theonlyho

Make color of the XPS cases optional for the customer.

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, XPS products submitted by maverick4ever 08/01/07

I think it would be a good move of Dell to give the customer the option of choosing the color of his/her PC's color. Personally, I don't care for the current red and silver case of the XPS 710, but I would like to have the 1kilowatt powersupply and other advantages. Meanwhile it seems like at this moment the black XPS case, which I preferred a lot more, isn't even being offered. Like with Alienware, give the customers options with the color of their PC's cases. 5 Comments »

Configurable LCD for the xps model

Monitors and Displays, XPS products submitted by kalamos 07/03/07

I'd like to see more options for the type of LCD that are selectable with the xps line. Let me be more specific. I ordered an XPS1210 last year that shipped with an LCD that was sourced from Toshiba. After doing a little research I found out that there were 3 vendors who produced this LCD, toshiba, AUO, and Samsung(I think). The best of these three screens was the AUO and the worst of course was the one built into my laptop, the Toshiba, so I had to get tech support to ship me out a replacement LCD for my working Toshiba in the hope that I would get a AUO, return the Tohsiba and paid the restocking fee. It would have been nice to be able to select the AUO before the system shipped and just paid the extra fee. Now, I don't want to be that specific, but I do want to be able to at least chose between:
1. LED/Backlight
2. High Resolution(1920x1080 or better on 17')
3. Standard
4. Glossy
Like the new Apple Pro notebooks. 4 Comments »

Move the call centre to a English speaking country

Service and Support submitted by matt_h1 07/03/07

Im sick of ringing support and getting people I can barely understand, who constantly misinterpret what you have asked, A number of big companies in Australia tried the offshore call centers and most went back to Australian ones due to customer backlash. 16 Comments »

Every printer should duplex! (two sided printing)

Environment, Printers and Ink submitted by one4spl 07/02/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

As an environmentally aware company that makes long shelf-life products (not food or toys) you should be aware that the biggest environmental impact your products have are the results of their use, not their manufacture.

Towards this end all your printers should duplex as standard, and if taken to the extreme the drivers should be set to duplex by default.



They should also go into a very low power state shortly after going idle.

Cheers,

Luke


We offer this capability in some printer products. We constantly seek improvements printers. Thanks for your great suggestions.
5 Comments »

Offer Joystick mouse

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

Joystick mice are an alternative to the traditional mouse. They are immobile and so can be used even if you are not sitting at a desk and are great for use with laptops. They offer the same if not better precision than a traditional mouse and could come in a wide variety of sizes to suit tastes and mobility. The Joystick II is also a great ergonomic device for preventing Repetitive Strain Injuries associated with standard mouse use and is good for people with limited wrist and hand movement. Pictured is an old model.

8 Comments »

A Student, Corporate and Medical Tablet PC

Education, Small Business submitted by quintin 07/02/07

A recent video was put on Direct2Dell proposing a new Dell Tablet. It proposed that it should be delivered to student, coroprate and medical markets. My experience as a student, a long time tablet user, a computer store owner and as a marketer (previous job) informs me best as to the student catagory, but i would like to note that ONE SIZE TABLET DOES NOT FIT all the aforementioned markets.

Student needs:
- battery life - unis dont have many powerpoints and students are often there all day
- features - why? Because buzz-word-of-mouth marketing is big on campus and the computer guys really do tell everyone what is best to buy
- style - have a look at the iPhone, its simple, tough, has a long battery life, minimalist, and showy. Students when they see a tablet will all go and have a look 'hey look you can write on this things screen', but if its no good the student who owns it will spread the word. You need to make it so 'cool' people just want to use it like the iphones touch-slide screen...
- build quality - students throw the laptop in their backpack and give it a rough time. If Dell markets a tablet to 'students' and its not rugged evryone on campus who has one will tell everyone on campus who does not very very quickly.
- cheap - students cant afford much! Like Apple one should engage in price discrimination. Even buying an Apple Hi-Fi students can show their student ID and get a big discount. The Result? They buy and they tell. Word of mouth on a campus where everyone swaps classes regularly and everyone looks at the few people who have laptops and asks them about them is extraordinarily important - moreso than any other means of advertising.
- loyalty - many software brands will offer their thousand dollar product for free to unis in the hope they can build loyalty among students who will go 'i used this SW i really liked it and because it fit me so well i will buy another'. The computer market does not have brand loyalty BECAUSE THERE ARE NO BRANDS WITH PERSONALITY AND WHAT'S THERE IS PRETTY HOMOGENOUS, therefore producers compete on price. The same could have easily happened in the portable music market had Apple not done those five things above.
- segment well - sorry i keep apple idolising i dont use a Mac, i own 3 different tablets, and i see in my store how marketers of tablets really miss the mark. Make a laptop specially for the student market, another specifically for the medical market and another for the corporate market. In tablets one size does not fit all. People who buy tablets buy them beacause they need something more customised to their needs than the normal offerings of other computer companies - so why go generic? i dont know. Those who dont suffer the following problem:

