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Now You Choose – Concept 1

Gaming, XPS products submitted by dell_admin1 04/25/07

Participate in the product design process! Dell is using IdeaStorm to decide between two new product design concepts. Vote on your favorite and weigh in to tell us what you think.

When we unveiled the XPS 710 H2C at CES this year, we also uncovered it. There were a limited number of systems sprinkled throughout the show floor that had a clear side panel allowing easy viewing of the patent-pending two-stage H2C liquid cooling system.

Since then, more than a few people have suggested we offer a “panel with a view” as an option for our XPS 710 line. Now we need you to vote for one of these two options and, most importantly, share some reasons why you like it.

This “Now You Choose” vote campaign will be open from Wednesday, April 25 to Friday, May 11. The design that gets the most votes will be featured in a future generation of XPS gaming desktops.

Dell Outlet Should Offer OS Choice of Linux

Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by durango95 05/01/07

Budget minded consumers love the Dell Outlet because we can save hundreds on the latest equipment... and I am batting 100% on the quality of the systems being shipped from the Outlet.

HOWEVER... One thing that irks me is that I am forced to take WINDOWS VISTA when buying these outlet machines. The first thing I do after receiving them is format them and install Fedora Core 6. I have bought twelve XPS 410s in the past calendar quarter and have formatted them all clean and installed FC6.

It's just plain unfair to pay the Microsoft Tax and agree to their unreasonable EULAs if we do not have to. I am all for giving B. Gates and company money for any of their products that actually give business value (i.e. usually this means Excel or possibly Visio in this day and age as business-line people require perfect Office-compatible functionality -- OOo is great for developers and more casual users but not necessary for front line heavily analysis people). I'd rather the software money go to VMWare or Red Hat or some company actually delivering uncommon value nowadays.

Since Dell will not be able to compete with Apple on HW/SW combination OS choice is king at this point. It behooves Dell to ally with Linux now more than ever to face the Apple threat. 2 Comments »

Make Carbon Fiber Based Laptops to Minimize weight and Maximize Strength

Laptops submitted by wonderworm 05/07/07

Sony's has a big winner with their Carbon Fiber based Vaio laptops. Carbon Fiber has become extremely cheap over the past several years so for little cost, Dell could reduce the weight of some of their laptop lines significantly while actually improving structural integrity.

Plus Carbon Fiber is just cool. 1 Comment »

IdeaStorm should check to see if your post is similar to existing posts

IdeaStorm submitted by hjwasson 04/26/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

One of the greatest failings with IdeaStorm's otherwise wonderful concept is that many similar posts are created - and although they all get votes, no one post gets enough votes to rise to Dell's attention.

When you submit a post, I would like to see IdeaStorm search for similar posts, and if it finds any, prompt you:

Your post seems similar to this/these post(s):

1. Yes, it is. Please make my post a comment to the existing post instead (& I will vote on that post).

2. No, they are different - but related. Please associate my post to the existing post.

3. No, my post is not related - continue posting.

#2 is related to my suggestion to be able to be able to associate similar posts:

http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/66450/Provide_a_way_to_associate_simila...

For all of this to work, Dell would have to vastly improve it's search ability within IdeaStorm (perhaps collaborate with Google?)! Use Google's advanced search features, with www.ideastorm.com as the domain to search, if you want to see for yourself the differences in how well the search features function.



Duplicate ideas suggestion feature has been added.

32 Comments »

Notebook Shells Are Plastic - Offer Metal Casings Too

Laptops submitted by googideas 02/17/07

Notebooks get carried everywhere. Shouldn't Dell offer an aluminum or otherwise metal casing/construction as an option?

If I am going to drop two grand on a laptop, which I just did, I sure as heck want it as rugged as possible. I don't care about weight or additional cost. I want it to last.

Plastic is brittle. A dent in the metal is better than a crack in the plastic. It's also easier to recycle.

What do you think? 32 Comments »

Solid State Drive as option in Notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by tablet205 03/28/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

Definition

A solid state drive is primarily a data storage device, for use in computing applications that traditionally use a hard disk drive.

A solid state drive is based on non-volatile memory instead of the spinning platter and mechanical-magnetic head found in a conventional hard disk drive. With no moving parts, a solid state drive eliminates seek time, latency and other electro-mechanical delays and failures associated with a conventional hard disk drive.

