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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





131 Comments »

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.

449 Comments »

Use magsafe power connectors

Laptops, Laptop Power submitted by badblood 05/20/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

MagSafe power connectors, by Apple, are magnetic power connectors that pull out harmlessly when the cord is tripped upon.



They are very cool and quite sensible.





87 Comments »

More Dell <-> Community Communication

IdeaStorm submitted by mistern 05/15/07

Certainly, Dell's move to start IdeaStorm was a good one, and I think it will improve the situation quite a bit.

What I'd like to see is more direct and spontaneous (but somewhat official) communication between Dell employees and the users of this site. dell_admin1 does communicate with us, but mainly about administrative issues.

You get our feedback. We want your feedback. Agree?

---

jmxz's part of the idea (his article was merged here):

IdeasStorm needs more participation from Dell Management and Employees

Dell has meetings with the management to discuss Ideas that are posted to the site. Why can’t some of those managers stop by and ask questions or maybe enlighten users when they suggest an idea that isn’t feasible. I’m not saying they need to spend the whole day doing this but maybe just pop in once in a while. I believe that such conversations lead to better ideas not only from us but from Dell employees as well. This kind of interaction would also make users know that they are being listened to. Further information in the comments of this Idea. 210 Comments »

Offer a dual display option with desktop configurations

Monitors and Displays, New Product Ideas submitted by coachcg 11/19/07

It would be great if in the monitor selection of desktop configurations we had the option of purchasing dual displays with the system. It is easy math to figure out that cost per pixel of such a set up is MUCH less. 16 Comments »

Give away a free Zune with every PC

Advertising and Marketing, Sales Strategies submitted by cosh 10/27/07

Available now in colors such as brown, dark brown, black, white, brown, orange and even a hideous green!

The mark of quality: jorge hates this idea. 10 Comments »

Pre-install popular applets option

Simplify IT submitted by rotthund 10/15/07

Offer an option to pre-install popular freebies such as:
* VIM (www.vim.org)
* iTunes
* Real Player
* Yahoo Widgets 12 Comments »

Premier.dell.com

Dell Web Site, Simplify IT submitted by tleavit 08/02/07

Ok, after a month of problems with it, I’m liking it now! Its a pretty good idea. After 2 years of having problems with my rep's ordering and shipping my Dell items to the right location, I can now control it. However a few things. Since I am not using the rep, I’d like to see added discounts. Currently, my discounts seem like they are properly discounted. I should receive another 1% for not taking my reps time (I have spent a lot with dell now, buying at least 2 PC's a week so it seems fair to me since I am spending more of my companies time. Id like to see more options. Throw in all models, not jsut limited to Business so we can also use it in an EPP way. Other then that, I’m happy with it. Comment »

Speed Up Chat Support

Dell Web Site, Service and Support submitted by twellstx 02/20/07

The online chat feature is nice, but takes way to long to get ANY reply from a rep. Just to look up my info takes over 2 minutes. I was on "chat" with one rep which took 20+ minutes just to tell me the status of my warranty fix.

The Dell internal support systems need fixed NOW or hire a new round of reps capabale of using the antiquated systems. 4 Comments »

Status of Orders on Premier Page

Dell Web Site, Simplify IT submitted by dwilliam_houston 07/29/07

Want to be able to get status of open orders on the Premier page without having to enter information about the order. If Im logged into my premier page that should be enough to get my order informatio Comment »

Simplify, Simplify!!

Sales Strategies, Simplify IT submitted by beefman 02/23/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Purchasing from Dell at present is immensely confusing. From home buyers to corporate purchases, simply purchasing a computer is a struggle when one is trying to achieve the best value. In the drive to serve every segment of the market, Dell has become balkanized and fragmented.

Dell made their name on ease of transaction and simplicity. Now, Dell's pricing structure is so complex it makes airline fares look simple! Then, when it comes time to order, finding the right person to speak to can be a chore as well. I have been able to make much better deals when talking to a sales rep than when ordering online. Why? Dell should be driving customers to the lowest cost method of order acceptance and making that process as easy and painless as possible.

The multilayered, multitiered pricing structure has to be the first thing to go. Get rid of the thousands of discount codes that are handed out on a by the minute basis. Make pricing simple, repeatable and logical. Discount by customer on an account basis. Why should you be extending discounts and rewarding a bottom-feeder who only waits for below-cost red-ink loss leaders and never buys otherwise? Reward good customers, and set pricing such that even without a discount, Dell products are an excellent value. All the segmentation DOES NOT result in better service to customers and only adds cost.

On that note: DON'T hand off accounts. My biggest frustration with Dell was building a relationship and then being handed off to someone else to work with. It seemed that this was done on a regular basis to stimulate business. Not smart. I have had the same rep at CDW for 8 years. They're my primary vendor and I won't go anywhere else. If they sold Dell, I'd buy it there. Why? My sales rep and the quality of service.

You NEVER want customers having buyers remorse or thinking they could've got a better deal. The sales/pricing structure in place pretty much assures that, in addition to making the purchase process more difficult than it should be. Sweep it away, get back to roots of offering rock solid leading edge technology at a rock bottom price.


