lilomar2525

Set up an independent business unit for GNU/Linux systems

Dell, Linux submitted by glynmoody 03/02/07

Clearly, there is a huge pent-up demand for pre-installed GNU/Linux systems from Dell. But equally clearly, it would be difficult for Dell to make, sell and support such systems with its current business model.

Why doesn't Dell adopt the solution outlined by Harvard professor Clayton Christensen in his book The Innovator's Dilemma? That is, to set up a completely autonomous division, dedicated solely to meeting the demand for such systems - one that is not obliged to follow any of Dell's traditional practices.

Unconstrained by Dell's current methods or cost structures, it will be able to explore, devise and adopt innovative solutions to serve this very different market profitably. Dell makes money, people get their pre-installed systems. 44 Comments »

Freedom of choice for OS and additional software

Operating Systems, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by wuki 02/20/07

Just simple:

- allow the customer to decide wether he wants an OS (of which kind ever) bundled with the PC or not.

- allow the customer to decide, if he wants to buy an OS with the PC, wether the OS is preinstalled by Dell or not (in this case just deliver the necessary media with the OS and drivers).

- allow the customer to decide, when he wants a PC with a preinstalled OS, wether he wants additional software installed or not.

Just a comment on additionally installed software:

My experience with a Dell desktop computer having a preinstalled XP was just horrible. I am a software developer and need a clean machine. It took me days to identify and cleanly remove all that additionally installed software crap (sorry for that but it hits the point) I never accounted for. I would prefer not to be punished (by being forced to spend a lot of work time to get my PC usable) for buying a Dell PC.

And what me got really upset: most of the additional software installed was reduced in function (such essentially being useless) and plagued me by shouting "Upgrade me for a modest fee and you get all those missing features". Keep Dell PCs clean from being a vehicle for software marketing campaigns!

Oh, and not to forget: what I bought was a business line PC! 1 Comment »

Sell no os laptops in other countries besides usa

Sales Strategies, Service and Support, Laptops submitted by julkkis 03/01/07

The title says it all. And hopefully individuals could buy them as well. And just maybe they could be cheaper or at least same price than the exactly similar ones with winblows? 1 Comment »

Open to the opensource

Linux submitted by andilek 02/21/07

This mean release as much documentation as you can, release sources of your drivers if possible.
This would get you rid of supporting all open source projects, but will give all these projects to support your hardware. And also this would bring you new customers from open source community. 1 Comment »

Universal power cord for all laptops of all PC suppliers

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by loys 02/23/07

It would be of a great benefit to see all PC suppliers to standardize the shape and the voltage of their laptop power cord.

As a user, I could take my laptop anywhere from home to office without all those wires in my bag. Meeting rooms could be installed with standardize laptop plug.
I could use the plug of my colleague... etc.

1 Comment »

My next computer will be Linux or Apple

Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by macsband 02/26/07

I've purchased five Dell computers over the past few years (3 desktops and 2 notebooks). My most recent purchase was an Inspiron E1705 in December. Upon powering up the machine, I immediately reformated the hard drive, thereby getting rid of Windows junk.

My first desktop used Microsoft DOS 3.1. Over the years Microsoft has provided less and less value at more and more expense with greater and greater intrusiveness. Microsoft has turned security updates into a marketing ploy to force less and less competition (which is pretty amazing for such an overwhelming monopoly.)

My next computer will have Linux or Apple OS pre-installed. I'm a loyal Dell customer, but if Dell does not offer Linux, I'll be joining the ever growing crowd switching to Apple.

Mac 8 Comments »

Ubuntu on a notebook or no OS installed

Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by w--achterhoek 02/23/07

I don't want to pay for Windows. Ubuntu is a very good and in my view better OS system. I looked for a notebook without windows installed. I cannot find it. Please make it possible to buy a Ubuntu linux pre-installed notebook, or nothing installed at all. 2 Comments »

Larger Linux Call Center

Linux, Service and Support submitted by bradleydsmith 02/23/07

If Dell was to offer Linux pre-installed, I think they should offer support for Linux itself instead of passing the tickets to Ubuntu,RedHat or Novell. They could have a American based call center. By doing this Dell could make hardware vendors take notice and produce better drivers. If Dell is having trouble filling slots for Linux developers or techs they can call me, I would love to help them out:) 4 Comments »

Single official topic for each linux distribution and other common issues

IdeaStorm submitted by theblackcat 02/23/07

As many other people have pointed out, things are becoming unmanageable with the duplicate posts promoting the same small group of ideas. It would be unfair to just delete them all, so I have a proposed solution.

