mathieu147

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

35 Comments »

Carefully follow the situation of Psystar selling MacOS computers without Apple's consent.

Dell, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by jmxz Apr 15

Everyone pretty much knows that Apple's been eating Dell's lunch recently. There might be many factors, but I still suspect that Vista taking profits away from Dell, and Vista stinks in general are two important factors.

A small computer company called
Psystar is making the news this week selling Apple MacOS computers without Apple's consent. According to Information Week, a Psystar is a much better deal than an Apple. In particular, a Psystar at $804.99. A similar, Apple-branded computer would cost more than $2,000".

I think Dell could take a big chunk out of Apple's sales if Dell sold a similar computer. I'd certainly trust a Dell more than a Psystar; and I'd much rather pay $804.99 to Dell (heck, even $1804) than $2000 to Apple.

So the Idea is to watch how aggressively Apple's legal department kills Psystar; and if such a legal attack seems survivable with Dell legal (who seems to have too much time on their hands anyway), sell similar systems yourselves. 3 Comments »

Dell should provide the same support for Ubuntu and OSS that Sun does!

Linux, Service and Support submitted by phubert Apr 4

Everyone who has called for Linux/Ubuntu to be available on ALL Dell offerings already knows this - Dell hasn't even come close to meeting us halfway.

The article below (and more) show Sun's increasing support for OSS _and_ Ubuntu.

Dell: join the club! Provide some LEADERSHIP!

Ubuntu Linux to Be Certified by Sun

Sun is about to become the first major hardware vendor to certify Ubuntu Linux as compatible with its products—a move that could spark increased competition for Red Hat and Novell. ****

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Linux-and-Open-Source/Ubuntu-Linux-to-be-certified-b... 5 Comments »

Move newly commented Ideas to the top of the list

IdeaStorm submitted by programatix Apr 4

Older ideas are sometimes forgotten when they are down the list. How about moving newly commented ideas to the top of the list. This will make sure that older ideas don't go dead. 5 Comments »

Provide Feedback For Rejected Ideas

Dell, Dell Community, IdeaStorm submitted by aikiwolfie Apr 5

It would be nice if Dell could tell us why ideas that have been rejected by Dell were rejected. If IdeaStorm members understood the reasons why certain ideas were not being implemented then they may not get so annoyed.

For example one of the most popular ideas is to have Ubuntu on the OS list along side Windows with compatible hardware. Another very popular idea is for Dell to sell bare-bones systems with no OS. Yet another popular idea is to have no pre-installed trial ware.

None of these ideas is fully implemented and at least two of them are not even partially implemented. If Dell could explain why these very popular ideas do not pass muster with Dells decision makers then it might help.

The reasons could be posted in a blog similar to Ideas In Action or they could be posted in the idea thread it's self.

A good example of this sort of feed back is when matt_d comes on to IdeaStorm and gives us an outline of some of the costs involved when Dell chooses to implement a new OS on it's product range.

This information and feedback helps the community come up with ideas Dell can work with. If we can do that, then Dell and it's consumer base can move forward together and we can help each other Simplify IT. 3 Comments »

Make lighter laptops with iphone style touchpad

Broadband and Mobility, Laptops submitted by larkspur Apr 5

Bring the best of the mac into the dell portable computing platform. 1 Comment »

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 »

Bring back the Inspiron laptops on the US Ubuntu page.

Dell Web Site, Inspiron products, Linux submitted by zmjjmz Apr 6

Both the Inspiron 1400n and the 1525n were removed from the US site (http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs)
If there's a reason for doing this, could you at least tell us why? 6 Comments »

Feet Lifts

Laptops submitted by dragonfly1627 06/12/07

You know how notebooks get really hot while either sitting them on your lap or on a table. Well why don't they come out with optional feet or lifts on the bottom of the notebook like keyboards do. They can flip up or down and when in the up postion they would be flush againts the computers base. 30 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." 244 Comments »

There should be an option of having no trialware on all computers

Software submitted by jervis961 08/23/07 **REVIEWED**

Here is a news article about trialware and how Dell feels that regular customers want it but small business ones do. Do they not look at the ideas here?

