Offer a Linux Media Center system
Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by jontheisguy
02/21/07
Dear sirs,
The guys at http://store02.prostores.com/servlet/tvease/StoreFront have the right idea and are beginning to get it done!! Bring them in as a partner to boost the Linux offering from Dell. It is a media center pc built on Ubuntu Linux technologies.
PS. Also work out a bulk deal with the owner of digital blasphemy. Offer a 6 mo. subscription with the purchase of any PC over $600 (or whatever your threshold). The membership is golden and provides many wallpaper choices to the new Dell family member.
Thanks.
jontheisguy
6580
Linux Hardware Compatibility List
Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by s3indiana
02/20/07 **IN PROGRESS**
Create a listing of Dell hardware that's compatible with the major Linux distributions (Fedora, OpenSuse, ubuntu, Freespire) providing compatibility with not just systems (desktops and laptops) but include peripherals (printers, camera's, flash drives, compatible routers, etc.). Include levels of compatibility so the reviewer can make an educated choice. This would provide the greatest assistance for those looking at alternatives...
We're working to add something like this to our linux.dell.com wiki. Click here to see what john_h has to say.
25130
National Call Centers [and other Service Improvement Ideas]
Service and Support submitted by henrieb
02/17/07 **UNDER REVIEW**
As a corporate customer I like Dell's products and my USA customer support. I have read the web about all the people that have had problems with Dell customer service and mine and others are not isolated incidences. If you want people to be loyal take a hint from the corporate sales and give Home users even a little customer support. My corporate help does not read scripts, they have the power to take ownership and fix the problem. Granted I do buy Gold support. If Dell thinks it saves money for bad support; I have personally talked 20 or 30 people out of buying a Dell.
* Addition: After reading several of the comments on this topic it appears that what we really want is someone in customer support that will listen to us, and hopefully help us. Culture and language barriers just make this harder. Maybe a better way to track customer performance would be to find out if they really helped someone and not how fast they can end the call. Dell management needs to start taking ownership of this problem. Maybe Dell management needs to start calling Dell support with fake problems and see it the system they created can help them, it sure does not work for us.
27681
More RAM!
Desktops and Laptops submitted by mwmtjm
01/30/07 **UNDER REVIEW**
Do away with 512MB of memory as a base option to buy consumer desktops and notebooks. With Vista running best on 1GB at a minimum, don't make customers have a basic experience with the new OS because Dell wants to be able to advertise at a lower price point. The success of Vista -- and subsequently for Dell -- will be largely in word of mouth. Take a long-term view and build the momentum one great customer experience at a time right now!
39942
Linux on Dell: Not a bad idea at all
Linux submitted by junyang18
03/05/07
First of all, I'm a loyalist of Microsoft. I used several flavors of Linux/Unix 7 yrs ago and had mixed feeling about it. I love Windows because that's what I'm used to and it's a great product. However, just out of curiosity, I downloaded Ubuntu and installed it on my 3 yr old Latitude D400. In 15 mins, it WORKS! The look and feel is not as comfortable as XP/Vista or OS/X, but it got everything I need for an average user. It's a full-fledged OS with decent suite of tools! I can see values of upgrading to Vista for high-end PCs, but now I realized that there are also HUGE benefits for low-end models to have a choice to pre-load Linux. It'll be a win-win for both Dell and the customers.
I haven't dug into the detail of Linux yet but I think it can become the new frontier for Dell. Why can't we, the Dell users, organize a Linux or Dell(LOD) community to promote the use of Linux on existing Dell machines so that our voices can be heard, LODly :-)
BTW, I really appreciate the passion of those Linux fans, but be aware that there are equal passion on the other side of the camp too and if we push over the limit, it may hurt the open-source campaign instead of promoting it.
50
Should Apple licence OS X to Dell? | Bigmouth Strikes Again - Freelance journalist Gary Marshall on technology, the Internet, music, Macs and more
Operating Systems submitted by pwalker
01/30/07
There was an interesting op-ed by Doug Mohney in The Inquirer yesterday, which suggested that the launch of Vista provides a good opportunity for Apple - if it licences OS X to Dell.
However, Vista is being beaten like a dead horse by the mass media – most of them already are enthralled to the God of Jobs if you read between the lines, so Microsoft could make nuclear fusion work tomorrow and they’d give it a lukewarm review at best. The consensus view out of the babbling punditry is “Don’t buy Vista today, unless you have to buy a new computer tomorrow.”
