nateman99

Provide a Dell Update function on the Dell support site

Dell Web Site, Service and Support submitted by scotty 02/26/07

Provide a Dell Update function on the Dell support site.

Updating Dell-specific system files on Dell computers is ridiculous. The way the updates are classified, you need to browse each category, click each update and read each description in order to even just see the date and version - so that you can decide if you need each. Then for each, you must either remember whether or not you have it already, or you must look through the computer's updates to see if it's already there.

There should be a website function (a la Windows update) or a universal updater application that you can download and run (one that would work with ALL Dell models - not one for each model). Either way, you should be presented with which ones are important, which are optional, which are already installed, and when they were posted/installed/etc. And then the download and install can be managed by the app as well. Again, like la Windows Update.

This should be made available to all owners of any dell computers - not only to enterprise or large businesses. 23 Comments »

Dell recommends, Ubuntu, like did with Windows Vista!

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by oagostinho 05/29/07

I'll be very glad if Dell recommends Ubuntu too, like do with Windows Vista! Why not? Think about it! Ubuntu is the best open-source operating system out there for us!! See Ya!! Orlando Agostinho, Computer Engineer, Lisbon/Portugal 25 Comments »

GIVE UBUNTU USERS BACK THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY OPTIONS!

Linux, Service and Support submitted by starks 06/04/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

I find it rather atrocious that Dell has decided to remove extended warranty options on all new Ubuntu systems. GIVE US BACK WHAT WE DESERVE!

If you want proof that Dell has shafted us, here it is:

http://digg.com/linux_unix/Dell_quietly_drops_extended_warranty_support_for_U...





This was an ordering system glitch (which is now fixed), for more details click here.





55 Comments »

Organize the sales pages by need, not product line

Dell Web Site submitted by sernovitz 02/03/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

The Dell shopping experience is all about Dell -- not the user. Currently, you have to walk through each product line, narrow by model, etc.

This isn't very useful to my mom, or anyone new to Dell. Even the latitude/inspiron choice is never explained.

Start with features -- walk the user through the choices until they get the perfect PC.

What size do you want? What are you going to do with it? Etc.


Check out our new Assistance Seeker to shop by what you need, not by price!




33 Comments »

Ditch the Home/Small Business/Enterprise trichotomy

Sales Strategies, Small Business, Laptops submitted by majid 02/17/07

What products I am interested in do not correlate with myself or my company size. It used to be that high-end thin-and-light laptops would not be available in the Home segment, only the Enterprise segment. I'm sorry, just because I am a small-business owner or a home user does not mean I am ready to settle for inferior options deemed "good enough" by the powers that be.

This whole notion of three segments is a relic of a company-centric rather than customer centric marketing culture. 9 Comments »

BOYCOTT VISTA!

Operating Systems submitted by reg 03/21/07

Dell Dudes,

Microsoft reserves the right to spy on your computer.

The more you learn how Microsoft EULA has the right to enter your computer, check out what software you are using, and also use the DRM tools in Vista to prevent you from seeing files, data, videos, or hearing 'unauthorized' music files - the more you get a sick, sinking feeling in your gut that someone else has taken control of your machine.

US Federal Government Agencies have BANNED Microsoft Vista, and for good reason.

The Microsoft EULA takes control of your machine, stating directly: "this agreement only gives you some rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights." Even potentially deleting files or disabling programs.

Compared to the costs of Apple OS X or any Linux Distribution,

The Costs of Windows Vista are Unacceptable.

Keep in mind that Microsoft was convicted by U.S. Courts for its criminal behavior, and is being forced to pay $4 million A Day by the European Union for being in violation of their judgments.

Anti-freedom Vista takes away your rights - do you want to Confirm or Deny?

BOYCOTT WINDOWS VISTA MACHINES!

If you support Linux, freedom, democracy, or just want to keep control of Your own machine that You buy with Your own money, PROMOTE this idea now.

Microsoft - Where in the world did you think you were going to go today?

Let Dell know - You Don't Want Windows Vista. 818 Comments »

Stop making excuses, and start paying attention. WE WANT LINUX!!!

