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Embedded hardware encryption for OS-independent security

Operating Systems, Desktops and Laptops submitted by alan.price Feb 22

I've wanted to use BitLocker in Vista Ultimate for security. The first problem is that I don't have TPM chip. The second problem is that any sort of software-based encryption (expecially full-disk) is a performance hit.

I'd like to see Dell introduce an option on at least business-class systems, and preferrably all systems, to have hardware disk encryption builtin. The encryption would be controlled by the BIOS, so it would be independent of any OS installed. It would be hardware-based, so there would be no performance hit. Customers could choose whether to purchase it or even enable it. Once enabled, it would silently protect the hard disk. Adding a boot time password would provide even momre security.

Of course, the encryption key would need a way to be backed up in the event of hardware failure. This could be done through an OS client or via the BIOS, too. If the encryption was based on government standards (like FIPS), Dell could secure an even bigger hold with federal data securty by offering complete encryption as part of the client system without the need for additional software or hardware.

Even servers could be encrypted to provide full, low-level data security without compromising performance.

I know I'd certainly consider a hardware-encrypted laptop. The only catch is the option or systems can't be significantly more... 9 Comments »

Create a right-angle adapter for laptop power cords

Laptop Power submitted by alan.price Feb 23

I'd like to see a right-angle adapter made for laptop power cords. I know there's times when I need to push my laptop as close to something as I can, and that's hard to do without severly bending the power cable coming out the back of it. I'd be willing to pay a few dollars for convenience. 6 Comments »

More feedback from Dell on popular ideas

IdeaStorm submitted by pjeff Feb 15

I would like to see more (official) feedback from Dell on popular ideas eg. +1000 ideas.
For example, many people have been requesting an LED backlit screen for the XPS M1530. Look on any forum where this model is being discussed and you will see people saying that they are holding off on purchasing until it becomes available (I'm one of them!) so it would be helpful to know what is happening.

Another example would be illuminated keyboards. Saying it is "partially implemented" doesn't really tell us anything. We know you have done that! If a popular idea is not practical or its implementation is problematic for whatever reason, communicate back so discussion can take place. This is how brainstorming works!

I also wonder how many good ideas are overlooked because Dell believe the cost would be too great for the product in question. Be upfront about your concerns regarding costs. For example, you may find that Inspiron/Vostro customers would not be prepared to pay extra for a premium screen and illuminated keyboard but XPS customers are. Post polls so that members can vote on these issues and provide you with accurate data. We are here to help so use us. 7 Comments »

Offer Core 2 Extreme X7900 2.8GHz on m1530 and m1330

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by rishitku Feb 9

Cant Dell offer Core 2 Extreme on the XPS M1530,m2010 AND M1330. I also think they should offer Graphic cards like nvidia 8600 512MB. This would make them much more popular xps systems. 5 Comments »

Hard Drive Airbag aka Active Protection System

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by ahazan Feb 9

Dell should offer the featuree available on Thinkpads that senses when the laptop is in freefall and within milliseconds stops the hard drive from spinning 8 Comments »

System Update

Dell Web Site, Service and Support submitted by ahazan Feb 9

Crrently in Dell software & driver support dell takes your system tag and shows all available drivers and software for all peripherals that were offered on that system. that could mean 5 video cards 3 wireless nics, 4 CDR drives. It should be more like windows update or Lenovo thinkvanatge system update where it detects what hardware you have (or looks up what was shipped by service tag) and offers you only software and drivers for WHAT YOU HAVE. and also only offers drivers newer than what's currently installed 9 Comments »

Upgrade for XPS M2010!

submitted by rishitku 12/05/07

640GB HDD
Core 2 extreme X7900/X9000/QX9650
4GB RAM
2xGeForce 8800m
2xODD1 Slot Load 1 Tray Load
Ageiax Physx Accelerator
Thats wat I would like for the XPS M2010 Upgrade 5 Comments »

Any news about an M2030 notebook?

