Pre-installed community based LINUX
Linux submitted by jbaronh
02/21/07
I think Dell should follow the same model as Apple. Emphasize design and ease of use of their hardware. Integrate said hardware with a pre-installed community based LINUX distribution such as UBUNTU, OPENSUSE or FEDORA with drivers for all Dell hardware and give the user the opportunity of buying either Win4Lin or VMWARE for Linux with Microsoft VISTA or XP. Dell could even develop their version of a community based distribution a bit like apple does for OSX and Darwin.
190
Stronger Antenna Needed to Link To Wi Fi
Laptops submitted by dellcomputersarah
02/18/07
Can Dell build an antenna within a laptop to help users connect to Wi Fi signals? Sometimes, it is so hard to connect within an airport, hotel, or coffee shop... I often lose signal strength or get booted off entirely. Unfortunately, not every city is as well wired as Austin.
250
First get Adobe to write for linux, THEN sell linux PC's
Linux, Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by rotwang
02/21/07
Before Linux on the desktop will ever be mainstream (as in greater than 1%), the linux community will need to learn to accept commercial software running in linux.
Presently there is an anti-commercial attitude in the linux community which is an overreaction to Microsoft. Microsoft is evil, not all commercial software is. The attitude is reinforced by the (otherwise goodly and beneficial) distribution systems like yum and apt. Those systems are great at distributing open source software. They don't do so well at commercial software. This hard-codes the anti-commercial attitude.
Until major commercial software is written for linux, linux on the desktop will forever be niche. Faking it with wine and vmware is just that.
Presently, getting Adobe's support would be the most significant thing for linux on the desktop. Dear dell, get Adobe to write it's apps for linux. Make deals.
And btw, because I know some of you will, don't forget that Adobe sells other apps besides Photoshop.
150
Not Novell Linux
Linux submitted by derekj61
02/27/07
Novell Linux ?!?!? Don't you get it, we want to have unincumbered Linux on the boxes, Debian, Slackware, Redhat, even Ubuntu or Linspire. Not a Microsoft product. The next thing we know the widget that we develop on our shiney Microsoft/Novell Linux box is owned by Microsoft.
360
FOSS\Freeware Repository
Sales Strategies, Software submitted by paddy2k
02/28/07
If Dell provided a Start Center that offered users the option to install different types of Freeware and Open Source Software, eg Internet browsers etc.
This would give new users visibility of alternatives to the current applications that are bundled with the OS or hold the dominant market share.
This "repository" (for a better word) could be styled on the Package Managers of Fedora/Ubuntu etc and could be written so that it would be cross platform and available to both Windows and GNU/Linux users.
180
New laptop design, please!
Laptops submitted by henca0315
02/19/07
We all have been waiting for a new laptop design.Intel platforms come and go, and dell designs remain the same. Introduction of SantaRosa platform in May is the perfect oportunity for Dell to give us a new Design.
251
Be Direct... and End the Pricing Games (please!)
Sales Strategies submitted by dixonmiller
03/01/07
It is amazing how many different ways Dell tries to sell the exact same PC to customers at different prices. PLEASE adopt one simple, logical and consistent pricing system for consumers and small business purchases. (Note enterprise purchases are a different animal, but would also benefit from simpler pricing).
For an example of how confusing Dell's pricing policies are please see the spreadsheets posted online at:
http://dixonmiller.blogspot.com/2007/02/dells-dizzying-deals.html
A BETTER APPROACH:
Take Dell's cost of components, add in a reasonable mark-up, and base your pricing on that. Of course, you don't have to communicate the calculations to customers, but customers should expect that prices are consistent from one day to the next and from one part of Dell's website to the next. If I price out a system for $1000 today, I don't want to see it for $970 tomorrow, and $1065 the next day, or because I clicked on a different link on Dell's website. These price inconsistencies only a) confuse customers, b) make customers who paid more feel cheated and c) condition customers to bargain hunt, wasting their time and eventually only buying a PC from Dell at a later time and at a lower price (which hurts Dell) or from another manufacturer all together (see HP).
THE BROKEN CURRENT APPROACH
Here are a few of the tactics Dell uses that for the most part only serve to confuse and I would even say mislead customers. Stop these tactics!
-- Dell sells computers through both a Home/Home Office and a Small Business site. However, anyone (a consumer, company, etc) can buy from either site. (This is fine, but the problems start from here).
