Support Space Ship One
Dell submitted by badblood
10/31/07
Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne completed the first privately funded human spaceflight on June 21, 2004. SpaceShipOne was developed by Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan's aviation company, without government funding. On October 4, it won the $10-million Ansari X PRIZE, by reaching 100 kilometers in altitude twice in a two-week period with the equivalent of three people on board, with no more than ten percent of the non-fuel weight of the spacecraft replaced between flights. Development costs were estimated to be $25-million, funded completely by Paul Allen.
Developing the capability to escape the boundaries of our home planet is one of mankind’s most spectacular achievements and has enormous potential significance to the future of the human race. Already, our limited exploration of space has changed the way we live and think, from instant global communications to a better understanding of climate change. Space travel to date though has come at enormous expense, not just in financial terms but in its environmental impact and the personal safety of those involved.
Dell should recognise that private sector innovation is often the key to radical improvement. Dell needs to improve its history of promoting and investing in breakthrough technologies.
Dell should acknowledge that it is in mankind’s interest to develop our knowledge and understanding as well as our access to space. For this reason Dell should undertake to support the development and commercialization of this completely new approach to manned space travel - made possible by Burt Rutan and SpaceShipOne. In doing so, Dell will enable many thousands of people across the world to experience space for themselves and help to unlock the potential benefits that will come from safe and affordable manned space access.
-120
Stay aware of Vista's problems. - PC Magazine's Chief Editor just wrote a great column.
Dell, Linux, Operating Systems submitted by jmxz
08/18/07
Jim Louderback, the Editor in Chief for PC Magazine just wrote a great article summarizing some of the issues with Vista. It's not just a fringe group of XP luddites and unix users having issues with Vista - Major frustrations go to the top of the leading windows advocacy publications.
Also relevant for IdeaStorm - in the article he bashes a Dell notebook with Vista.
09.04.07
By Jim Louderback.
After five years at Ziff Davis Media and nearly 16 years in editorial content ...
...my latest beef is with Vista.
Maybe it was something in the water? I've been a big proponent of the new OS over the past few months, even going so far as loading it onto most of my computers and spending hours tweaking and optimizing it. So why, nine months after launch, am I so frustrated? The litany of what doesn't work and what still frustrates me stretches on endlessly.
Take sleep mode, for example. ...totters off to sleep but never returns. I have to cold-start it to bring it back. This after replacing virtually every driver inside. It's gotten so bad that I've actually nicknamed it Chip Van Winkle. And I've nicknamed my primary Dell notebook Philip Marlowe. ...
Networking, too, gives me huge headaches....I've configured every PC on my home network to share drives and printers, yet owing to some undiscovered element, there's no guarantee that any of them will be visible at any given time....
...Vista has replaced XP's quick reaction time with molasses....
could go on and on about the lack of drivers, the bizarre wake-up rituals, the strange and nonreproducible system quirks, and more. But I won't bore you with the details. The upshot is that even after nine months, Vista just ain't cutting it. I definitely gave Microsoft too much of a free pass on this operating system: I expected it to get the kinks worked out more quickly. Boy, was I fooled! If Microsoft can't get Vista working, I might just do the unthinkable: I might move to Linux.
Sorry for the long quotes - but it's important for Dell to know that it's not just long-time Unix users (like me and a few others on IdeaStorm) frustrated with Vista and suggesting Linux. PC Magazine's Editor in Chief and long time Windows advocate has come to the same conclusion. Idea 1: Dell - please stay in touch with how much people outside of Microsoft's Salesguys are frustrated with Vista. Idea 2: Dell - please don't force this OS on your customers on *ANY* model computer you sell and make sure both XP and Linux options are available. PS: why's there no "Vista" category on IdeaStorm.