We’re making every effort to simplify the purchase process for Dell products and services. The recent launch of Dell ProSupport was driven by feedback from customers like you, and it’s an important step in the right direction.

13 Comments »

Make a calendar with all COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas

Advertising and Marketing, IdeaStorm submitted by krasmussen 09/22/07 **REVIEWED**

One of the biggest annoyances with IdeaStorm is that the horizon for an idea being implemented is very blurry, if at all existing. If you're lucky, you get "third quarter 2009", but mostly, there is no timeframe at all. This leads to the feeling that not much is being done, and exactly that feeling is what IdeaStorm should be eliminating.

Therefore, I propose that you make a list or calender with all the COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas with timeframes for all of them. Just a "december 2008" would be nice, or better yet, "deadline 31st november 2008".

I don't know if this is connected with some goal management inside Dell, if it is, maybe you should work on improving that, too?






Today, the best way to know the progress of an idea is through Ideas in Action, our Weekly Update or Dell comments in the thread.






19 Comments »

NOTEBOOKS

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by spot_simth 11/17/07

hello,
I was in an office the other day where there was several managers,and office personel. The one thing I noticed is that there wasn't enough table-top area for everyone to set their lap-top down. These people where standing around holding their lap-top with one hand, and typing with the other.
Do you have a product (such as a shoulder strap) that would elimanate this problem.
Tim 7 Comments »

Dell Stop Selling Printers and Move forward on Becoming Greener!

Environment, Printers and Ink submitted by jorge 06/12/07

Dell Stop the madness and stop selling printers! Printers are a major end cause of major pollution. Printers use toxic inks and toner, in addition to wasting paper and reducing the tree count which is better used for other more appropriate uses. Having other Green movement to plant trees etc. is being negated by continuing to sell printers. Information processed on the computer was meant to stay on computers not converted to paper. 22 Comments »

Do A Deal With Tesco (www.tesco.com)

Advertising and Marketing, Sales Strategies submitted by aikiwolfie 11/17/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

Tesco are the biggest if not one of the biggest supermarket chains here in the UK. They buy in electricals in bulk and sell them cheap. Cheap PCs with a decent spec will sell like hot cakes. I just bought a 40" TV for £500 in store. I don't know what the price would be in the US but here that's an amazing prince. Similar products were £1000+.

The more people using Dells the better.

Please see our Direct2Dell blog about retail expansion in Europe and Asia.





4 Comments »

Laotops should be cheaper!

Laptops submitted by windowsgenius 11/13/07

Laptops should be cheaper. I mean come on! how can dell charge over 1000 dollars for an xps when in reality it cost less than 500 dollars for parts and software. Dont get me wrong, i am loyal to the dall brand, they need to lower prices cause pretty soon with taxes and gas going up we wont have enough money to buy their over-priced productrs. 2 Comments »

CAR PC

New Product Ideas submitted by tundrascout 11/13/07

How about an Auto PC that has a monitor that fits a Double Din in dash mounting area without modifications?

Why couldn't/wouldnt Dell modify a laptop to fit this standard mount?

Currently, there are only imported European models that only fit in certain vehicle models and go for over $2000. There are few inexpensive options for an out of box Car PC. It's a growing trend, its new, it would combine existing technologies,
You might be surprised at the Demographics of this emerging market.
Why have all these hot spots - does anyone carry around a laptop everywhere? Who wants to pay for cell phone internet if there was a free option right in your dash?

Personally, I am appauled at the current offerings of flimsy motorized mounts that pop up over most dashboards. I mean really, isnt the technology already there for an imbeded car PC? 6 Comments »

Built in mouse instead of touchpad

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), New Product Ideas, Laptops submitted by martijnbruil 11/14/07

While working with my laptop I cannot get used with working with the touchpad. I still and always will prefer using a (small) mouse. The problem with the current external mouse is either the wire or the batterycharge. Not to mention the posibility to forget to pack it.

I would like to see Dell to replace the standard toutchpad solution on a laptop with a built-in detachable wireless optical mouse. The mouse charges when docked en is easy detachable by click-and-release. The mouse could be integrated in one of the four sides of the laptop.

Better and more versitile to work with than a touchpad and very usefull during presentations because of wireless use.

It would make a unique selling point for me. 5 Comments »

What do they MEAN 'Dell is #2"??? - Dell should SHARE this VIDEO

Advertising and Marketing submitted by phubert 11/15/07

jervis961 referenced this... in

"Why is this video hidden-away?"

So, my suggestion to Dell is

SHARE IT, DANG IT!!! ****

http://tinyurl.com/2rc8v9 30 Comments »

Obama and Google - Why not Dell???

submitted by phubert 11/16/07

Let's all try to "do things right"

First, this ISN'T a political endorsement.

Full disclosure: I'm a lifelong religious right, conservative Republican (sort-of (full titles would take pages of qualifications))

However, we can learn even from people we may THINK we disagree with fundamentally.

To the point:

Obama is quoted-

"What we share is a belief in changing the world from the bottom up," he added.

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/11/16/obama-goes-googley 13 Comments »