Minimize foreclosures
Software submitted by solugrp
Jun 30
I'm in the beginning stages of creating a real estate software that will minimize bad real estate purchase deals. This application will be housed on a pc tablet with a retractable keyboard and swivel monitor that will allow for an electronic signature with a stylus. The security of the data will be done through the buyers SS# which when entered will automatically encrypt the numbers except for the last 3-4 digits. This process will minimize the forging of signatures and the fudging of numbers in order to make the buyer qualify. This also will move us to a more paperless environment.
-30
A Docking Station for the Dell Inspiron Mini / Dell E / Dell E Slim
Laptops submitted by brokencrystal
Jun 29
It would be nice if an optional docking station were available for the Dell Inspiron Mini / Dell E / Dell E Slim. It could include an optical CD/DVD-RW drive, an eSATA port, an internal SATA notebook drive, VGA/DVI ports, USB ports, an Ethernet port, microphone/headphone ports, an express card slot, and anything else that cannot fit in the mini notebook.
150
Add Programable Touch Buttons to Laptops
Laptops submitted by james-94
Jun 27
Where the capacitive media control buttons are why not add maybe 4 or 5 programable buttons to launch applications. They could just be numbered 1,2,3,4,5 and each one is able to be programed to run any application etc. that you want.
I got this idea after I read jeopardy's idea here and thought instead to just add programable buttons instead of replacing existing ones.
210
Put Ubuntu on sale at the same time as Windows (unfair to Ubuntu sales count if we install it afterwords)
Advertising and Marketing submitted by brett_alton
Jun 26
I'm pretty frustrated to receive a flyer with a Inspiron 1525 laptop on sale for $599 while the Ubuntu laptop with the same specs are $699.
Why is this frustrating you ask? Why don't you just buy the $599 laptop, wipe it and put Ubuntu on it you say?
Well, I can easily purchase the $599 laptop, wipe Windows off and put Ubuntu on but there are two problems with that:
1) I don't get Dell's support for Ubuntu Linux
2) Dell doesn't see what I do with my PC after I purchase it, thus, they don't know that they actually sold an Ubuntu laptop. This means that it is one more Windows laptop sold over a Ubuntu laptop. Why is this important?
Well, apparently a few weeks after supporting Ubuntu, Dell sold 40,000 Ubuntu-based laptops. It is finally my turn to purchase one, but I want to be added to that count so that Dell knows I'm buying an Ubuntu-based laptop. Why is this important?
I want Dell to continue selling Ubuntu-based laptops, so I think it would be in the Linux communities and Dell's best interest to offer the same deals on Ubuntu laptops as Windows laptops.
I don't want Windows Vista and I don't want you to think I want Windows Vista. I want Ubuntu, but I want to pay the same price as the other guys.
480
How about another update on the highest voted ideas.
IdeaStorm submitted by jmxz
Jun 19
It seems many of the highest voted Ideas are the most neglected by Dell
Pre-Installed OpenOffice | alternative to MS Works & MS Office (currently with 138079 points) has been one of the top-5-highest-voted Ideas on IdeaStorm since Feb 07. It has no "Status" regarding whether it's in progress, or rejected; and the only comments from Dell were just one employee's personal opinion.
No OS Preloaded (with 85050 points), has also been one of the top-5-highest for over a year. It's status is the same partial implementation (available on a couple models) that has been true from Dell since long before IdeaStorm was around (2004, if I recall). Clearly the Idea is popular because people want to see it on more models. Rather than just labeling the Idea as "partially implemented as always" - could you give some update on the progress on this Idea.
Firefox instead of IE (with 115593 points) has also been a top-5 idea for over a year. With the recent release of FireFox 3 - along with great press from the technology and business industry alike, another update on this idea would be very welcome. The recent Forbes article Why Firefox Matters clearly sees Firefox as the industry leader, and Wall Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal explicitly states that Firefox 3.0 Is the Best Browser for Web. Surely Dell would want to offer the best for their customers, no?