Linux submitted by homer 02/28/07

Dear Michael Dell,

By now, many people will have started reading Blogs and articles about how you have back-peddled on your commitment to listen to your customers' wishes. Here's just one:

http://blog.lobby4linux.com/archives/104-So,-How-Does-It-Feel-To-Have-Been-Ha...

[Edit] Here's a more "high profile" article, from The Inquirer:

Dell backs down from Linux promise

That makes this site (DellIdeaStorm) nothing but a farce.

First you ask us what we want, then you just blatantly ignore us. What exactly was the point in asking us what we want? Is this some kind of sick joke?

Maybe you were taken off guard, and hadn't anticipated the vast demand for Linux that happened, but it did happen, so deal with it ... or be perceived as a liar and a charlatan.

If you amalgamate all the various Linux "idea" posts on this site, and tally up the total votes, you're looking at something like TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND VOTES FOR LINUX. Are you just going to ignore that, and pretend it never happened?

Here's your response to this amazing phenomenon so far, and my comments:

We are listening, and as a result, we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux, including our OptiPlex desktops, Latitude notebooks and Dell Precision workstations.

Well you are obviously not listening. The vast majority of the Linux requests on this site are not from "corporate" customers, they are from end users seeking home computing Linux solutions. Are you listening yet?

This is another step towards ensuring that our customers have a good experience with Linux on our systems.

It's not a step forward, it's a sidestep shuffle. What exactly are you afraid of ... that people might actually prefer Linux to Windows? I could build and "certify" a Linux workstation in 20 minutes, without the assistance of production facilities and a team of engineers, why is this such a problem for the world's biggest OEM?

Are you suggesting that Linux somehow represents a "problem" with regards to hardware, and that it's going to take a team of rocket scientists months to discover Linux compatible components?

Right now, Linux works with virtually the same hardware that WIndows XP does, and considerably more hardware than Vista ... but that doesn't seem to have prevented you "certifying" Vista (a.k.a. Windows ME2). What a joke!

As this community knows, there is no single customer preference for a distribution of Linux. In the last week, the IdeaStorm community suggested more than half a dozen distributions. We don't want to pick one distribution and alienate users with a preference for another.

No, no, no, no. That's not how it works. This is just more excuses.

At the end of the day, Linux is Linux is Linux. The distro is not that significant (other than the distinction between a commercial or community distro).

Surely the CEO of one of the world's biggest companies can make a decision.

Pick a Linux distro and run with it. And stop making excuses.

My personal preference is for Fedora Core, but if you offered an Ubuntu desktop machine, I'd buy it, because (like I said) at the end of the day it is Linux that is important, not the distro. My primary motivation is to keep my money out of Microsoft's pockets and have an OS ... any OS ... that is not Windows. I can, and probably will, switch between half a dozen distros during the lifespan of that hardware.

However, it is extremely important that you offer pre-installed Linux workstations to end-users, rather than just "OS-free" systems, because without this option, you will be helping to perpetuate the misconception that Linux is not popular. Well congratulations, you have just discovered exactly how much of a misconception this really is. Maybe you should have considered DellIdeaStorm years ago, rather than sit around waiting for point-of-sale figures that could not ever accurately reflect the popularity of something that is a free download.

Trust me ... you will not alienate anyone by making a firm choice of distro support. I'm sure the tens of thousands of home users, who are demanding Linux from Dell, will be overjoyed just to have a choice of any Linux distro.

We want users to have the opportunity to help define the market for Linux on desktop and notebook systems.

This is just nonsensical marketing gobbledegook. Say what you mean, and stop obfuscating the truth with gibberish.

You can "define" the market right now ... by selling us what we want, rather than what Microsoft dictates you sell to us. The 200000+ vote for Linux should be a clear enough "definition" for anyone ... who's prepared to listen ... and not bury his head in the sand.

In addition to working with Novell,

Bad move. By all means offer Microvell to any corporate user gullible enough to swallow Steve Ballmer's baseless FUD about Microsoft's intellectual property, but I think you'll find home users rather less than receptive to any distro offerings from any company that sleeps with the enemy.

we are also working with other distributors and evaluating the possibility of additional certifications across our product line.

