thehooder

Carbon Fiber, Magnesium Alloy, Titanium and other 'Exotic' materials

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by thorin_2 02/21/07

After literally MONTHS of research I finally settled on an IBM Thinkpad notepbook, not in small part due to the "coolness" or hip factor of having a laptop that partially consisted of carbon fiber casing (to reduce weight), a magnesium alloy "roll cage" (along with the accelerometer) to protect my data in case of a fall/drop, and even the optional titanium cover. These sorts of things set IBM apart from the crowd and eventually won me over.

Now if only I could only get IBM's ThinkVantage design, Apple's MagSafe, a 15" LED LCD display, all for Dell's low price point... 1 Comment »

AWESOME Notebook extras (Dell is losing the notebook war!!!)

Sales Strategies submitted by americasarmyrocks 05/25/07

Dell should make their 17-inch notebook with a built-in keypad like Toshiba, HP, and Alienware. They should put a webcam, MagSafe power supply, backlit keyboard and touchpad (like the XPS), and fingerprint reader in their notebooks. If Dell would include all re-instalation discs with their computers, they would problably get more business, along with having all programs optional. Also, Dell should make an option on the XPS to have dual hard drives and dual graphics cards, Alienware still has them whipped on that.
A better battery would also be appreciated, My new notebook's battery only lasts 2 hours!!! We should not have to pay for a descent battery. Dell should include the TheOpenCD.org CD as an option when customizing their computer.

If Dell were to make all these options possible on their notebooks, they would by far exel all other brands. PLEASE Promote these ideas that will revolutionize the market on notebooks.

Thanks a lot Dell for itegrating some of these ideas with the new Inspiron notebook line :) Rock On!!! =) 18 Comments »

MagSafe - Magnetic powercord plug

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptop Power submitted by thorin_2 02/21/07

Awesome feature that all my Mac user friends have on their MacBook Pros.

From WIkipedia.com: The MagSafe connector is a new power connector introduced in conjunction with the MacBook Pro at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco on January 10, 2006. The MagSafe connector is held in place magnetically. As a result, if it is tugged on—for instance, by someone tripping over the cord—it comes out of the socket safely, without damaging it or the computer or pulling the computer off its table or desk.

I checked, and Apple doesn't have a patent on it...yet. They have a patent pending status however there are plenty of examples of prior art. See http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20060112/1555226.shtml for example. 12 Comments »

Design & Form Factor

Desktops and Laptops submitted by logi 02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

This forum is a great idea to get Dell back to #1.

What I like to see is new and innovative styling across the board on notebooks and desktops. Dell's product line looks 5yrs old and needs a total refresh.

As you can see Apple Inc. is winning conumers hearts because Apple owners are actually proud of displaying them in the living rooms instead of hiding them. Get rid of that XPS desktop design that thing is so ugly.. and come up with something consumers would be proud of displying in their media rooms.

Also I would like to see Dell create a sleak new design for a media center box so we can utilize vista home for the entertainment room and display it next to my audio and video units.

Thanks for listening Mr. Dell.



Hope_l talks about how passionate we are about design in this thread. To read more about how this idea is being put into action click here.

222 Comments »

Allow the 13.3" XPS M1330 Laptop to be configured with a better Video Card and Processor

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), XPS products submitted by djmarkevich 11/23/07

I would like the smaller 13.3" XPS M1330 Laptop to be able to be configured with a 512MB graphics card just like its bigger brother, the 17" XPS M1710. Even a 256MB graphics card would be preferable to the small 128MB card that has been its only choice recently..

It would also be nice to see the M1330 be able to come with the fastest processor (just like the M1710).

I suppose, generally spoken, I would like to be able to get all the best (or closer to it) on the M1330, just like the M1710, only with the more portable 13.3" size. 4 Comments »

Oil Cooled PCs

Desktops and Laptops submitted by aikiwolfie 11/24/07

While Dell has been busy patting it's self on the back for the XPS 720 H2C the rest of the world has begun to move on. Oil filled computers are what people are talking about now. These PCs are cooled with vegetable oil which is non-conductive unlike water so it doesn't short out the PC. The oil also fills the entire case meaning the whole PC is cooled.

