A True Family Room or Home Theater PC System
Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by tonyman262
02/20/07
Michael Dell please consider this:
Some say that Apple is the only PC maker that has style. I say bunk. Your XPS M2010 is gorgeous. I also say it is time that Dell offered not just a machine or PC but rather a solution.
Dell already sells great TV's, monitors, speakers, and of course PCs. Why not sell the bundle?
These bundles would allow a customer to pick and choose among your displays, speakers, and computers. Customers could then add his/her own receiver and DVD/CD player to complete the solution.
The missing pieces:
Dell XPS Class Computer in a Table-Top Format.
This computer would have a user selectable faceplate. The face plates could be all black, brushed aluminum, with or without rack mount ears. The key here is the styling. I don't want a kludge in my living room or family room. Skip right over any design styling clues from Apple and go right to something from your own XPS M2010 and Bang & Olufsen for looks and design cues.
Throw away the idea that this machine has to be tiny. Look at the size and weight of many high-end A/V receivers and CD carousels. My Denon AVR-5700 receiver and Sony CDP-CX450 CD Player are both nearly 7 ½H x 17D x 17W. And the receiver weighs more than most computers. You can put full size (and full performance) ATX motherboards, video, and sound cards with adequate cooling in that much space.
We all know that Dell can engineer and build a great performing computer when considering number crunching and gaming. But now let's do the other part of consumer computers like LOOKS and A/V connectivity. The color of any front panel displays should be selectable like my XPS M170 but with more pizzazz like the XPS M1710.
Dell XPS Class Remote Controller.
It should complement the computer and Dell’s line of TVs in styling. Again look to your own XPS M2010 and B&O for design cues. For performance it should outclass Sony's RM-xxxx controllers. This RC should be weighted, look nice on the coffee table, be rechargeable, preferably via a laptop type battery pack or via USB.
There should be a touch screen and very easy to get control codes for other devices into the RC. A user should be able to cruise to Dell’s website download codes for his/her own non-Dell equipment using the above computer and via some connection transfer the info to the RC. This could be done by Bluetooth, wireless or LAN but not IR. Dell could maintain a database on its website or work with other manufacturers for current and older codes. If there is not a standard format for these RC codes than Dell could create one. If Dell creates a standard teach the standard to the Dell User Group so other Dell users can contribute to the database. Does it need to be mentioned that this controller should come out of the box able to control EVERY function on Dell’s own products. What ever you do please don’t let it look cheesy.
Cable Kits
Invest a little time and website space providing pictures and a short glossary or index on the typical jacks, connections, and cables for high-end A/V Receivers and DVD/CD/VHS players, plus your own TVs, computers, and speakers. Pictures-Pictures-Pictures.
Make it so easy for customers to get from Dell, solutions like playing music, videos, and pictures located on their hard drives to play on their home entertainment systems.
By displaying pictures of typical a/v jacks, connectors, and cables on your website the customers and Dell technicians could both start at common ground. The Dell tech could lead customers through part selection and purchase.
Dell normally supplies a connection diagram with most or all of its PCs and laptops. Post some potential connection diagrams on your web site complete with or at lest crossed referenced to your parts list. Speaking of parts, why are your replacement parts so expensive?
Home Server Completes the Dream
Microsoft is rumored to have a Home Server in the works. Dell should be the absolute first vendor to offer this product. This should be a no brainer on a silver platter for Dell.
This product could be offered in 1 of 2 formats:
1). Use the chassis from the above mentioned table-top with its good looks.
2). Use one of your small servers that allows for plenty of hard drives and optical drives.
While a lot of processor power and video is not needed, fast Ethernet ports like 100/1000 Ethernet and large hard drives would be needed. Also include an internal media card reader. The key here is to make it very easy for users to get their content (music, pictures, and video) onto and off of the server, through the PC and onto the display and into the speakers.
Don't reinvent the wheel. There is no need to create a new front-end. Windows Media Center is great. Use and make the most of what is already built-in. Using your website show users how to stream video, store and serve music and pictures, how to record and play back television shows and add TIVO like functionality completes the value add. All of these things can be done now using Windows Media Center. The Home Server will give us a centralized place to store this content and a way to selectively give or deny access to it.