This is the only promising statement in the whole response, but it sounds like a lot of hot air to me.

Actions, not words.

GIVE US LINUX!

Are you trying to rejuvenate sales or not? Give the customers what they want.

We are continuing to investigate your other Linux-related ideas, so please continue to check here for updates.

Oh I'll be sure to, but I'm not holding my breath. Microsoft has you far too firmly under their thumb for me to seriously expect any positive changes at Dell.

Thanks for giving us all a glimmer of (false) hope, though. 68 Comments »

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. 10 Comments »

Geeks to Grandmas - Service Customization

Service and Support submitted by dell_admin1 05/18/07

Dell wants your feedback on the following idea intended to improve customer service and support:

We're considering providing customers the ability to self-select their service queue based on their own technical capability, such as "Advanced Computer Knowledge," "Intermediate," or "Beginner," further customizing the support experience.

UPDATE (May 18 at 8pm Central):
A number of people are asking for more information about this idea so they can comment. However, this idea is not a defined “offer” at this point, so many details have not yet been determined. That’s why we want your feedback! Others have asked if this idea would cost extra or not… in this case, that has not yet been determined and we’re hoping to use your comments to help define the answer. 80 Comments »

Hello Again - Dedicated Teams

Service and Support submitted by dell_admin1 05/18/07

Dell wants your feedback on the following idea intended to improve customer service and support:

We're considering a dedicated team approach for customer service, where a customer would interact with the same people whenever they need customer care or technical support.

UPDATE (May 18 at 8pm Central):
A number of people are asking for more information about this idea so they can comment. However, this idea is not a defined “offer” at this point, so many details have not yet been determined. That’s why we want your feedback! Others have asked if this idea would cost extra or not… in this case, that has not yet been determined and we’re hoping to use your comments to help define the answer. 84 Comments »

I’ll Pay for It - Price Packages by Service Level

Sales Strategies, Service and Support submitted by dell_admin1 05/18/07

Dell wants your feedback on the following idea intended to improve customer service and support:

We're considering an option that would allow customers to "buy in” to differentiated packages of service, including where they choose to have the service delivered from.

UPDATE (May 18 at 8pm Central):
A number of people are asking for more information about this idea so they can comment. However, this idea is not a defined “offer” at this point, so many details have not yet been determined. That’s why we want your feedback!

Others have asked if this idea would cost extra or not… in this case, yes, the intent is to explore a “for fee” buy-up option from the standard warranty.

In this option we are considering, the standard warranty service would not go away, it would remain free with system purchase. And the buy-up option would be for incremental offerings, which might range from selecting to be served by local customer service agents in your country to other services such as system tune-ups, virus and spyware removal, etc.

Some of these incremental offerings might be included as the standard offering for premium products, but they might also be offered as an option for any customer to buy into – independent of the model of system purchased. For example, airlines have frequent flyer programs and Club Lounges. If you are a premium customer and fly first-class, you automatically get access to the Club Lounge. If you fly economy-class, you don’t, but you can still buy your way into the Club Lounge.

Again, none of the details for this idea are defined yet, this is just what we are thinking so far (based on your feedback), so you tell us what you think it should look like! 36 Comments »

Dell XPS M1730 (UPGRADE)

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Gaming, XPS products submitted by operations 02/27/07

The new Dell XPS 1730 has a lot of good stuff and integrates many of the things I was wishing for. However, my biggest complaint is with the keyboard. How come I can colorize pointless parts of the computer but I can't get a keyboard that has any sort of color coordination? Please fix the keyboard. Another complaint I have is why bother having different model numbers? Be more like Apple.