650
Make Linux a choice on all systems
Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by synful
Jun 8
Guys, why is it when you can allegedly get Linux on desktops and laptops, that it is never an option in the configuration of a product prior to purchasing?
All we seem to get as an option is Windows and then there is no option to not have Windows as an operating system. I understand that you may have reasons behind the system not having Linux as an option but surely you do not use hardware that is so non standard that either Ubuntu or SuSE will not work on it?
In the event that the computer that you use is not Linux compatible, then note this on the configuration page accordingly. For arguments sake have a pop up advising that some hardware is not compatible with Linux if it is selected as an OS choice.
1240
Cut the cost of a 9-cell battery upgrade
Sales Strategies, Laptop Power submitted by ccpljat
May 6
Yes a 9-cell is more powerful and lasts longer, but $169? Come on. It can't be that much. Cut down the price to honestly reflect the difference. I mean good grief, you can buy a 9-cell replacement for an Inspiron 1720 for $154! An upgrade is always supposed to be less.
FIX IT, DELL!!!!
1240
Add higher screen resolution to all home & home office laptops
Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by ccpljat
Apr 25
I have been using a used [another brand's] business laptop that has a high screen resolution. The cheaper Inspiron laptops can only go up to 1280x800. I cannot be productive on a screen that small any more. At least bump it up to 1440x900 or equivalent. I have basically been forced to shop in the Small Business section to find an affordable computer with a higher screen resolution.
1160
MARKET linux PCs for real, and Open Office, for real
Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by chopdoc
May 7
I actually laughed when I read some Dell staffers' comments along the lines of "my research shows the customers want Windows".
Of course the research shows that, of course Dell isn't selling many Linux PCs. Probably the leading topic on Idea Storm has been Linux and Open Source. But that is because Dell attracts mostly "techies" here...not customers.
If you want to sell something, you need to advertise and market it. Microsoft has had a decades long campaign to get into the position they are in. The common consumer thinks Microsoft IS their computer.
Dell has moved forward, but not much, and they have limited and burried the Open Source option and resisted every step of the way. That is a fact, regardless of the lip service Dell gives here.
Open Source, particularly Linux distros can SAVE the customers money. I've crunched the numbers myself, I've calculated the TCO. Stability, reliability, cost.....how and why can Dell continue to avoid the reality of these issues by saying "our research indicates the customers want Windows"?
Give Open Source the marketing exposure it deserves and that the customer deserves. Dell made their name building custom ordered computers. They were known as "the best" in many regards. Then they lost their way. I was optimistic when Mr. Dell returned, but apparently he lost his way as well.
Market the Open Source options for what they really are and do it across the product line. Tell the customers what it really is and don't make it seem like some sort of off-beat secondary option...it simply isn't that anymore unless you continue to make it that.
Check your reaserch, your customers want value....lower prices....reliability..... The answer to that is Linux no matter how you slice it. So SELL it....for real.
Dell could really make a name for themselves again.
370
Let Home customers know it's OK to buy from the Business section and vice versa.
Advertising and Marketing, Sales Strategies, Small Business submitted by jmxz
May 7
From a conversation with Dell's robert_p, under a different Idea it seems that "Home" customers are welcome to buy from Dell's "Small & Medium Business" section, and Dell's "small and/or medium business" customers are welcome to buy from Dell's "Home & Home Office" section.
This is very useful since often computers in the "Small Business" section may be more appropriate for home use (the Latitude's light weight and reliability make it a great college computer); and often computers in the "Home" section may be more appropriate for office use (where the better graphics options in Home are valuable for graphical visualization). It's also useful because an identically-spec'd system may be cheaper the Home Section one week, and then be cheaper in the Small Business section the next.
I think many Dell Business and Home customers are missing out on the best deals and failing to find machines that meet their needs because the home user's are afraid of falsely claiming to be a business and because the business customers are afraid of falsely claiming to by buying systems for personal use.
So a few ideas:
1. Assuming robert_p's right in saying Home Customers are welcome to buy from Small Business - add links to the Home product pages saying "If you don't see what you need here, check out Dell's Small Business section. You're welcome to buy those for Home use too".
