No more plastic wrap, please
Environment submitted by falbert
May 22
In the last shipment of computers I received I was shocked by the amount of plastic wrap used for items like power cords, USB cables, VGA/DVI cables. Do these items really need to be individually wrapped in a plastic bag. I can just imagine the tons of plastic used by Dell annually...
Something to think about
3470
Start Warranty periods when the system is received, not shipped!
Service and Support submitted by markj2k
Jan 31
I have purchased several Dell systems over the last month or so for myself, and some consulting clients. I've noticed in each case that the warranty start date is the day the PC shipped, not the day the PC was received by the purchaser. This needs to be changed. The order status page changes to show when the system was delivered, so Dell knows when the delivery date is. That is the day the warranty should start.
It might even be required from a legal standpoint in some areas, not sure about that.
2020
Offer 3 LED lights of 16 choices for each on XPS desktops too
Dell Web Site, Desktops, Gaming submitted by winoffice
06/08/07
There are 3 pairs of LED lights with 16 choices for each on XPS notebooks. Looks cool enough.
But what about XPS desktops? Here, we get only 1 LED light with only 7 choices. If Dell really wants XPS desktops to be just as suitable for gaming, then Dell should also offer the same thing (3 pairs of LED lights with the SAME -- not different, 16 choices) on XPS desktops -- maybe one pair on the top, another on the front, and the last on the sides. The one on the sides should bear the XPS logo, just as the one on the lid on the XPS notebooks does.
At least, change the systems already with the special lights so that they would have lights as above. I am not saying "Put the lights on all XPS systems" -- rather, just keep them on just one specialty desktop and on one specialty notebook. However, the specialty desktops should have a change on their lights in my opinion, and all other XPS systems should have optional but not mandatory lights -- not necessarily as much, nor as many options.
120
Portable Power
Desktops, Gaming submitted by normalnorm
Mar 6
I would like to see a portable desktop. I don't like laptops because power is never enough to drive gaming equipment or big screens. (and laptop keyboards are terrible). And all the gaming machines are huge boxes. The small footprint machines don't have the options of a high end video card. I'm not interested in adding to my system, when it is time to buy a new system, everything needs to be upgraded because everything has gotten better. So make a small form factor machine with RAM, Video, Harddrive, motherboard. No fax modem, no media reader, no second harddrive. Just the basics. Then I can take it with me when I travel. I don't want to use it while I'm traveling - I'll read a book instead. But when I get where I'm going I'll plug it in and have all my power. The bare bones machine that was already posted is a good example, just make it as tiny as possible. And maybe offer a reasonably priced carrying case for different sized monitors and another case for the system unit and keyboard/mouse/joystick. I had a Dell laptop and have gone back to a desktop because I just can't take a laptop keyboard. As well, I almost never used the battery because when gaming the battery just doesn't last. So I always plugged it in.
90
Annoying blue power button
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops submitted by jescott418
Feb 29
I just purchased a Inspiron 530s. Very nice computer, fits nicely in a small space next to desk. Only one problem is the flashing blue power button when in sleep mode. Talk about brite!
I have this computer in a bedroom and its a problem at night.
I end up turning off the computer because I have tried covering it up and it still shines through.
260
9800 GX2 (and offer SLi)
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Gaming, XPS products submitted by zanlok
Mar 22
It has been released. The benchmarks are in. This is the new king. Alienware is offering it. Let's see an XPS 740 or XPS 840 that offers this card.
And allow ultra-enthusiasts to get quad-SLi. Even Alienware hasn't done this yet, even though the initial SLi drivers are released for testing.
256 stream processors, 1GB RAM, and a fillrate of 76.8 billion/sec. Wow!!
470
Single 8800M GTX for M1730
XPS products submitted by bobwalt
Mar 17
Please come out with a module with a Single 8800M for the XPS M1730. It really is not necessary to have two 8800s. Many games just do not work well with dual GPUs especially in Vista. In additon after spending $4000 dollars for a laptop to have to shell out anoher grand is a bit much. Please come on with a single 8800 GPU upgrade for the XPS M1730. Thanks!
Bob
260
256MB Geforce 9500M GS Upgrade for the M1330! Possible!!!