40 Comments »

Inspiron 1420 with NVIDIA 8600m GT 256mb

Gaming, Inspiron products submitted by npauly 11/24/07

Please offer the NVIDIA GeForce 8600m GT 256mb as an option on the Inspiron 1420. Not all gamers want to lug around a 15 inch or 17 inch laptop.

Asus, Zepto, and BenQ all recently introduced 14 inch widescreen laptops that are configured similarly to Dell's Inspiron 1420 except that they come stock with the NVIDIA 8600m GT standard.

Dell needs to upgrade their 14 inch Inspiron laptop GPU options so they can remain competitive.

*** Be Sure To Check The Comments - Lots of Good Info Here *** 17 Comments »

This text on your web site regarding "open source" is misleading, please consider changing it.

submitted by cosh 11/25/07

From www.dell.com/open:



This is the wrong impression to give, as it suggests that all open source software everywhere is somehow incompatible with Windows, whereas in reality many open source programs are ported to and available on Windows, such as Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, and OpenOffice, and some popular open source programs are dedicated entirely to it, for example Paint.NET (info).

A better and more accurate thing to say would be:

"The main thing to note is that when you choose an open source operating system like Ubuntu Linux®, you don't get a Windows® operating system."

or how about:

"The main thing to note is that when you purchase a Dell computer preinstalled with Ubuntu or FreeDOS, you don't get a Windows operating system" etc. etc.

Concise, clear, and accurate. If I remember correctly there's a similar message on the other language versions of the Dell web site, so it should be changed there too.

If you've a better suggestion post it in the comments. 22 Comments »

Color

Desktops submitted by junior 11/25/07

Provide Different colors on Desktops like what is going on with the notebooks...on desktops, provide same color ideas like all notebooks...maybe even skins to go around a desktop. Comment »

Let user select AMD or Intel chip for each model like HP

submitted by dqson 11/26/07

Let user select AMD or Intel chip for each model like HP 2 Comments »

XPS M1330 design with 15" and 17" screens

XPS products submitted by dentedhelmet 11/26/07

I would love to see two new XPS laptops with the XPS M1330 design, but with an available 15" and 17" screen. I have been holding off buying a new laptop hoping to see these soon. I am leaning toward the the new HP laptops - much nicer screen, thinner, MUCH MUCH better looking. 6 Comments »

Optimize laptop chassis size - do not add dead space around of the LCD's edges.

Laptops submitted by mandarinka 11/26/07

One of the main constraints laptop design should heed is that of maximum portability and minimal size at the given LCD size category. Why? The LCD is actually the sole component taht cannot be shrunk (if so, we would have a computer from lower size category) - so the size of the display is the minimum for the chassis size. Now what I think good design shouldn't fail in: there should be as little "dead space" along the LCD's edges as possible. I have seen 15,4" laptops that waste more than 3cm of width this way, while the excess height of the lid is even bigger (with widescreen units anyway). Off course, the new Asus Eee is an extrme example of this: 7" display in 10" size enclosure.

I suggest Dell should make sure the components are aranged in as compact way as possible inside the laptop, so that the chassis isn't bigger than necessary. Every 1cm in excess greatly reduces the maneuverabilty of the computer, especcially with 15,4" and 14" widescreen models, 12" ultraportable models on the other hand benefit from every milimeter of size reduction, as portability is of most importance in their segment; the size reduction also brings the weight down a bit. 3 Comments »

Revamp the entire dell line from the ground up

New Product Ideas, Desktops and Laptops submitted by matthew2142 11/26/07

If your gonna add a new line of desktops or notebooks to replace the current line up. Do a revamp. Meaning build the design from the ground up. We want fresh, new looks that stand out from the rest. Don't just add a new color, or some new buttons here and there. Redesign it! move key features around, create some class. Enough of the boring designs we had for the past 10 years. all in ones, add some glass borders with lights shining through them, may be some wood.... you know make them stand out. Of course these are just ideas, you can add your own here.

do the same with all your products, make them stand out, dont do a refresh, do a revamp! 9 Comments »

XPS M1330 Laptop with Docking Station

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Small Business, XPS products submitted by matto 11/27/07

The XPS M1330 Laptop is a stunning laptop, but is also ideal for a lot of business people on the move. It's lightweight, it's thin, it's got a slot-loading DVD drive. Dell seem to recognise this by listing it as an option in the Small Business section (here on the Dell.com.au website at least). And they're right - it would be perfect for me, except for the lack of a docking station.