XPS products submitted by kanoneno 11/26/07

Hi, I´m a fan of the XPS M2010, and I´m really looking foward for a XPS M2030. I´m a visual artist and video producer and editor and music composer, and for what I do, the XPS M1730 has it all. The thing is that the 17 inch display is not enough or at least not comftable enough for working, thats why I prefer the 20 inch display. I really don´t mind about the weight and those issues because, no matter what, is better to carry around a notebook of those dimensions than a desktop of any weight and size. As I dont have a specific place to work like an office, I usually have to keep moving from one place to another.
Anyway, there are some things that I would like to see in a upgraded version of the M2010, that is:
- A WXUGA display - I noticed that a big discussion about this issue is in the mind of all the enthusiasts. I don´t know if it´s posible.
- At least 512 MB in the graphics card.
- The Ageia PhysX processor available in the 1730
- And higher processor speeds. I realize that this don´t depend on you but in Intel or AMD, Anyway I´m more than happy with the 2.8Ghz of the Intel Dual Core Extreme processor but it would be nice to see it rise.

I don´t know if any of this things are technically posible for the time being, but those options will really increase the performance up to the level of working really comftable with heavy tasks such as video editing and music composing. 9 Comments »

Always include all software and driver reinstallation discs for free (or at least let us get the option to)... don't make us pay extra

Software submitted by winoffice 05/01/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

Always include ALL software AND driver reinstallation discs for FREE (or at let us get the option do get the for free if we want as follows)...don't make us pay extra in case that we have a disaster and need to reinstall from scratch...!

No Discs Included (Included In Price)

All Discs Included (this means everything -- all software discs -- OS/Security software/etc., and all driver discs -- this means Windows or Linux drivers or both, whatever applies -- add $0)

Other options (OS disc only, all software discs only, driver discs only, etc. -- add $0)

For some computers, Dell does not include the reinstallation discs. Even if Dell offers them, Dell charges extra for us to get them. In fact, the only time I seen reinstallation discs being offered without charge were for Dell XPS desktops with the flashy lights -- that is, the Dell XPS 600, 700, and 710 systems, for those ware the only systems to offer operating system options like "Microsoft Windows XP Media Center WITH REINSTALLATION CD".

Also, most of the time when software reinstallation discs are not included, driver reinstallation discs (such as XPS flashy lights, as well as printers and monitors) are not included either. Therefore, don't just include the software reinstallation discs -- include as well the Windows/Linux drivers for the hardware (depending on the OS purchased with the computer, if any, which in turn depends on the user's preferences).

Besides, Microsoft as well as ALL software companies include the discs when you get the software seperately, so why can't Dell do the same when the software is preinstalled...?
Customers no longer have to pay extra for re-installation media.




91 Comments »

Laptop & Desktop Boot in seconds from Flash Drives

Broadband and Mobility, Desktops and Laptops submitted by reg 02/19/07

Have laptops and PCs that boot quickly & quietly from fast internal flash drives,
and run the whole OS and application programs in RAM.
The New Dell PC will boot from internal Fast USB 2.0 flash drives in just a few seconds.
The Hard drive can stay powered down, completely off, unless the user needs to store some extra large files (video, photos).

Laptop Battery life is measured in days, not hours.


Have 2 Recessed USB 2.0 Slots.
Two USB Flash Drives would fit neatly into the laptop.
In this way the whole OS and Apps run in RAM, and stores data files on an 8 GB flash drive.

The 8GB is used transparently as the 'On Line' Storage, with a hard drive acting as secondary storage.
This gives desktops and laptops much greater speed and power savings.

<font> On-Line/Near-Line Storage Model for Laptops</font>
1. OS and App all run from RAM (so the machine should have 2GB+ of RAM)
2. Modified files are worked on in RAM, and stored on the Flash Drive
3. Older (non-system) files, that are 'inactive', get pushed down to the hard drive,

Hard Drive files are stored with on-the-fly hardware compression / decompression (back to RAM), with the flash drive file replaced with a pointer to the hard drive file.
Data is always safely copied down to the hard drive on shut down.



The flash drive is removeable and upgradeable, so later if someone wants to upgrade to a 32GB flash drive, just unplug and plug in the new one.

On-line / Near-Line storage works great on very large data servers, where data is mostly write once, read infrequently.
(Also known as Write Once, Read Mostly - WORM drives.)

It's time such ideas are put into practice for desktops and laptops.