129
A PC / Entertainment Hub for the Masses...
Broadband and Mobility submitted by ratiocination
03/04/07
Why not create a PC that acts as a true family entertainment hub. Develop a unit that looks like it belongs near a 42" LCD TV or even on top of a 52 plus inch "big screen" television. Make it dark and sleek and able to fit into a stereo rack with other components. The system must have the following specs:
* dark, sleek, stylish design
* Windows Media Center
* Digital TV tuner
* latest surround sound output and S-Video for older TVs
* a software suite which allows for easy DVD and music CD copying
* bluetooth compatibility
* bluetooth wireless keyboard/mouse combo
* bluetooth game controllers would be nice but probably to pricey
* pack enough system resources to easily play the most popular PC games
* large hard drive
* WIFI
* A catchy name brand (Dell REVO), (Dell Kong), (Dell Cell), (Dell Tank),...
This unit can be advertised to do all of the following and more...
* Basic PC functionality, browsing, MS Office Suite,...
* manage and watch movies
* manage and listen to your entire music library
* play popular PC game on your TV
* record, pause live television
This unit could effectively be a TIVO, Playstation 3, PC and movie / music hub all rolled up into one sweet component. Keep the price around $499 and the possibilities are endless.
80
Laptop TV Tuner Options with remote
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by theblackcat
02/17/07
Dell needs to include an option for media center support for all their laptops. Having an integrated TV tuner and RF remote would be extremely useful. The tuner would not have to be particularly big externally, just a single port on the side that a dongle plugs into. The dongle could have all the inputs. This is not much different than the existing TV-out functionality that is already present. That would also avoid interfering with existing docking solutions.
Ideally there would be two or three levels, an expensive HD and component video-compatible version with digital audio, a cheaper coaxial/RCA/s-video option, and perhaps a really cheap option with just coaxial and maybe RCA. TV-out is already supported, I don't see why TV-in can't be as well.
And a full-featured radio frequency (RF, as opposed to normal infra-red) multimedia remote, with a laser ideally, is pretty much essential for laptops. I mean one with play, pause, FF, RW, skip, volume, channel, buttons to launch programs, number keys, etc. Basically similar to multi-unit TV remotes, except RF. Dell only sells basic presentation remotes (which usually only have around 4 buttons) and 3rd-party RF multimedia remotes are rare and generally not well-supported. The advantage of RF is that you don't need line of sight like you do with IR remotes, you can control it from another room. Bluetooth would be the best option, that way you would not need an external receiver.
149
HDTV ready computer
Desktops submitted by joeaguy
02/19/07
A small desktop machine (ala mac mini) designed to be used with an HDTV set. It should possibly include:
- Vista with media center
- A simple remote
- Ability to share content over wireless with other computers
- Custom laptop style wireless keyboard (thin, with scissor keys, and a touch pad)
- Wii style pointing device
- Ports for easy connection to HDTV (HDMI, DVI, composit)
- Low noise, uses low RPM fans, and otherwise tries to save energy and heat. Not necesarily the fastest processors, but ones tuned for this use.
- Video in, for DVR use
- Easy set up as network file server
- Expand storage with external drives with the same footprint as this computer
52
Dell HTPC -
Desktops and Laptops submitted by geo
02/19/07
How about Home Theatre PC? I know Dell has a Media Center install.but what I'm talking about is Product Design and Quality of the products.
Product Design: - Start with a cool looking HTPC case that looks more like DVD Player than a PC. I suggest go take a look at HTPC cases over @ PCAlchemy.com , if you dont understand.In The software dept, Vista Media center should do. I personally prefer the free alternative Mediaportal.