Have specific, official topics on each of these issues (in no particular order):
-Preinstalled Linux in general
-A seperate topic for each common Linux distribυtion (one for Redhat, another for Suse, another for Ubuntu, etc.)
-Hardware support for linux
-Mac OS X
-Continued Windows XP support
-No OS whatsoever
-Webcams for laptops
-Do away with proprietary hardware (including video cards, Bluetooth, etc)
-Tablet PC
-Better laptop power supply
-No offshore tech support
-No preinstalled software (just the desired OS)
-Preinstalled Openoffice
-Preinstalled Mozilla products (these can probably be lumped together)
-Preinstalled Gimp (maybe)
-Preinstalled Gaim (maybe)

These will be the official topics for each of these particular issues. They will be "pinned" at the very top of the list so people cannot miss them. No duplicate topics on any of these issues will be allowed. Voting and commenting will still be allowed in all of these topics, although they will have to be monitored for flame wars.

After these are started, add a keyword filter. Any topic containing "linux", "open source", "freeware", "gnu", "mozilla", a distro name, or any other words associated with any of these topics will be put in a queue where they must be approved by an administrator before they are will appear on the site. That way we don't get the flood of duplicate topics that we have now, but legitimate new ideas that may contain one or more of these words will also not be automatically deleted.

Put a notice up that this could happen, and warn people with a prominent, colorful page when their ideas have been flagged. That way they are not confused as to why the ideas are not showing up and start re-submitting them. Monitor the site for people purposefully avoiding the filters and update them routinely to catch tactics people are using to do so. Keep an eye out for issues that are getting a lot of duplicate posts and make official, pinned topics for them as well.

This way everyone is happy. People are able to support their own favorite OS or piece of software, while the board will not be flooded with duplicates. People who ignore these rules will have more trouble getting away with it, and people looking for truly new ideas will be able to find them. This includes bother users and Dell themselves. It is currently becoming extremely difficult to get through all the clones to find interesting new ideas, but it is unfair to deny people the right to have their ideas heard. This allows people to have their say while still keeping things manageable.

Note: this idea may itself be a duplicate. I know for sure that the idea of getting rid of all the duplicates has been posted many times. I am fully aware of the hypocrisy of contributing to the problem I am trying to solve but I felt it still needed to be said. 6 Comments »

Linux

Linux submitted by crimlawfed 02/28/07

Consumers should be able to chose whichever distro. of Linux they want. Dell should put a list of the most popular on their website. A consumer could choose between one on Dell.com or any other. 3 Comments »

Fair and Equal Prices

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

When pricing Dell system via their website prices for add-ons can and do often vary widely between the different product lines and divisions for exactly the same products. I used to see this with the step up to XP Pro for $99 with the Optiplex and $149 for the Dimension. I find various example of the Dell 2-button Optical Mouse going for $9 on one model and $19 on another, the same issue with the Dell flat-panel add-on speakers.

Dell should have one price for the same part or feature for all systems regardless of class. A Core2 1.86Ghz processor should be the same price in a small server as it is on a desktop system. A DVD-ROM drive should not cost $30 more on a server than it does on a PC. Enhanced support plans should also have standard pricing or at least a grade level table based on expected complexity of the product being covered.

Please level the pricing, this will make quoting and estimating easier and make the customer feel like they are being treated fairly.

Thank you for taking the time to listen.
-felipe 2 Comments »

Open Source Video Card Drivers

Monitors and Displays submitted by meffie 02/20/07

Sell machines with video adaptors that have open source drivers, not proprietary binary blobs.

Please impress the importance to ATI to publish specifications for their hardware. 3 Comments »

Include regular OS disk

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by echohead 02/21/07

Instead of the restore disk that installs all kinds of extra software--include a regular Windows disk. 2 Comments »

Linux: Make it happen!

Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by minollo 02/28/07

I will buy a new laptop in the next 2-3 months.

I will leave "forever" Microsoft Windows, I can't tolarate it anymore for a lot of reasons. I tried Linux, it works well but I think that its main problem relies on drivers. As a simple consumer I would really appreciate a "pre-installed" linux option on every single computer, in this way I should not worry about my hardware.

Today there are no options. All is GENUINE Windows ready! No freedom to choose!

I don't think a computer without any operating system as a real alternative, it is just cheaper.

I thought much about my new computer and finally I decided for a Mac. It is different, it is UNIX-based (as linux) even if it is more expensive than any PC with similar hardware features.

I suggest you to think about your businness with Microsoft. Be brave opening new ways.

Dellideastorm is a worderful idea, now you can see what people want, there are not justifications anymore!

Comment »

standardized power cords that work with all laptop models

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by alcassi 02/25/07

It's frustrating that a power cord purchased for one Dell laptop won't work with a different Dell laptop. In the tangle of wires in our home office, it's easy to grab the wrong cord in the last minute rush to pack up for a business trip.

Also, in an emergency (one hour notice) I needed to buy a power cord for my Dell laptop for a four-hour presentation. It was a small town that only had a Radio Shack. They said the cord had tips to recharge every brand of computer except Dells, because Dell had made them take that tip out of the kit. The power cord would run my Dell laptop, but not recharge it.

Come on, one power cord for every Dell, please - standardized. 1 Comment »

Sue Microsoft and get out of the Windows Monopoly

Dell, Operating Systems submitted by juanjodic 02/20/07

Microsoft is a business designed to extract money by force from customers, it's not a product customers are excited to buy and give money in exchange. Its a Monopoly.

A lot of people just had it with windows, too much hackers and virus, too much marketing included in explorer too much promises of improvements and they keep delivering the same OS with new names and less options unless you pay more for the same options that where included before! 10 Comments »

Linux - YES

Linux submitted by etotman 02/28/07

I work for a major university and I would love to be able to order Dell laptops and desktops pre-installed with Novell Suse Linux. 2 Comments »

Give the Spec to the community !!!

Dell Web Site submitted by liar 02/21/07

Can you release the spec of your hardware ? And stop keeping it confidential.

Linux, *BSD and any other non proprietatry OS coders need the spec to make drivers available.

It does not cost you anything just releasing the specs. We don't even ask you to develop the drivers themself, we want to build a free one ourselves! 2 Comments »

Open standard support

Service and Support, Software submitted by federico2 02/28/07

When a Dell pc comes with preinstalled software, such software (whichever it is) should let the user use ALSO standard open formats.


This includes e.g.:

- OpenDocument (ISO standard)

- OGG Vorbis (de facto standard open format for compressed audio)

- OGG Theora (the same for compressed video)

- SIP and/or H.323 (VoIP)

- SVG (vector graphics)

- XMPP (Jabber) (instant messaging compatible with Google Talk)

- iCalendar (calendar data exchange)

... and so on.

There are many free plugins that enable closed software (i.e. Microsoft Office) to use such standards. 4 Comments »

Take advantage of the linux kernel developers offer to develop fully supported linux PC's

Dell, Linux submitted by iphtashufitz 02/24/07

On January 29th the linux kernel developers posted an offer on the Kerneltrap website (http://kerneltrap.org/node/7636) offering free linux driver development to any company who asks. To quote from their announcement:

"You will receive a complete and working Linux driver that is added to the main Linux kernel source tree. The driver will be written by some of the members of the Linux kernel developer community (over 1500 strong and growing). This driver will then be automatically included in all Linux distributions, including the 'enterprise ones. It will be automatically kept up to date and working through all Linux kernel API changes. This driver will work with all of the different CPU types supported by Linux (for the CPUs that support the bus types that your device works on), the largest number of CPU types supported by any operating system ever before in the history of computing."

Dell should embrace this offer to its fullest extent. They should work with the linux kernel developers to build fully supported linux PC's (servers, desktops, and notebooks/laptops). Any hardware vendor that doesn't take advantage of this offer is foolish. With the direct assistance of the kernel developers, Dell could offer a wide range of fully supported linux systems that would work with virtually any linux distro. 4 Comments »