notebook.

Sound:
Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi® Xtreme Audio Sound Card

Whilst that difference is pretty big, I want to point out the few major problems (everything else is, to me, minor):

Processors:
I don't see any reason for the processor options to be different on the two laptops. Both OS's work on all of the processors (obviously - they're just x86 processors, after all)

Display:
Limiting Linux users to a lower resolution is counterintuitive to me. Linux users are generally more technically-inclined and thus more likely to buy a higher resolution display than Windows users.

Optical Drives:
The readers are just generic drives (writing is the only potential problem, but with the right programs, Linux can burn Blu-Ray as well). All that's necessary is a warning on the Linux laptops that they cannot play Blu-Ray movies on the systems.

Wi-Fi:
I mention this here tentatively. I understand that wi-fi chips aren't the most Linux-friendly hardware at the moment, but an 802.11n option would be nice. 4 Comments »

standardize keyboard across notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by sendtopms Apr 2

Standardize keyboard across all notebooks. When keys are located at standard location it will be easy to work on multiple laptop without any learning, it will be very helpful for those who have multiple notebooks - one at work another at home. 2 Comments »

Tell us WHY we don't have Ubuntu DELLs in Belgium (or other countries)

Linux, Service and Support submitted by mathieu147 Apr 2

Ubuntu DELLs are available in several european countries like France, Germany and UK. You can buy them in USA, too. But, for example, it's impossible to buy one in Belgium (juste between France and Germany) or in Canada (just next to USA).

There are many ideas (with high scores) saying «I want Ubuntu in [country name here]». It seems that DELL doesn't care.

Ok, right, you want to sell Linux DELLs only in some countries. But could you tell us WHY?

Is it a language problem? Well, install the english version and tell the buyers how to install his own language support (if you can't do it for him (you can for Windows, why not for Ubuntu?)).

Thank you :-) 10 Comments »

Driver Storage - Built-In

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies submitted by leolonewolf_nw08 Apr 2

How many times have you lost the driver disc for some errant piece of hardware? Or can't seem to find the website to download the driver from? Or can't even get on the internet becuase your system has crashed and you have no other computer available?

The Solution: A onboard (motherboard) compact flash slot that is completely internal from the chassis (physcially accessible only by opening the case) that allows you to store and access a compact flash card, your choice of size, and be able to replace it if need be. This flash drive would act not only as a storage location for drivers, which can be preloaded from the factory, but also updated by the dell update software or the user if non-dell parts are added to the system.

Additionally it could also be designed to create a bootable portion for the computer in the event of a HDD failure.

You could even take this as far as adding a second slot that would allow for encrypted file storage, being that they would have to be small files and not excessive in quantity. 23 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 »