480
Dell Bounty -- Ubuntu Bounty
Broadband and Mobility, Dell Community, Linux submitted by tekhawk
09/07/07
anyone ever look at the dev pages on ubuntu's website
well they have bounties on there that people can try to claim by solving issues and developing part to software that the team doesnt have someone that can do it already or doesnt have the time to deal with it
i think it would be an effective system for dell to use with its linux offerings offer bounties on drivers and other such things im sure that if given the specs for some of their wireless network card and a bounty someone would gladly race to see who can build the drivers first
something that if the specs where released for the interfaces and bounties where given that i can think of are
laptop web cams
802.11n cards
any other things people can think of that given the information needed could be community deved post it here maybe dell will see the light and let us help with drivers and get this ball moving faster "and maybe make some extra cash on the way"
270
TV Commercial for New Ubuntu PCs
Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by josmar52789
05/03/07
Dell should produce a new commercial for the Ubuntu PCs. It could tell the consumers of America why Dell has chosen to pre-install Linux on mainstream computers and hopefully promote the advantages of this new endeavor. Plus, it's likely that Dell's Linux initiative would be much more successful.
19550
Ad Campaign: What can you do with Ubuntu?
Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by limulus
09/04/07
There are currently ideas under review, such as "make ubuntu shine" which relate to advertising Dell's Ubuntu systems. If Dell decides to do some ads, here's an idea for an ad campaign:
"What can you do with Ubuntu?"
Find one or more people who have bought a Dell Ubuntu system and have them show off what they can do with their systems; string the clips those together into a commercial. Some themes that should become obvious:
* easy software installation and updates
* command line not necessary (Ubuntu is very much a GUI OS)
* compiling software not necessary
* full range of applications
* 3rd party proprietary apps, like Flash and Google Earth
* all the little games you could ever want (e.g. Sudoku)
* 'it just works'
* "wobbly windows" and other spiffy cool effects for fun :)
[see also my other ad campaign ideas: Families Switching to Ubuntu and Meet Mark Shuttleworth ]
1730
Downloadable, PDF format, full technical specs for all systems
Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site submitted by benjesuit
06/12/07 **REVIEWED**
Before I buy, I would like to have the options of downloading the full technical specifications of the system. Not just the brief specifications. Place a link under "tech specs" tab that allows you to view or download the full specification PDF file for those of us who care about and understand such things. This way everyone is satisfied.
We are looking to improve the specs pages by making them consistent across all product lines, provide more in-depth specifications and making them available in a printable format.
13650
Easier way to OPT OUT of Dell selling my private information
Advertising and Marketing submitted by ninefoot3
10/17/07 **IN PROGRESS**
I rec'd a brochure yesterday saying Dell and DFS were going to share my private info with other 3rd party companies for marketing purposes. Well, it said that in about 5,000 words or so. At the end is a box stating that I may opt-out of this by calling the number listed or writing a letter (including certain info) and send it to the listed address.
I chose to use the phone method. After being shoved around to a few people, I finally got someone who could help me 'opt-out'. This involved 'opening a case' as if I had a technical issue with my account.
My IdeaStorm suggestion, hey Dell, make it easier for us to OPT-OUT of your attempts to make money off of my personal information. What's the matter? Didn't make enough money off of my patronage to Dell products and the interest rates charged? Getting an extra $1 for my name, address and age information going to help Michael Dell get a new boat? C'mon!
While I'm disturbed that Dell wanted to sell me out, I'm more disturbed that Dell made it difficult for us to opt-out. A simple URL would have been nice. I know, that would make more people opt-out and Dell would have less names to sell. It's like a mail-in-rebate or the lack of a cancel button in the account information at freecreditreport.com, you HAVE to call, and since that's a pain in the neck, most people will sloth themselves into something they don't really want.
4340
Move Dell HQ near to a Bog & Build a new Green Building Dell Corporate Headquarters.
Dell, Environment submitted by reg
06/17/07 **NOT LIKELY**
Sitting in the middle of a city makes people think like an Urban Dweller.
Stuck, thinking inside the box.
Surrounded by dead asphalt, cold metal, and lifeless steel.
So, to improve corporate awareness of environmental issues:
- move Dell HQ to the edge of a bog.
Being close to nature is refreshing and inspiring. The New Dell HQ should have very large atriums and windows to allow everyone to enjoy sunlight and see the living world outside.
The HQ should be far from town, with a large park and ride parking lot 3 miles from DELL HQ.