I use my laptop both at work and at home. I have a docking station at each location. This means I simply need to drop the laptop in, and straight away it's hooked up to the mains power, to my keyboard and mouse, to the wired network and to my secondary monitor. You can see how the lack of a docking station makes this process a lot more tedious. Fair enough - the keyboard and mouse can be replaced with bluetooth items, but there's still the network (no wireless at work), the power and the secondary LCD. This constant need to plug and unplug would soon take the sheen of an otherwise perfect device, not to mention the likelihood of damaging the delicate connectors with daily use.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd love to use the XPS M1330 for work, if only this one little problem could be overcome. I understand the challenges in packaging such a thin and light notebook, but I'm sure that greater minds than mine are able to come up with something!

I know I'm probably just a bit lazy, but the docking station really is one of life's little luxuries. I dare anyone who's used one previously to try and do without!

Thanks for the chance to put it forward.

Regards,
Matto :) 3 Comments »

XPS M1530 Resolution ??

XPS products, Laptops submitted by avnanda 11/27/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

SCREEN RESOLUTIONS for XPS Laptop Line

Why on God's green earth would Dell throw in such a cheapy LCD screen into the XPS 1530 ? I've been waiting for this laptop religously since it was 'announced', in the hope of a 1680x1050 screen, or at LEAST 1440x900. What is this, Dell ? Are you trying to scare away your customers with blocky icons and low resolutions ?

Ok, on a less rampaging note ..

Is there any possibility this might change in the future ? Would i be foolish to order immediately, only to see a couple of LCD options pop up over the next few days ?

We now offer 1440 x 900 and 1680 x 1050 panels as an option. Take a look at the Direct2Dell blog post on the idea.





36 Comments »

Ideastorm: to recognize new participants, ADD a 'top RECENT contributors' list

Dell Community, IdeaStorm submitted by phubert 11/27/07

The Top Contributors list has individuals who likely are NO LONGER participating as well as many who've BEEN participating for quite some time.

How do RECENT contributors get recognition?

If it is desirable that NEW participation is to be encouraged and that RECOGNITION is one way of doing so, then the site needs a 'recent contributors' LIST. 9 Comments »

Move your corporate HQ to China

Dell, Service and Support submitted by badblood 11/27/07

Move Dell HQ to China before you can no longer afford it.... 11 Comments »

Donations for Ubuntu development

Linux submitted by dave-2 11/27/07

If Dell ever implements the idea (and this, and this, and this, etc) allowing users to select Ubuntu from a list of OS options instead of going to another section of the website to order a special "N" series model, the Ubuntu option should cost less than the Windows options.

In addition to the OS configuration buttons, offer two buttons that allow the user to contribute that savings back toward Ubuntu development:

o Donate $0 to Ubuntu (default)
o Donate $25 to Ubuntu (split the savings)
o Donate $50 to Ubuntu (donate the full amount saved)

The amount of the full donation should reflect the cost of the least expensive version of Windows (e.g. Genuine Windows(r) Vista Home Premium) . 2 Comments »

How about a Dell XPS m1410 notebook?

XPS products submitted by bigkris 11/27/07

I have for some time now been looking for a new notebook. My criteria’s have been portability, long battery life, design and functionality. I find the XPS m1330 very attractive in all these aspects, but the size of the screen is just a little too small for my needs, and the size on the new XPS m1530 is a little too big, since the laptop loses to much of its portability. In my opinion, the perfect size would be a 14.1 inch. Alternatively, I have looked at HP Pavilion dv2600 series, but the battery life and the weight of these notebooks can’t really match the XPS.
In my opinion a XPS m1410 notebook would be the ideal laptop as it would have a great design, great specs, portability, and a large degree of functionality. 5 Comments »

Dell Tablet PC

Laptops submitted by gautam 02/16/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

The XPS and E series notebooks are great, but a move into making 12.1 and 14.1 inch tablet PC convertible notebooks would be fantastic. I can easily see the m1210 and the e1405 being ported to the tablet medium.
Check out what Glenn from the tablet team has to say about the Latitude XT.




194 Comments »