the different segments mentioned:

medical
- power points are all aroun so only a normalish battery life is needed of a few hours
- medical people like big screens because they will put the tablet down whilst they are doing somthing else and will want to draw and see what they are doing
- they will need it to be light as they will probably go from meeting to room to meeting with it and charge intermitantly between or at each venue.
- medical people need the computer to easily integrate with their current system.
- medical professionals will learn about things by nature by having pharm. reps and others come out to show them how things work. This is how they like being marketed too, or else colourful and detailed brochures.

student
- unlike medics students need powerpoints because unis currently dont have them in most lecture halls
- students dont need huge screens 14" is fine because their eyes are good, but many do design so they will want to get up a bit close
- students will not need it too light because they are strong 2-2.5kgs is fine but they need it to be rugged because unlike medics they will not have tender loving care in the way they handle things
- students dont need to integrate with existing systems but probably need software to make use of the tablet's functionality - as i said sotware makers should give software away almost for free to this market to get them hooked - lookat mindmap, notetaking and design software here...
- students are marketed to through word-of-mouth and promotions. If they see a promotion they will go ask their friends in IT what they think of what is being promoted and if its a good deal. They will also look at what other students have and ask how they find it.

Corporate/biz
- biz users generally will have the PC docked on their desk with an esternal screen and will take it to meetings for a couple of hours and bring it back for a charge
- therefore biz users dont need huge screens because they will probably use an external one on their desk and a projector in the meeting.
- therefore it will be easy to make it small and light so they can carry it in their crowded briefcase (unlike the students backpack or the medics hand (probably)).
- they, like the medics, need it integrated into their existing systems. They will need onsite support (unlike students who will want a big warranty provided for free TO PROOVE ITS RUGGEDNESS MORE THAN TO GIVE PROTECTION!)
- Biz people are used to being advertised to and they often go for big coroporate deals within their biz or else they buy similar to what their co-workers have which is why the dock makes it more palettable.

Therefore i think the idea should be to cater very specifically to each market.

I am happy for anyone from Dell to contract me if they want anymore detail etc. 8 Comments »

Give your customers a barebone system

Operating Systems, Sales Strategies, Software submitted by amjoe 06/27/07

A choice to just buy only the hardware and thats it... No OS, No softwares, No nothing Just the hardware would be the perfect dell PC out there!

(this need not be an option thats available up front) Comment »

Battery life calculator when configuring notebooks

Laptops, Laptop Power submitted by arrgh406 06/27/07

i always wonder what the battery life of a notebook is, but i can never figure it out,
so i think it would be helpful to give an estimate of the expected battery life when configuring based on graphic card, processor and battery size. 10 Comments »

Apple's Web Site is "WOW"

Dell Web Site submitted by robert 06/27/07

http://www.apple.com/

Apple has a "Wow" Web Site. Just look at it. Who would not want to navigate through this site and BUY something? Notice the smooth, calm and pleasing "non tabs" at the top, the uncluttered and not to many items per page and the combinations of black backgrounnds, white backgrounds, mixed with great color. Large pictures that grab your attention. Notice the symmetry of each page. Anyone that likes order appreciates symmetry. They do not clutter and confuse with too much verbiage which takes up too much space and no one reads. A little humor on some pages as well as interesitng info. This should not be hard stuff for DELL to create. A web site that is a "Vacation" will sell computers. Hey, I like/own DELL, but Apple's site really makes me want to buy something..maybe an Iphone. 31 Comments »

printer and laptop in one

Printers and Ink, Laptops submitted by buttafuco 06/26/07

it would be so cool if you could print something without having to carry a separate, bulky printer, just your laptop. or instead of having to find a kinkos or hotel business center where they will charge you $.50 a page or something crazy. i think the technology is small enough that it could be incorporated into the bottom of the laptop as an option for people on the go. Dell could either make it like a battery that you can pop out and put a paper thru and bluetooth send from your computer or where the printer is actually part of the laptop like a bottom layer.

if you demote - explain why please. bad idea? not feasible? wouldn't buy it? duplicate? 23 Comments »

MP3 player on Laptop

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Broadband and Mobility, Laptops submitted by alle 06/26/07

By default we have music palyers in laptops but for that we need to start OS and it consumes power, wondering if we have the option to enjoy music with out OS start and wireless/bluetooth heat set enabled. this elimiates the need of ipod and other music players.