You can run your Dell Laptop TODAY from 100% Flash Drive - Pen Drive using Puppy Linux.



www.puppylinux.org delivers a complete, small, fast Linux Distribution including all major tools in under 90MB. You can add Open Office, GIMP, Firefox, Thunderbird, etc and they all fit right in a USB Flash Drive.
Pupply Linux Applications.
Download Puppy Linux so you Can Try Flash Drive Dell Notebooks Today. 21 Comments »

give more choice for graphic and sound cards

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by siger Feb 8

give more choice for graphic and sound cards.

i mean to put graphic card option for each computer because i saw notebooks without choice for graphic card. 4 Comments »

More Choice of Graphic cards on (Home & Home Office) Laptops and Desktops.

Desktops, Gaming, Inspiron products submitted by fahdriyami Feb 3

Sometimes when looking for a reasonablly priced notebook or desktop i would go for the Inspiron range, and im a gamer, when customizing my pc i just wonder why is there only one or two choices of graphic cards?!, most of them support the same bus type, so why not offer them?! eg, the best Inspiron notebook you offer only comes with a GeForce 8600M GT, can you just offer an 8700M with it at least? i know you did it for a reason and its probably a good one but im just curious...thinking of it, an Inspiron with an 8800M sounds ok :D 4 Comments »

45 Nm Processors on notebooks

Laptops submitted by gwiz49 Jan 30 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Get the latest and faster processors into your notebooks Dell seems to be six month behind competition in bringing new designs to market on pretty much everything laptop. Allow us the new Intel Processors in notebooks competitors already have them HP


Dell is now offering Inspiron notebook PCs with the Intel Core 2 Duo "Penryn" chip as an optional configuration.
21 Comments »

Allow notebook batteries to be charged outside the notebook as well

submitted by eaglewonj Jan 24

Design notebook batteries that can be charged outside the notebook on the same power adapter. This would allow two or more batteries to be charged at once. It also allows the laptop to remain away from a power adapter and have batteries brought to it that are charged remotely.

Perhaps this could be done with the notebook docks. Dock and charge the laptop and the extra battery. 2 Comments »

XPS M1530 Led Monitor lighting

Monitors and Displays, XPS products submitted by valerio.gioia 12/27/07

Led lighting for XPS M1530 displays would be a really interesting option. Many people would choose that display since there is less power consumption and led life is really higher than CCFL tubes! 23 Comments »

Implement an Option of an Intel Core 2 Extreme and a Intel Core 2 Quad processor and the new PENRYN processor on XPS 1330 and 1530 and a higher Graphics Card 8700gt or above

Sales Strategies, XPS products, Laptops submitted by bryan14c Jan 9

dell should implement a Core 2 extreme processor as an option for the XPS 1330 and 1530 and a first quad core notebook , because the high end models have this , why not on the 1330 and 1530 XPS is high end right? and also why stick to 8600gt that there is a 8700gt or above graphics card , well the XPS 1530 and 1330 overall design is great slim light, well as an addition dell should also implement a PENRYN processor

26 Comments »

Let Us Build A PC Without Microsoft Works or Office!

Software submitted by aikiwolfie 12/22/07

Dell I have absolutely no need for Microsoft Works 8.0. Especially on a PC designed for multimedia entertainment! Please give me the option of having a PC without any office software at all.

Please SIMPLIFY MY IT experience by giving me the opportunity to avoid the uninstall process. 26 Comments »

Make a calendar with all COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas

Advertising and Marketing, IdeaStorm submitted by krasmussen 09/22/07 **REVIEWED**

One of the biggest annoyances with IdeaStorm is that the horizon for an idea being implemented is very blurry, if at all existing. If you're lucky, you get "third quarter 2009", but mostly, there is no timeframe at all. This leads to the feeling that not much is being done, and exactly that feeling is what IdeaStorm should be eliminating.

Therefore, I propose that you make a list or calender with all the COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas with timeframes for all of them. Just a "december 2008" would be nice, or better yet, "deadline 31st november 2008".

I don't know if this is connected with some goal management inside Dell, if it is, maybe you should work on improving that, too?






Today, the best way to know the progress of an idea is through Ideas in Action, our Weekly Update or Dell comments in the thread.






19 Comments »

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. 15 Comments »

Tell us what WiFi chipset a laptop has.

Broadband and Mobility, Dell Web Site, Linux, Laptops submitted by tonyb2006 08/29/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Tell us the WiFi chipset used in a laptop before we buy it so we know if the WiFi chipset supports a feature we want, or if it supports Linux or another operating system that we intend to use. The WiFi chipset being like "Intel ipw2200" or "Broadcom BCM4306", or "Ralink rt2500".







17 Comments »