XPS products submitted by q0987
Feb 23
For all those of you who wanted 8600M GT performace inside a 13.3 inch shell read on...
The next generation of Nvidia graphic cards have just been released and the Geforce 9500M GS should definitely be the prime candidate to replace the current 8-series 8400M GS residing within the m1330 chassis.
Now you may notice that the model numbers (400-500) suggest that the 9-series card is more powerful than the 8-series, which it is, but you may also be apprehensive and reluctant to cry out in joy because of all the talk about how a more powerful GPU fitted into the m1330's small body would generate too much heat and reduce battery life resulting in the loss of true portability.
I share those feelings, however you should know that Nvidia's 9-series has a card up its sleeve (no pun intended). This card comes in the form of a smaller fabrication process.
You see the 8400M GS was built using a 80nm fabrication process to manufacture it. The 9-series uses a 65nm fabricating process which reduces the size of the chip and has the benefits of reduced power consumption and lower heat emissions. Don't ask me exactly how this works because I only have a vague understanding.
Before I go on lets quickly take a look at the graphic cards that were released -
The 9-series currently consists of two mobile graphics cards. The 9300M G is basically a shrink of the 8400M GS with the exact same performance but slightly more power efficient and with less heat being emitted as a result. The second card released is the 9500M GS which has the same performance as the 8600M GT but also gains the same benefits as the 9300M G. Both the 8600M GT and the 9500M GS have more than twice the power of the 8400M GS.
What this comes down to then is that if Dell used the 9300M GS to replace the 8400M GS in the m1330 then you would get improved battery life and less heat emisions without sacrificing performance.
This next bits gonna be alittle more tricky to put into words, but here goes anyway... Next up, the 9500M GS.
Well as I see it, if you can use the benefits gained from the newer cards you can upgrade the performance without generating more heat and using more power than in the current 8400M GS equipped m1330. This would undoubtedly mean we lose the battery life we could have saved and the lower heat emissions but we gain a performance boost without using up anymore battery life than the current m1330 - there you go Dell, two problems solved in one neat package.
Although even if we do use slightly more power and produce more heat than the current m1330, the benefits gained from other revised components such as the newly available Penryn processors will compensate for this and help to negate the overall effect. Also once Montevina becomes available the RAM upgrades from DDR2 to DDR3 will further improve battery life and heat emissions so in the end the fan won't have to work any more harder than it already is today. Plus the m1330 does also have the Solid State Drive options and LED backlit screens for even more power efficiency which you could make compulsory when adding this mainstream graphics card. If you really have to cut down anything, then give us ATLEAST 256MB of the available dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory with the 9500M GS instead of the maximum 512MB. That alone would be a vast improvement over the measly 128MB provided with the 8400M GS (not counting the 128-bit memory interface the former would also bring).
Another thing that Dell could also do is change the materials used to construct certain parts of the m1330 such as the lid and base. For example if titanium was used to incase the components then it would allow for better heat dissipation so you wouldn't have to worry so much about things getting hot inside. I am sure people wouldn't mind paying alittle extra for this luxury (seeing as how it is targeted towards the enthusiast afterall). I know I wouldn't.
If this were done correctly then the m1330 would become the real portable gaming rig it was meant to be.
If however you don't really care about the performance boost and like it just the way it is and would rather have the benefits of improved battery life and lower heat emissions than you can opt for the 9300M G. Even better for those not too concerned with performance but want the rest than you would be able to choose the integrated X4500 (when Montevina comes out) which will supposedly be 3 times more powerful than the integrated graphics available now and may also promote improved battery life and heat emissions (even when compared to todays integrated graphics equipped m1330).
Dell should make these options available so the m1330 continues to appeal to all types of customers e.g. gamer, college student, business user etc.
Dell I am tellin you, make sure you let the consumer decide. I am actually giving you the options you should list -
1. Integrated Intel GMA X4500 (Business user)
2. Nvidia Geforce 9300M G (College student)
3. Nvidia Geforce 9500M GS (Gamer)
4. ??? - BinaryGFX/Hybrid GPUs (ALL USERS)
Even better than this would be if you just add both integrated and discrete graphics cards and have the ability to toggle between the two. You wanna game, switch to discrete. If your browsing the internet or typing up an essay then use integrated.