-- Pricing and even naming can differ between the sites for the same PC. Dell sells several Dimension Desktop PCs on both sites (E521, E520, C521). However, Dell also sells two other desktop PCs on each site, but under different names. The XPS 410 on the Home site is the same PC as the Dimension 9200 on the Small Biz site, and the Home site's XPS210 is the same PC as the Small Biz site's 9200C. Most importantly pricing can vary across these sites, even if you configure identical PCs.
-- Dell offers multiple prices and configs for the same PC even within the same site. Say you want to buy a Dimension E520 from the Home site. You will find different configurations and prices depending whether you click on the links for Dell's Desktop page, Smart Values page, or View All Promotions page.
-- Bundling provides even more options. Even within Dell's Desktop Page (which is where 90+% of people will go for a new desktop)there will be usually 3-4 configurations for a PC like the E520 with different bundlings for warranty, memory, processor, monitor, etc. I understand trying to give preset configurations with catchy names like "Elevate your Experience" and "Ready to Perform" to help consumers choose a simple package that works for them, however it's still very difficult to understand the differences between the bundles.
-- Upgrade options can vary even for the same PC. Again say you want a E520. Depending on which site and link you use to configure this PC, you may see anywhere from 2-5 processor choices, 3-4 hard drive choices, 1-3 video card choices, etc, and some options may not be available at all (especially on the Small Biz site).
-- Dell offers promotions via coupons that you won't find on its site. These can be for up to 25% off or even something like $500 off a $1500 PC. The only way for real people to find these deals is to patiently track deal sites like bensbargains.net, techbargains.com, or fatwallet.com. Search on "Dell deals" on google to find a number of these sites. Also, these coupons usually only last for a few days, have a limited number of redemptions (such as 1000 or 4000), and having cryptic codes like P$QZPQHMJPZN3J.
I hope that's enough to get my point across without overwhelming everyone.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Set straightforward, cost plus pricing for consumers and small businesses and you will have more satisfied customers.
C'mon Dell, clean up your pricing! For the most part your customers love your products, they just hate the way you do business.
310
Linux Support
Linux, Service and Support, Desktops and Laptops submitted by g0uqt
02/22/07
We need much better Linux support for both the Server Range and Desktop/Laptop ranges of products. You also need to avoid the use of binary only drivers/utilities where ever possible. We need to be able to recompile drivers/utilities. I'm sure when Linux is better supported your sales will grow.
310
No more junk
Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by gunner
02/22/07
Dear Dell,
I finally get my wish, sort of. I’ve been ordering PC’s and Notebooks from you for people interested in your products and have always asked the rep – because I order over the phone- to give me a clean system. No AOL, no 60-day Office, no trial antivirus (specially McAfee security) because it’s a pain is the rear to remove, and have always been told that it’s not happening. This is a nightmare because I have to uninstall all these programs and spend two to three hours sanitizing the computer before I can install the programs I want in order to use the system.
Here’s what I DON’T want loaded: AOL, McAfee, Norton firewall, Office trial, Earthlink, ISP software, Yahoo.
Here’s what I DO want: Windows and latest drivers and bios.
340
No monitor
Monitors and Displays submitted by kushboy
02/19/07
One of the only reasons I won't even consider purchasing a computer from Dell is that I was told I could not purchase a system without also purchasing a monitor as well. I don't need a monitor, so don't make me buy one, and I won't.
1360
No Offshoring
Service and Support submitted by khess
02/22/07
Michael Dell, do you want to breathe new life into your company? Stop Offshoring the support. There are plenty of small towns in Texas that would love the chance to provide that support for Dell.
Want some good PR? Do this and see what happens. Make Dell the leader in ONSHORING and Rural Sourcing.
It is funny that big companies are saying that they have to go to India to compete..HA! That is really not the case at all...nor is the excuse that there aren't enough technical grads...there is an easy solution to that too: Provide scholarships, endowments, and trusts to provide that education and jobs for Americans.
I won't buy a Dell product until your products are:
1. Made in the US
2. Supported in the US
Once our economy is destroyed with all this offshoring, who the hell is going to buy your products? Indians? Chinese? Russians?
If you want to conduct business over there...then relocate your company there as well. American companies should hire Americans or lose their tax advantages.
290
I want a linux laptop
Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by pixelnate
02/23/07
I also would like to buy a laptop with linux pre-installed. Specifically, I would like an Ubuntu laptop where I don't have to jack around with wireless driver hacks or the xorg.conf file.