Quality: Audio which is usually underrated in PCs (remember its all about my gfx crad is bigger than yours debate on forums these days) becomes key here. So Logitech Z5500 would be ok for a low end model. Provide an option for the customer to buy high end Speaker/Amp etc like the way Dell sells TV now. Video Card should be good enough to play x264 video without dropping frames. Silent operation is a MUST, but i'm sure Dell can manage that
Non gaming PC based entertainment is only going to grow. Dell doesn'r want to miss that boat now does it? I recently built a HTPC or RTPC (Room Theatre PC as i'd like to call it) for myself and I could go on and on this but lemme stop here for now.
*disclaimer: I work for Dell. I never saw something like an internal Ideastorm for employees. wonder why
212
Promote Windows Home Server Bigtime
Servers and Storage submitted by gcreese
02/17/07
Microsoft is coming out with Windows Home Server this year, which will allow households to backup and manage their house PCs from a single spot. At this point, a lot of households are in this situation (e.g., with two adults and a child, we have three laptops, a desktop, and three PDAs). Get out in front of the curve on this one (HP made its announcement at the CES Show), talk about it, promote the fact that you will offer it, and in the vein of the other "make the website easier to use" suggestions, explain how Windows Home Server is something to consider for a family going digital.
Also, offer a Windows Home Server discount to current customers who've ordered two or more PCs from Dell in the past five years. You have the data to run an effective, targeted marketing campaign. Use it!
1837
Appliance with Linux or Windows
Desktops, Software submitted by ramjane
02/26/07
Offer desktop in cool casing that can be placed along with other A/V appliances.
Promote this appliance to be used with Myth TV or MS media center. Also, provide DVI/HDMI and 5.1 a/v cards pre installed that work with Myth TV or MS media center.
This appliance should be able to replace TIVO or dish DVR which have monthly recurring fee.
110
Simplify! Get rid of the box and make everything else wireless!
Simplify IT, Desktops and Laptops submitted by solarium
03/02/07
Didn't Michael once say that "the best computer is the one you don't even know is there"
Then get rid of the box. Why do we ever need to see the PC. Somehow, just hide the PC behind the flat screen monitor. At best, all I need access to are some USB ports, perhaps firewire, and DVD R/W. Other than that, I don't want to see the box, and I don't want to hear the box either.
Furthermore, why not build in wireless keyboard and mice directly in every system.
What I want most is to reduce the clutter around my desk.
Simplify!
60
Dell Media Marketplace
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Dell Web Site, Sales Strategies submitted by bakerle
02/27/07
The online market is exploding with downloadable movies: Unbox, Microsoft XBox Live, Zune, iTunes, a few weeks ago Wal-Mart, today Bittorrent... and the old guard dot-com era sites. All of them, excepting apple TV and Microsoft XBox Live, download into a PC player. Microsoft, Sony and Apple have "set-top-boxes" that can download and play content. Microsoft XBox, Sony PS3, and Apple TV.
I'd love to see an inexpensive Dell-branded set-top-box, comprable to Apple TV, that integrates with "the other" downloadable marketplaces - Wal-Mart, Amazon, and the other players. I'd love to have variety and ubiquity in my online media shopping, and I can't get it today, unless I know how to (a) buy a Media Center PC, (b) buy an XBox 360, (c) hook the two up, and (d) know how to use one of the many, varied clients to buy and download WMV protected content and play it back through this inane, rube-goldberg setup. And it's still clunky and difficlut to use.
A Dell set-top-box that integrated clients from Wal-mart, from Amazon, from MovieFlix, from MovieLink, from Vongo.... into a single, easy to use portal client, well, it would surely give Apple TV a run for it's money. And it would provide a platform for Dell to market and sell its own content. And since it integrates *all* the media marketplaces under one roof, Dell isn't exposed to the infrastructure expense of setting up a server farm and the like. Charge the marketplace provider (Unbox, Amazon, and the like) $0.10 per purchased title through the Dell portal. Download and manage the content on the box. Sell upgraded versions with 200 and 500 G hard drives, so people can accumulate *huge* libraries of content.
Go a step further, and rip DVDs and store them in the library (but don't let them get out easily).
Go another step further, and integrate a tuner and HD DVR software.