Alienware have done this with their m15x and using what is identified as BinaryGFX. This has allowed them to add a 512MB 8800M GTX into a 15" chassis and when switching to integrated they have a touch-sensitive control labelled "stealth mode"!
And in case your thinking "thats a 15 inch thats why you can add both" then take a look at the 13.3" Sony SZ6 series or how about the 13.3" Asus U3. If they can do it why can't Dell. At the rate the m1330 is going at its gonna be left way behind! Even LG has been able to put in a NVIDIA GeForce 8600M class graphics card into their 13.3" P300!!
Alienware have also used another great idea. They've come up with the Smart Bay technology which can also be found in their top-of-the-line m15x. If this were also thrown in as a feature with the m1330 then you would be able to swap out your optical drive to obtain an enormous increase in battery life. As this is just an after thought it may just be too radical an idea to pull off. But I thought I'd mention it anyway. Afterall, you never know what might happen.
Dell owns Alienware, right!? So why are they so behind when compared with Sony, Asus and LG?
But suppose if everything I just mentioned was added to the m1330 - you can all imagine the impact it would have on portable gaming! It would be Sweeeeeet!
The m1330 could end up desimating all competition in 2008. To be honest, I consider this to be the real ultraportable XPS that we've all been waiting for all this time! No wait (adds Gigabit ethernet, backlit keys and tweaks the design to reflect coolness) - now we're talking!
Oh! One last thing to think about. Would changing the name to "The M1337" appeal to anyone other than myself!? :)
EVERYONE START PROMOTING NOW TO MAKE THIS A REALITY!
Feedback on this idea would be welcomed both from Dell and IdeaStorm users.
Here is a list of articles on this site that have asked for a more powerful graphics card inside the m1330 -
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75366/Offer_256MB_discrete_Graphics_on_...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/71568/DELL_XPS_M1330_with_more_Graphic_...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75165/Allow_the_133_XPS_M1330_Laptop_to...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/72990/Love_the_new_XPS_M1330_but_need_m...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/73545/XPS_1330_Video_Card
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/74876/Less_plastic_please_on_the_XPS_M1...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/71342/M1330_Resolution__Graphic_Card_Op...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75525/Update_M1330_GPU_to_beat_specs_of...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75590/Updating_XPS_M1330
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75640/High_resolution_screen_and_new_vi...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75965/Implement_an_Option_of_an_Intel_C...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75526/Nvidia_Geforce_8800M_Nvidia_Gefor...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75526/Nvidia_Geforce_8800M_Nvidia_Gefor...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75879/make_the_a_XPSm1330_to_M1335_and_...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/73869/14_xps_notebook
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/76008/M1330_2008
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/71725/XPS_m1335
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/76168/Use_nVidia_Hybrid_SLI_technology_...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/102651/Offer_Core_2_Extreme_X7900_28GHz...
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75413/Can_Dell_upgrade_the_XPS_m1330_I_...
Further information: Like the Nvidia Geforce 8-series GPUs the 9300M G and 9500M GS support DirectX 10.0, SM 4.0 & OpenGL 2.1. However unlike the integrated graphics equipped in the m1330 today (Intel GMA X3100), the GMA X4500 was specifically designed and made to be an integrated hardware solution that supports DirectX 10.0 and SM 4.0 aswell as to handle Blu-ray/HD DVD footage.
1310
Give XPS Notebooks Gigabit Ethernet
XPS products submitted by croftki
Feb 17
I understand that Dell market research says home users in general are not interested in gigabit ethernet for home networks. Those who pay for the premium design in the XPS line, however, are more likely to want gigabit ethernet. I would rather buy something more exciting than a business class notebook, but I want to build on my home technology with each purchase I make. XPS Notebooks unfortunately do not help me do this. It seems my only option is to buy a Latitude.
4760
Graphics Solutions
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Gaming submitted by bawambold
06/01/07
The graphics choices need some work.
1. Why would someone pay more than full retail for a card when it takes no more than two minutes to put it in?
2. Why is there no 8800 320mb and 640mb option on the 410? It makes no sense to jump from the 8600 gts to the 8800 gtx (which shouldn't be offered considering the power supply requirements are 475 watts and the current power supply is 375 watts).