Natural Gas Shuttle busses and a zero emissions electric monorail can take employees and visitors back and forth to the greatest, greenest corporate headquarters in the USA.
The new facility will be built within walking distance to the wetland, but have Zero impact on the environment - specially designed to be close to nature and use the 'Green Building' engineering best practices.
In the morning the employees will be greeted by birdsong instead of traffic jams.
In the evening the techs can work outside in the large WiFi courtyard, listening to the spring peepers and bullfrogs.
170
Distribute Ubuntu Cds
Advertising and Marketing, Linux, Operating Systems submitted by badblood
09/18/07
Believe it or not I need a copy of Ubuntu that I can buy or pick up free in a computer shop.
Why?
Because my internet connection is bad and I just simply can't download Ubuntu and all the driver updates and what not. And I am not alone. About the fastest internet connection you can get in Africa is ADSL running at 4megps, through an unreliable phone line that times out every two seconds. I think Australia isn't much better. What's more there are limits on how much you can download before your account gets suspended or you need to pay more.
Ubuntu needs distribution support, as do all open source offerings. Don't assume we all have lightening fast connections.
Dell distribute Ubuntu CDs.
And anyone reading this who owns a computer shop, you should distribute Linux CDs too!!
Thanks - I really hate my internet connection, truly!
1090
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.
120054
Prolong the battery life of a laptop
Laptop Power submitted by katorin
10/29/07
By simply adding some PVC (photovoltaic cells) on top of the laptop, you can supply at least a half of a working laprop's needs (cheap material, but a decent one could fully supply the laptop with power) thus doubling its life time. More than that - when the laptop is powered-off it will be able to recharge without a socket.
Perfect for outdoor activity or long travels!
140
Work with Canonical to make Ubuntu upgrades smoother.
Linux submitted by jmxz
10/23/07
I just upgraded my E1505N to the newest Ubuntu that was released earlier this month; and was disappointed that it did not go flawlessly.
In particular, it "forgot" that my screen is capable of a 1680x1050. Also surprising that all the xwindows setup programs I tried see the E1505N as having a "Generic Monitor" with an unknown resolution. Since you're working with the Ubuntu vendor directly, it seems you could have worked with them to make the upgrade process correctly identify your hardware.
While it was easy enough for me to run the command line program "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg" to get my correct resolution back; this wouldn't be obvious to the novice user.
Idea: Already said it above, but: Since you're working with the Ubuntu vendor directly, it seems you could have worked with them to make the upgrade process correctly identify your hardware.
280
IdeaStorm feature: Allow us to browse based on the Dell-assigned tags
IdeaStorm submitted by cosh
05/18/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
Dell assign "status tags" to some of the popular/notable ideas on this website, but they are tiny little things under the title of each idea, and there is no way to search or browse by them.
If we had a page on IdeaStorm so we could see ideas based on each status tag it will let everybody see what effect IdeaStorm is having, in addition to the few ideas mentioned under "Ideas in Action". It might also reduce the number of duplicates for very popular ideas, if people can see what Dell has already acknowledged.
The status tags being used at the moment are as follows:
- Acknowledged
- Already Offered
- Coming Soon
- Fixed
- Implemented
- In Progress
- Not Likely
- Not Now
- Under Review (formerly, Under Consideration)
- Partially Implemented
You can see a sample of how this works on my categorizer web site, here. Some of the information may be out of date, but it works for most purposes.
Status tag links have been launched.
1640
Don't RECOMMEND an OS, OFFER and EVALUATE
Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by phubert
10/24/07
read the entire box, it's NOT as simple as the suggestion TITLE
Rather than RECOMMENDING, say, Microsoft Vista, Dell could
OFFER a list of operating systems
LIST and EVALUATE alternatives that Dell does and does not offer.
IF Dell must 'recommend' (for whatever reason), the recommendation could be a LINK to:
"Choosing an Operating System"
Which would THEN explain both the value of the recommendation AND cite alternatives and references.
Yes, this would take some effort, but would
(a) show Dell is more open
(b) provide more information than any other vendor now does
(c) PLEASE more customers and potential customers
(d) possibly reduce later complaints???
270
 track my votes
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