CPU: Intel - Core 2 Extreme X6800 (2.93GHz) (if Clevo can do it why not Dell? keep it overclockable though)

Backlit: LED

Data Ports: PCI Express Cabling (use this as a breakout for eSATA, USB 3.0 and SAS or else just add these ports, if possible)

Display Ports: HDMI / UDI / DisplayPort / HAVi (use the PCI Express Cabling instead of supporting these directly, if possible)

Sound Card: Creative - X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook (this may require additional ExpressCard slots)

TV Tuner: ATI - TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner (list it on the options page)

HD: iVDR or ExpressCard SSD (provide hardware-based auto-encryption)

Wireless Card: Intel - WiFi/WiMax dual-mode module



NOVELTIES
- 2048x1536 screen resolution (the current specs are great but be sure to at least consider this)

- 5 megapixel or better (Sharp , Samsung) integrated camera
- Biometric touchscreen and touchpad (get creative here ... I propose these ideas, I don't implement them)

- Integrated ambient lighting (yes like the Philips Ambilight technology but only using the computer's integrated LEDs)

- Synaptics LightTouch

- NXT SoundVu

- Integrated GPS



PRE-INSTALLED/BUNDLED SOFTWARE

- Operating System -> [ Linux OS + Gaming (Cedega) + CNR (Click 'N Run) ]

- Gaming -> DISCover

- IPTV -> Joost

- Media Center -> MythTV



FEATURES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED:

- GPU: DirectX 10 NVIDIA GeForce SLI 512MB (can't wait till NVIDIA releases the 8800M GTX version)

- Physics GPU: AGEIA PhysX Physics Accelerator

- Keyboard: Backlit (why is the new keyboard a different color?)

- Integrated Secondary Display: Logitech GamePanel Display (it's not quite NVIDIA's Preface but I suppose it's more appropriate)



























8 Comments »

Offer Blue Ray or HD DVD on XPS Desktops & Notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), XPS products submitted by bfrench 04/03/07

As a high def movie / game enthusiast, I would like to see Dell offer a Blue Ray or HD DVD drive on it's highest end desktop machine, the XPS 710 H2C.

I realize this technology is new, but a couple of competitors are already offering high definition drives (on machines not nearly as awesome as the XPS). 4 Comments »

15" XPS Laptop

XPS products submitted by nosintake 02/21/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

I think there should be a 15" XPS laptop. There are plenty of companies that have a 15" "gaming laptop". I think there should be a Dell XPS with a rotating camera, 1GB RAM, Blu-Ray player, and 80GB hard drive standard.


Check out our latest Idea in Action
29 Comments »

Dell Should Make a XPS M1410

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Monitors and Displays, XPS products submitted by cyborganizer 03/05/07

Dell should make a 14.1" model of the XPS 1210. It should have a better graphics card (around the the 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GS range). The Glossy 1440x900 display and the camera that rotates 180 degrees are also important. 8 Comments »

15.4 size XPS system

XPS products, Laptops submitted by lilredfoxie 02/16/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

I think theyre needs to be another 15.4" size XPS system, currently the XPS lineup has no middle ground, theres either the m1210 which is too small, or the m1710 which is too large ( I dont count the m2010, since its not really a laptop, its more of its own hybrid desktop/laptop comptuer thing) use the e1505 chassis, give it the cool XPS lights, and a D-dock connectior below
Check out the Idea in Action post for details about our new 15in system.




44 Comments »

Built in- gamepad/joystick

Gaming, XPS products submitted by askedenseje 05/10/07

I've been a gamer for a good 3 years and i know how hard it is to get a good gamepad or joystick.
so, here's my idea.
for the XPS computers there shoud be option to have a built in joystik or a game pad.
it will be more expensive, but then you just have to pay that. :) Comment »

Laptop Web Cam and Microphone

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by terrymain 02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

All new laptops should have a built in web cam and quality voice recorder/microphone.


Webcams are standard on all XPS laptops and an option on all Inspiron laptops.




134 Comments »

Desktop Linux?

Desktops, Linux submitted by peeler326 05/09/07

My idea is very simple, two words in fact -
DESKTOP LINUX!
Please offer it - i dont care what distro, any of them is an advance over Windows.
DESKTOP LINUX! 1 Comment »

Sticker-free Laptops.. YEAH!!

Laptops submitted by whistleway 05/06/07

No more stickers please. Let the true sexy Dell come out.. 9 Comments »