3. If you are going to offer ATI cards, don't just offer the bottom of the barrel.
260
Advertise Graphics RAM correctly
Advertising and Marketing submitted by joffe100
04/20/07 **UNDER REVIEW**
When we say we want to buy a 512Mb graphics card we really do want a 512Mb graphics card - not 512Mb with 256mb physical memory with 256mb shared! This is really BAD and misleading advertising - you do not see other RAM memory being sold 1Gb (512Mb physical, 512Mb shared!)
Should read: 512Mb physical memory and it actually be 512Mb physical memory
NOT: 512Mb** and then some tiny asterixed disclaimer on a linked page that points out that the 512Mb is some funky combination of 3Mb physical and the rest being pulled from virtual memory - this kills many graphic intense apps and games...
suprised no-one has sued over this? Not sure many buyers are even aware....
4060
Backlit Keyboards
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by rarmasu
02/21/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
I find myself many, many times in dark or poorly lit environments having to guess the various keys - would be fantastic to have a backlit keyboard - with backlit individual keys as the best option.
I would actually pay extra for that convenience if the option was available.
This could be done for desktops or notebooks.
Check out the white LED backlights on the <ahref>XPS M1730.
22310
6 major issues to be fixed by Dell
Dell, Sales Strategies, Service and Support submitted by jervis961
02/17/07
Dell became a top company by providing choice and customer service to a customer that wasn't available at the time but has since fallen behind the pack in these areas. Needing a translator when calling customer support is unnacceptable and other companies are rapidly passing Dell in technology advancements. While this site is a good start, many things need to be changed for Dell to become the market leader again.
1. Customer support needs to be in well spoken English and with employees who are allowed to do more than just read from a script. If they are speaking with a computer savvy customer the rep should be allowed to deviate from the script as long as they don't go outside the relm of normal policy.
2. Better options: Other companies offer high end components in small computers but Dell only supplies intel video processors in its 14" laptop. Dell needs to allow customers to get the size computer they need but with options from low cost through the high end so they can get a computer that is "Purely you".
3. Less forced options: I hate that I am paying for and XPS with internet security when I don't need it because I already have a subsciption that will transfer over or AOL is installed when I know I don't need it. They need to add an option of none of the above to all the added software sections.
4. Better pricing: Why is it over $200 to upgrade from 1 GB of 533 MHZ ram to 2 GB of 677 MHZ RAM? I can go to Crucial.com and get the 2GB 677MHZ kit for under $200. Upgrading with Dell after you own is even worse at over $300 this is crazy.
5. Custom Dell website: Customers want to feel special why not make a MYDELL website that when you log in you get a site designed the way you want it. If you aren't interested in the small business site it gets removed, you don't like to go thru the accessories sections when customizing a system so you don't see that section. Click on customer support and a list of your computer pops up asking which one you need help with and only shows the options for that system.
6. Customer loyalty rewards: I have bought 6 Dell systems over the last few years, why can't I get better customer service or pricing due to my loyalty to the company?
6895
Add some colors!
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops and Laptops submitted by bajtalan.hunor
02/24/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
In my opinion nowadays colors like gray or black are getting too old. Why Dell does not follow other companies like Sony or Apple or the tiny Flybook. People like colors because it expresses their personality, not everybody is a businessman or businesswoman, we like colors. For example white is getting more and more popular but there are other trendy colors out there.
So PLEASE ADD SOME COLOR TO YOUR NOTEBOOK AND DESKTOP LINES and make them look like jewelry and not like a piece of plastic, do some cool design.
We like to show a laptop to which people say WOW. So the "WOW STARTS NOW"!
The new Inspiron and XPS notebooks do come in colors now, but stay tuned for more ways to customize the look of your PC.
1070
Support higher speed memory
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops, Gaming submitted by shirk
05/19/07
Stop offering quad core CPU, SLI graphic cards, and terabyte hard drive systems that are limited to older low speed memory. Customers who purchase these higher end systems want their components to be up to date and cutting edge, so drop the ancient 533-667 mhz memory. Also stop crippling motherboards so that they wont support higher speed memory so customers are stuck without a choice. Give customers current memory, 800 mhz and up, for their brand new systems.
1000
 track my votes
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