2. Assuming robert_p's right in saying Small Business are welcome to buy from the Home section - add links to the Small Business product pages saying "If you don't see what you need here, check out Dell's Home section. You're welcome to buy those for Business Use too".
3. Extrapolating - if it's also OK for Home an Small Biz customers to buy from Dell's "Large Business" and "Government, Education, Healthcare & Life Sciences" section, add those links too.
4. Make a price comparison engine that compares the prices of an identically spec'd system from each of Dell's sections so I don't have to manually dig through all of your painful to navigate website sections to compare Home vs Small Business myself.
700
Offer Slipstreamed up-to-date Windows
Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by goldschool
May 8
When doing clean re-installs of Windows, it is time consuming to have to first install the original Windows CD, then Dell software and drivers, and then download and install all the Windows service packs and patches from Microsoft. Allow customers to download a fully up-to-date slipstreamed version of Windows (like SP3 for Windows XP) from the Dell website for burning their own CDs, and offer same for sale on Dell manufactured CDs for, say, $10 plus shipping (since the patches and service packs are free, $10 would allow Dell an excellent profit on manufacturing the CD and still offer a great convenience to customers). Customers have already paid for the Windows license and are entitled to the service packs and patches so I don't see a legal problem.
170
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
Make Linux laptops match their Windows counterparts
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Laptops submitted by lengau
Mar 31
I was comparing the 1525 and the 1525N today. Here's a list of what (as of 2008-3-31 18:39 CDT) the Windows laptop has that the Ubuntu one doesn't:
Processors:
Celeron 540
Pentium Dual Core T2370 (NOTE: The Ubuntu version has T2330 instead - perhaps it would be good to have both options on both laptops?)
Core 2 Duo T5750
Core 2 Duo T8300
The Windows laptop doesn't offer the Core 2 Duo T5450, but the Ubuntu one does.
Display:
1440x900 display (See: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/76248 )
Hard Drive:
80GB (5400 RPM)
The Windows laptop is missing:
250GB (7200 RPM)
Optical drives:
Combo drive
Blu-ray Combo
Blu-ray Burner
Note: This gives only one choice (DVD burner) on the Linux laptop.
Also, Nero for Linux (as well as DVD+RW-tools) burns Blu-Ray discs.
Blu-Ray support on Linux machines has been requested for quite a while now (see: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/73129 )
Wi-Fi:
Dell 1505 (supported according to http://accessories.dell.com/sna/products/Accessories/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&... )
Intel 802.11n (AFAICT, The 1505 is an Intel chip - can anyone tell me if these are the same chips?
Dell 1395
Mobile Broadband:
I'm not sure if these cards have Linux drivers, but this functionality should be available to Linux users.
Bluetooth and Wireless USB
Dell Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Bundle
Dell Travel Mouse (with Bluetooth Technology)
Dell Bluetooth Stereo Headset (w/built-in Mic)
Personally, I think that all three of those should be under the "Add my accessories" section, but they should still be available.
Battery:
I couldn't figure out any way to include a secondary battery with the Windows notebook.
Sound:
Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi® Xtreme Audio Sound Card
Whilst that difference is pretty big, I want to point out the few major problems (everything else is, to me, minor):
Processors:
I don't see any reason for the processor options to be different on the two laptops. Both OS's work on all of the processors (obviously - they're just x86 processors, after all)
Display:
Limiting Linux users to a lower resolution is counterintuitive to me. Linux users are generally more technically-inclined and thus more likely to buy a higher resolution display than Windows users.
Optical Drives:
The readers are just generic drives (writing is the only potential problem, but with the right programs, Linux can burn Blu-Ray as well). All that's necessary is a warning on the Linux laptops that they cannot play Blu-Ray movies on the systems.
Wi-Fi:
I mention this here tentatively. I understand that wi-fi chips aren't the most Linux-friendly hardware at the moment, but an 802.11n option would be nice.
470
 track my votes
|
|
jackie_c
kara_k
dawn_l