5 Comments »

Touchscreen Desktop

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops, Monitors and Displays submitted by jewishnose14 06/25/07

Dell should create a monitor/desktop with a touchscreen interface that responds well and is relatively cheap. 4 Comments »

Laptop with Numeric Keypad

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by brian78 06/25/07

I think Dell should offer an affordable notebook with a built in numeric keypad. This would be very usefull for people in fields like accounts who use it all the time, and the larger models like the Inspiron 9400 have plenty of space for it. I am in Australia and I could not get one, and there was no USB numeric keypad available as an optional extra. This forces people to look elsewhere. 3 Comments »

Shipping and Assembly Time - Reduce it

Service and Support submitted by pranavtrehun007 06/18/07

1) Take less time to assemble and ship your PC's. Dell takes too much time (as long as 3-4 weeks in India... or so the website says).

2) If my PC crashed, It is impossible for me to even think about getting a Dell due to the long waiting period.

3) Many people would rather buy another brand and start drawing utility from their new PC.

So reduce your waiting times. 3 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 »

Sell Lattitude Model Laptops with Ubuntu Preinstalled

Latitude products, Linux, Laptops submitted by rollerskatejamms 06/17/07

Some of us use our laptops for work and need something a bit more rugged. It's really awesome that Dell is providing Inspiron's with Ubuntu preinstalled now, but a professional level laptop guaranteed to be Ubuntu compatible would be AMAZING! 1 Comment »

Extend Gold Technical Support to Home\Home Office

Service and Support submitted by jonnormand 06/17/07

I do Dell warranty work day in and day out. There is a little known option that is not provided to devices purchased under home and home office, but IS provided under the Small Business section of Dell's website. This option is Gold Technical Support that utilizes North American technicians.
Why do I bring up the fact that I do warranty work for Dell? Because the #1 complaint I see in the field is not being able to understand the tech on the other end of the phone. When a customer is already frusterated this does NOT help matters.
While I do point them to support.dell.com as a viable means of contacting Dell through chat there is still a certain segment of users who basically tell me they demand someone on the phone. (*shrugs* Its the whole tech savvy thing.)
I've shown them th options for Gold Technical Support under the small business section of Dell's website and universally no one has said they wouldn't spend $70 for that option. I'm 100% certain I've also kept several somewhat furious users from dropping Dell because of this revelation, at least when it comes time for them to get a new system.
Might I suggest expanding Gold Technical Support to the home consumer side of your site as well? I know when it comes time to upgrade my Dell I'm probably going to go that route. $70 is nothing if it means getting someone you can understand. 1 Comment »

Manual Fan Control

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Inspiron products submitted by phii 06/16/07

Hi,
I recently purchased a Dell Inspiron 9400 and I am quite happy with it.
I don't like that the system gets pretty hot though. The bios lets the fans kick in too late means at too high temperatures.
That's why it would be great if I could somehow change these temperature values which activate the Fans.

Thanks,

Phil. 6 Comments »

IdeaStorm Fix/Remove/Explain the Jump Button.

IdeaStorm submitted by jorge 06/16/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

IdeaStorm either Fix the Jump button to jump to the sections described in this Jump Icon as seen above each page of IdeaStorm or remove it as it is replicated as it stands with the Tabs above. Or Explain what its intended purpose is as it lists four actions yet only does one.

How about you separate it to four different buttons with four different actions as listed on each section of the image?

Start Jul. 2nd: provided by florida web site design


As you can see, we have added more dynamic functionality to the IdeaStorm process graphic. Checnk out the from the post on our blog for details.




11 Comments »

Reserve Edition Inspiron.

Inspiron products submitted by benjesuit 06/15/07

Offer the option of a reserve edition Inspiron in 15" (1510) and 17" (1710).

The reserve edition would have:

- choice of 3 burl wood casings (oak, cherry, gray) or leather (black, brown, tan) which surround the display and keyboard, as well as the lid.

- choice of keyboard and touchpad color (Piano Black, Graphite grey, Piano Ivory, or brown).

-Illuminated key caps w/user controlled on/off

-Available choice of what is normally exclusive to the XPS line. Components such as high end video card. High capacity 7200rpm or higher HD, Dual HD, and solid state drive.

-Choice of operating system (Vista, Ubuntu, FreeDos)

-Choice of 24kt gold, silver, or platinum Dell badge on lid and at the bottom of the display.

Sample of possible Leather configuration (from Asus which is currently slated to build certain Dell notebook models):

Comment »