On that front, I think the babbling pundits are right. Heh.
So what about Apple?
If Apple was serious, and I mean really serious, about gaining more PC market share, they’d realize they need to license/sell their operating system to another hardware manufacturer or two. Sure, Apple’s tried the license route before with mixed results, but it’s about time to bite the bullet, look into the mirror, and realize they should try something bold.
Apple should license their operating system to Dell.
Mohney isn’t suggesting that Apple should make OS X available to any PC user; the dangers of that (such as hardware incompatibilities or really crap machines ruining Apple’s reputation) have been talked to death for years. Rather, he’s suggesting that Apple could team up with a single PC manufacturing firm to make decent clones, expanding OS X’s market share without diluting the core Apple brand. It wouldn’t be an Apple Mac: it’d be a Dell Mac. Dell’s good at churning out PCs, so if Apple laid down strict criteria about what should and shouldn’t go into a clone you could get decent non-Apple Macs competing in different markets to Apple Macs. Does anyone really think Dell is capable of making something as sexy as a MacBook or as iconic as the iMac?
I’m sure Mohney will be inundated with angry emails, but I do wonder how many of the senders will have reacted similarly to suggestions a few years back that Macs should run Intel chips. I think his idea’s fascinating.
4471
Product enhancement for Dell power adapter
Laptop Power submitted by gbrugman
02/21/07
For your information: daily winding and unwinding the notebook connecting cord, will eventually cause the cable shield and isolation to tear down, just outside the housing. It happened to many Dell notebook cords at work, causing the power flow to stop or, even worse, to short-circuit.
The cord at the other end of the AC wall mount doesn't have this problem because this cord already points at the right angle. So as to avoid said problem in the future, both cords should leave the housing in the proper winding-angle: problem solved.
I hope to have been of help, because I think it's a shame that a minor cord problem makes it this risky to work with an otherwise good product. It seems easy enough to remedy. :-)
5865
Better Styling, More Choices on Video Cards and a Hybrid Video Design, and Definately less or NO pre-installed Software.
Sales Strategies, Software, Laptops submitted by kman79
02/16/07 **REVIEWED**
Dell probably does build one of the best performing notebooks that one could order, well at least you could make it to be one of the best performing notebooks, but they lack in style. Of course the priority of having the notebook is having good performance, but having a stylish exterior adds value and want for the notebook/laptop. The white and gray casing gets old, and needs updating. I like the simple yet stylish look of the M1210, the rest of the line should be updated. Maybe it's just me, but the rest of the XPS line of laptops need to be toned down, it just looks to kidish and has too many things going on with it. Design a better looking notebook with the current hardware performance you have available right now, and you can guarantee it will sell better. The design does not have to be complex, but anything is better than white and gray plastic exterior you currently use. Get ideas from Apple, Asus, Sony, Toshiba and even HP. Give the exterior look of the notebook some curves......maybe evem a glossy finish, and a little texture. People spend thousands of dollars on their Dell Notebooks, at least make them feel better by making the notebooks look like it's worth the money spent on them. Give the notebook some attitude, a personality and a soul and not just a piece of plastic with a keyboard and a screen.
Dell should also give customers more choices with the video cards. I wanted to get an M1210, but was dissapointed that it only had a Geforce Go 7400 as the only choice for video card. I was more than willig to spend the extra cash on a higher end video card. Also, if sony has not patented this design/idea, what about a Video Hybrid design where you have a choice between intel graphics while on battery, and purve Nvidia graphics when plugged in. I think the idea is genious and very useful. You can use intel graphics when your running on battery to save and extend battery life, and switch over to nvidia graphics for full-on graphics power when the notebook is plugged in.
More importantly, let it be the customer's choice on which programs and services they want installed on their ordered computer. I hate turning on my newly ordered computer and having all these unwanted software and services already installed. I hate having to spend the first minutes to hours after receiving my computer uninstalling programs or doing a clean OS install.
Over the past year we launched several laptops that were developed purely for the consumer. Check out all the details on mike_h's post.
7696
Design & Form Factor
Desktops and Laptops submitted by logi
02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
This forum is a great idea to get Dell back to #1.
What I like to see is new and innovative styling across the board on notebooks and desktops. Dell's product line looks 5yrs old and needs a total refresh.