Mr. Dell, you want to know how to help your company? Give the users what we want. Give us the ability to buy a computer off the shelf with the operating system we want to use. And it would be even better if we didn't have to pay the "Windows Tax" on the hardware as well.
Cheers,
pixelNate
280
Where we want to go today --- LINUX ----
Linux submitted by nanotech_lizard
02/28/07
I hope Dell doesn't drag it's feet very long. Our company is switching everything to Linux; the first HP servers have arrived and the first desktops, laptops are due to arrive in April and they are not running windows!!! We have already started Star/Open Office, our developement has moved to QT4.2 (TrollTech) and Mono. Killed Exchange for Scalix; 2 MSSQL servers are still running (for now) the rest/future have/will be moved to PostgreSQL and MySQL. I am moving our automation control to Linux (Scadabase). My point is we are retiring all our current Dell Equipment and since Dell is not positioned to meet our needs we chose HP / IBM / Lenovo.
Everything works, VID-EVDO-WiFi etc..... the time and money savings from trying to convert our current Dell systems to Linux is astounding...YOU are missing the point of not only our business but many others. We are a very small company I talked to my Dell rep 02.27.07 and was advised he would keep me informed when Dell could meet our needs; I just wonder if you (Dell) will even make it to the dance. After MS announcement on VM's and that customers were getting more use out of MS software than paid for (see VMware site)... there will never be VISTA on our horizon.
----- SLED/SLES10 --- UBUNTU ---- CentOS ---- Xandros ----- Debian
uhhh HP made some pocket change suportting the FREE DEBIAN ($25mil) and growing ;) and on another note our employees are requesting advice on Linux home computers :)
250
XPS Gaming Commercial
Advertising and Marketing, Gaming, XPS products submitted by robq
02/16/07
We have been building around the Purely You commercial, and considering the new Dell.com/gaming website and the new gaming forums, how many new customers really know anything about it?
I think we should run a gaming type commercial, similar to the one I helped with last year for the Game Developer Conference(GDC).
Lets show customers who are interested in gaming just how versatile and powerful our XPS Gaming systems are. We have sponsorships with gaming teams which are already recognized in the gaming industry, maybe they could be part of the commercials.
I think this would be a tremendous boost for Dell in entering the gaming industry and advertise first for an OEM company around gaming.
What does everyone think?
Lets get psyched and go after that cool factor for Dell and XPS.
Thanks,
Rob Q.
391
CPU / GPU Heat Display
Gaming submitted by doomlord52
02/18/07
This is something every gamer wants and needs: something to tell Him / Her when the system is getting hot. Ive seen them sold seperatly, but they take up an entire drive bay. If Dell could make one that is small and takes up some useless area of space, then you would no longer have crashes / lags due to heat. This would be even more usefull if you could have them in laptops, due to the fact that they dont have the best cooling system.
336
Same configuration = same price!
Sales Strategies, Service and Support submitted by gregc
02/28/07
I have had several times when I have had to reconfigure that same exact system 4-5 times (going through different paths through the Dell site) to get the best price.
For example, I configured my Inspiron 6400 notebook through a "special buy" link on the Dell website then applied a coupon. I tried to configure the same machine by going through "notebooks" and working through the menus and got a different price.
Same thing for servers...you can configure the same exact system going through different paths on the website and you get different prices.
It would be great if the site would realize, "Hey, you've stumbled upon a super value system, this EXACT configuration has an extra discount!"
I would feel better knowing I am always getting the best price on the system I'm setting up.
Thx
G
600
Super Sleek Ultra Sexy Dell Laptop
Laptops submitted by undoit
02/21/07
Having done tech support professionally over the past 7 years, I've gathered people's opinions of various computer brands.
I think the general opinion of Dell is that their laptops are boxy and unattractive. A lot of people are not interested in purchasing a Dell because they don't like the aesthetics and believe that the build quality is poor due to the outer appearance. I also think a lot of people don't care for the "dude" image.
Being a power user myself, I appreciate owning Dell laptops. My current Inspiron may not be as sleek as my MacBook, but I go for functionality over form. I like that my Dell laptops have been easy to upgrade, usually have the latest cutting-edge technology available, provide options for user input (dual pointing devices), come with a full install of Windows so I can wipe out all the junk that comes preloaded and have different screen options (resolution and glossy or matte) among other reasons.
I think Dell should focus on designing an ultra thin laptop with smooth lines. This would give users who value aesthetic appeal a very good reason to purchase a Dell laptop.
230
 track my votes
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