"Not interested in all of the trial software that clutters up new PCs? You're not alone: According to Dell's recent research in both focus groups and broader surveys, small-business users overwhelmingly view trialware as an irritant, not a benefit. That research has led Dell to axe the extras from its new Vostro line of small-business desktop PCs and laptops. Eliminating demo applications is a major step for Dell, which has caught flack for the quantity of trialware on its consumer PCs. (One frustrated customer went so far as to develop a "Decrapifier" utility. The company says that consumers who buy PCs for personal use do express interest in preloaded trial software, but that small-business users have different needs. By eliminating the trialware from Vostro machines, Dell says it has cut the system setup time in half. For now, Dell is the only major PC manufacturer to ship small-business systems without preinstalled trialware as a standard practice. (Some competitors, such as HP, allow customers to choose a no-trialware configuration.)"


Dell offers a broad amount of software choice and minimal software shipped. Read jeremy_f's post on the options we give our customers





149 Comments »

approval ratings on ideas

IdeaStorm submitted by jdelidc Apr 2

kinda like the real voting. you got the total number of people that vote (x10), but you should also have the percent of people that vote up and idea. so you would get someting like a 60% approval rating on something if 6 people voted for an idea and 4 people voted against an idea 5 Comments »

Smartphone

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by gautam 02/16/07

The Dell Axim PDA is not super-popular, but I think if it moved into the SmartPhone realm (especially in order to compete with upcoming iPhone) then it could pick up some market-share and be a great device for US cell phone providers. 92 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 »

Create a More Functional Vista Style / Theme for Laptops

Advertising and Marketing, Operating Systems, Laptops submitted by kaddar Apr 3

I love Aero for vista, however, I find it to have too thick of left and right side borders for a laptop, and the taskbar is too high, taking up too much valuable laptop real-estate.

It'd be nice if dell created a (dell branded) vista style. The start bar would be a circle with a dell symbol in it. The theme could be similar to vista theme, but with a focus on providing more real estate to laptop users, with 0px borders, borders being defined only by their drop shadows.

Since it is branded with the dell symbol, it promotes dell, therefore dell would be able to allow non-dell laptops to download it. This is similar to how microsoft made a zune theme for windows xp (google it).

The user could always switch to aero if they don't like it. 6 Comments »

Microsoft will extend life of Windows XP - Idea: Dell, make sure they let you put it on your computers.

Operating Systems submitted by jmxz Apr 4

Interesting CNet article:
Microsoft will extend life of Windows XP--again

April 3, 2008 11:17 AM PDT

As I predicted last week, Microsoft has decided to extend the life of Windows XP, although[ some gotcha's ...]

Microsoft will give PC makers the option of using Windows XP or Vista on [some models]

...The decision to discontinue Windows XP might have driven even more device makers into the hands of Linux, hence the extension.

Yeah, I know that so far Microsoft only announced they'll be letting manufacturers do this on low-end computers.

But Dell, for your customers, ask them to make it available on your higher end models as well. 15 Comments »

Ubuntu for workstation

Linux, Precision Workstations submitted by abrarey Feb 28

An Ubuntu option for Precision workstations that already works with RedHat Linux Comment »

Give the same discounts to open source models as Windows models

Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by bashveank Mar 31

Why are there constantly sales on Windows machines but never any sales on the identical open source machines? 5 Comments »

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 »

Laptops with the option to buy without a wireless card

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by j-k Apr 1

It woud be amazing, If Dell could add a option while "Build My Dell" to choose not a wireless card!

Some people don't want to have a laptop with a wireless card, because they don't need it or they don't want to use it because of health injuries / health effects of WLAN. 14 Comments »