As you can see Apple Inc. is winning conumers hearts because Apple owners are actually proud of displaying them in the living rooms instead of hiding them. Get rid of that XPS desktop design that thing is so ugly.. and come up with something consumers would be proud of displying in their media rooms.
Also I would like to see Dell create a sleak new design for a media center box so we can utilize vista home for the entertainment room and display it next to my audio and video units.
Thanks for listening Mr. Dell.
Hope_l talks about how passionate we are about design in this thread. To read more about how this idea is being put into action click here.
22996
Become the open source OEM
Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by ntaylor0909
02/17/07 **REVIEWED**
I read the same question on Linux forums, all the time: What is the best brand of computer/laptop to purchase for Linux. I know that there is the n series of computers and notebooks, but it could go a step further. Accept the recent offer of free Linux driver development from the Linux Kernel Community so that DELLs "just work" with Linux. Maybe look at some ideas like LinuxBIOS and/or OpenBIOS. Become the OEM that everyone recommends. There is a growing market for Open Source friendly computers and DELL could own that market.
In the past year, we've made a lot of progress on getting Linux to work well on all of our products. Our goal is to become the hardware vendor of choice for Linux users. Click here to learn more from john_h.
34058
Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware
Linux submitted by gergnz
02/19/07 **IN PROGRESS**
I don't care whether the OS is pre-installed or not, I want all the hardware to be totally supported in the Linux kernel without in mucking around. I currently have a Dell M1210 and I wish the modem would work, just in case I need it. The web cam would work, just in case I need it. At least the Intel wireless card is totally supported. Thanks Intel!!
Drivers are available for Linux to make some but not all hardware work. We continue to work with our partners to provide for better hardware support. See more specifics from john_h.
84417
Have Firefox pre-installed as default browser
Software submitted by robinjfisher
02/19/07 **REVIEWED**
Does what it says on the tin! Most people only use IE because they aren't aware of other browsers - they think Internet Explorer is the Internet! What would really drive take up of alternative browsers is if Firefox was pre-installed as the default browser so that when people look for the "Internet" in Windows, they are using FF.
Firefox advocates at Dell have initiated discussions and driven action around exploring alternative internet browsers and experiences. As you can tell from our response to the Linux community, open source continues to be a part of our conversations about new products and services.
118083
No OS Preloaded
Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by agreer
02/17/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
I have a XP Pro retail copy, will soon buy retail vista, I also like Linux: Make WINDOWS-FREE, and OS-Free an option for more than just expensive business lines.
Dell has systems available that do not have an OS pre-loaded called N-Series line. You can check them out at www.dell.com/nseries.
86070
No Extra Software Option
Software submitted by ootleman
02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
Would love the ability to have a clean Vista install. No AOL software, no earthlink software, no google software - just a clean, original OS.
Check out jeremy_f's update on our current software options.
120784
Pre-Installed OpenOffice | alternative to MS Works & MS Office
Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart
02/17/07
Provide OpenOffice.org for free pre-installation alongside Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office. OpenOffice.org is more capable than Microsoft Works, and a serious competitor to Microsoft Office, at a fraction of the cost (it's free!)
OpenOffice.org can open, create, edit and save Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
Provide as OPTIONS for pre-installation many other high-quality free software programs such as:
- Firefox: web browser with popup and privacy controls; say goodbye to Internet Explorer infections!
- Thunderbird: email program with free anti-spam and privacy controls
- Pidgin: instant messaging all-in-one program for popup-free MSN, Yahoo, AOL and others
&nsbp;[ed: GAIM was renamed Pidgin in April 2007 to settle the issue with AOL's trademark on AIM]
- PDFCreator: creates Adobe PDF files from any program
- Scribus, Inkscape & GIMP: desktop publishing, freehand drawing & powerful image editing
- Audacity & VLC: multi-track audio editing & universal all-in-one media/video/movie/DVD player
- Stellarium & Celestia: planetarium viewer & outer-space mapping, like Google Earth, but for our Solar System
Pre-installed quality free and open source software drastically lowers the cost of new PCs, and helps prevent software piracy. Cast your vote for Linux and other free software. Cast your vote for the Universal Education PC [ed: article removed/merged by dell_admin] utilizing free software.
CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Quality free and open source software is well behaved, and may be legally pre-installed on PCs, and legally shared with friends and family, sharing is encouraged! Cast your vote for consumer CHOICE and public transparency at Dell.