In essence, the box would host a library manager, a WMV playback widget, and a marketplace client to a Dell Media Marketplace portal with Dell-hosted content for sale right alongside Amazon Unbox, Wal-Mart and the others.
I'm tired of being locked into Apple, and I think having to have an XBox360 and a Media Center PC to be able to play back downloaded HD or DVD quality content on my HDTV sucks. And I don't want to have to buy a $1,500 PC and put it under my TV either. I want a $300 box that does it all.
Dell, can you help me out?
-70
How about a Line of Media Center Machines
Servers and Storage submitted by xcasto
02/26/07
If HP can have a line of machines that are specific to MCE I see no reason Dell can't.
Yes, one can easily take any machine and build it into an MCE machine but often it fails to fit with the rest of one's Stereo Components and some of the cases just never seem to get good air flow when you're pumping video to/from your harddrive making things a little warm inside.
If there could be a few Dell machines that resemble the other stereo components in my rack it would be nice.
70
Option to Bundle a HDTV Tuner Card with Vista Premium Media Center
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by guest_houston
02/17/07
When someone buys a system with Vista Premium, which has all the Windows Media Center software, it would be nice if one could select an optional High Definition TV tuner card to go with it.
With the power of today's processors, and the availability of Over The Air (Free) hdtv signals, this type of machine could easily record and store HDTV as a PVR/DVR. Most major networks ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, TheCW, etc are broadcasting HDTV shows.
But buying and setting up the HDTV card with Vista is something I'm sure a lot of folks would rather leave to Dell!
166
Media Center PC in a Component Style Case
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops and Laptops submitted by europria
02/23/07
Dell has no single good design for a Media Center that can be put in a living room , next to my TV. You need a super quite component style case with HDMI Input and Output for new generation HDTVs. It will be the DVR, and Media Hub.. Those kind of PCs don't need to be expendable beyond memory upgrade and HDD, so you can optimize the design for price and form factor.
130
Media Center PC's - Living room form factor
XPS products submitted by sassanow
02/20/07
There are so few choices in the PC market for a living room form factor Media Center PC (especially from reputable manufacturers). Shouldn't be that hard to add an HDMI connection & an additional TV tuner (digital please) to an XPS system...
113
Diskless and Fanless Home Media Center
Desktops and Laptops submitted by jmxz
03/12/07
Hard drives and fans make noise - neither of which I want in my living room.
I now serve media files from a home server in my garage; so neither need nor want a hard disk in the computer in my living room. I'd be happy with a diskless system connected to my TV; and all my content stored remotely where my file/media server has the (necessarily loud) raid array with my content.
Please make a diskless and fanless media-center computer for the living room. If it needs to, it can save files over the network.
Knoppix (a linux variant) works well on diskless systems, but no doubt other OS's would do fine in diskless computers too.
130
Come up with a true media center box
New Product Ideas submitted by thany
02/21/07
Offer a true media center box: a compact box (NOT a regular but smaller pc) like the size of an average Shuttle/AOpen barebone, or a small book-sized box. Offer this thing with typical media-components, like twin TV-tuners, DVB tuners, a HDTV, HD-DVD or BR-ROM playback, preinstalled (not a trial) MPEG2 decoder and a videocard well suited for the application (meaning, not the fastest one, but one that can hardware-accelerate playback). Most importantly, this box needs to be whisper quiet, and it's audio needs to be crystal clear.
How about that. because right now, such a box is almost always home-built, which is a problem for non-technical people.
79
Media Center Linux Boxes
Linux, Sales Strategies, Software submitted by mastjaso
02/27/07
I think that many people would want media center pcs for their living rooms except for two reasons:
1. $$$ - For many paying for a premium computer just to put in your living costs too much.
2. Design - Big bulky computers are ugly, and unattractive in the living room.
SOLUTION:
To reduce the price I suggest offering a linux based computer specificully for this purpose. It can be stream-lined for easy set-up, remote use, and with a linux based media-center program pre-installed. It would have all compatible hardware and everything would be preinstalled. It should also be network and sharing ready so that file sharing can be used easily. It should also be put into a nice, pretty, small case.
150
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