140599
Pre-Installed Linux | Ubuntu | Fedora | OpenSUSE | Multi-Boot
Linux, Operating Systems - Multiboot, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart
02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
Offer the 3 top free Linux versions for free pre-installation on all Dell PCs.
Quality free and open source software drastically lowers the cost of new PCs, and helps prevent software piracy. For example OpenOffice.org, the Microsoft Office alternative, can shave hundreds of dollars off the price of a new PC. Cast your vote for OpenOffice and other free software.
Offer easy multi-boot options with Windows Vista, Windows XP, or NO Windows (yes, Linux can entirely replace Windows!)
Offer trade-ins and Linux CDs for older model Dell PCs. Cast your vote for the mini Linux Dell PC and the Universal Education Dell PC, both utilizing free software.
Would you try Linux if it were this easy?
CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Quality free and open source software is well behaved, and may be legally pre-installed on PCs, and legally shared with friends and family, sharing is encouraged! Cast your vote for consumer CHOICE and public transparency at Dell.
Please take a look at www.dell.com/open for linux options on the Inspiron.
152540
Linux certification for hardware
Linux submitted by godji
02/20/07
It would be great if, when customizing a computer (laptop or desktop doesn't matter), there would be some indication about what hardware will work with Linux. On systems where all hardware is supported, there could be an option to have no operating system preinstalled, or have Linux preinstalled. Also, such systems should have some sot of sticker, similar to the ubiquitous "Designed for Windows Whatever". The sticker could say "Designed for Linux" or "Works with Linux" or "Linux Ready", etc.
The motivation is that a customer should be able to buy a computer to use Linux on, without worrying about hardware that will not work with a free operating system. Unfortunately such devices still exists; Dell should be alerting customers to their presence.
1285
Linux or BSD alternative to "Windows Home Server"
Operating Systems submitted by homer
02/21/07
Dell already offers Business server products, but I think the time has come to accept that many home consumers also use servers (albeit of a smaller and cheaper variety). Microsoft certainly seem to agree with that conclusion, which is why they are developing their Home Server product.
Linux and BSDs are the De Facto server operating systems, and a typical Linux server setup can offer an order of magnitude more services than what is being proposed in Windows Home Server ... but without the cost, and with all the traditional benefits that Linux brings, like better security, stability, efficiency, and control.
I propose that Dell offer SFF (small form factor) Linux and/or BSD servers for non-business customers, and also standard form factor servers for those who want them, but with an emphasis on low-power consumption, so-called "quiet computing", and general headless use (no KVM).
An example of a very easy to set up server product, is
http://www.freenas.org/< featured in a review on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rlC61qipiM< the emphasis of FreeNAS is obviously file storage, but I'd prefer to see a home server more oriented to all-in-one service provision.
As an example, one of my home servers offers the following services to all the workstations on my network:
bind DNS
DHCP
OpenSSH
Denyhosts (SSH hack protection + auto-reporting)
Dovecot IMAP
Postfix MTA
SpamAssassin (with Spamhaus + SpamCop RBLs)
Leafnode NNTP
Yam (Yum server)
RSS (local feed from Yam)
Apache
Squid
Privoxy
AWStats
IPTables (FireStarter)
PXE network boot (FC6 busybox + install script)
NFS
CIFS (Samba)
CUPS print server
Rsync (backup for all connected workstations)
Mondo (bare metal self-backup, i.e. disaster recovery)
BitTorrent Server + Tracker (Hosting FC5 and others)
GiFT P2P server + index node (hosting custom RPMs)
VNC server (Fluxbox)
MythTV server node (1 of 4)
Cinelerra render node (1 of 8)
The Yam server is particularly useful, since it facilitates updating the software (a la automatic updates) across the whole network. I.e. download once, deploy many times, thus saving a lot of bandwidth.
Now I wouldn't expect a Dell Linux Home Server to go as far as I have with the above services, but it's just a flavour of what's possible.
I should also add, that the server in question is a mere 533Mhz machine, with just 512MB of memory, yet it works transparently with no visible speed issues, or issues of any kind whatsoever, so that'll give you some idea of how efficient Linux is as a server OS, and how reliable.
Please vote for this idea. A pre-built, pre-installed, Linux home server is definitely the way forward, in this rapidly emerging market space.
1130
 track my votes
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