Advantages

* Faster startup - Since no spin-up required.
* Faster read time – In some cases, twice or more than that of the fastest hard drives.
* Low read and write latency (seek) time, hundreds of times faster than a mechanical disk.
* Faster boot and application launch time - Result of the faster read and especially seek time. But only if application already resides in flash and is more dependent on read speed than other issues, eg. OS bootup that detects devices will not be significantly sped up even with faster seeks & reads.
* Lower power consumption and heat production - no mechanical parts results in less power consumption.
* No noise - Lack of mechanical parts makes the SSD completely silent.
* Better mechanical reliability - Lack of mechanical parts results in less wear and tear. High level of ability to endure extreme shock, vibration and temperatures, which apply to laptops and other mobile devices, or when transported.
* Security - allowing a very quick "wipe" of all data stored.
* Deterministic performance - unlike mechanical hard drives, performance of SSDs is constant and deterministic across the entire storage. "Seek" time is constant, and performance does not deteriorate as the media fills up (See: Fragmentation).
* Lower weight and (depending upon type) size
* Faster than conventional disks on random I/O
Check out the Idea in Action on the SSD enhancements Dell is making.




49 Comments »

pre-installed linux ubuntu on desktops and laptops

Linux, Operating Systems, Desktops and Laptops submitted by fra9000 02/20/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

i think linux will be the future...so please make some model-line of desktops and laptops with ubuntu linux pre-installed... thanks


This idea has been implemented on select desktops and notebooks in the US, UK, France and Germany.

80 Comments »

Remove metallic Windows sticker

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

The unremovable metallic "Vista capable" or "Designed for XP" sticker serves no purpose as soon as the laptop is in use by the end-user. Dell should design its notebooks to be sleek, stylish and simple -- and a permanent stickers is the exact opposite. This is (in part) why Apple sells the most stylish laptops, and why the one you buy is never as nice as the one you see in the promotional-pictures (no stickers!)

Replace the metallic sticker with an easily removable one !!! Dell should be large enough to stand up to Microsoft (who no doubt enforces the metal stickers). 23 Comments »

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.
296 Comments »

Linux Hardware Compatibility List

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by s3indiana 02/20/07 **IN PROGRESS**

Create a listing of Dell hardware that's compatible with the major Linux distributions (Fedora, OpenSuse, ubuntu, Freespire) providing compatibility with not just systems (desktops and laptops) but include peripherals (printers, camera's, flash drives, compatible routers, etc.). Include levels of compatibility so the reviewer can make an educated choice. This would provide the greatest assistance for those looking at alternatives...

We're working to add something like this to our linux.dell.com wiki. Click here to see what john_h has to say.




30 Comments »

No McAfee

Software submitted by doomlord52 02/19/07

I think everyone agrees here. No McAfee. i cant unistall my copy because it will take all my settings for the Microsoft firewall with it. That includes my outlook settings, internet, and just about every program. Why cant i say "no McAfee please"??? is it really that hard? use Norton.... 72 Comments »

Sell more desktops without monitors, keyboards, etc

Desktops, Environment, Sales Strategies submitted by gordonbrown77 02/16/07 **COMING SOON**

Make it an option to not get things people may already have when upgrading a PC such as monitors, mouse, keyboard. This would be good environmentally and save people some money if they already have theae things and will not be keeping the old PC. 33 Comments »

Stripped down, fast Linux Box

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops, Linux submitted by pawprintz 02/17/07 **REVIEWED**

How about a fast, Internet ready Linux desktop. Small form factor, pretty monitor, mouse & keyboard, the O.S., OpenOffice & Firefox. Cheap'n'fast


Dell sees the value of this idea, and is keeping the sugestions for a Linux small form factor on the radar. john_h will let the community know of any new information as it comes.




128 Comments »

See only Linux compatible components when building your own system

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by frozenfire 05/03/07

It would be nice when building you own system on the Dell site, you can tick a box and then it doesn't show the components that aren't Linux compatible. 3 Comments »

Extend offers like Linux pre-installation to the UK & Europe

Dell, Linux submitted by leftcase 05/03/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

First of all - well done Dell for listening to the people and making some brave decisions about the operating systems you provide your computers with.

Supplying pre-installed Linux (and XP instead of Vista for that matter) goes a good way towards giving customers what they want.

One thing that is slightly irritating however is that none of these offers are available outside of the US. Browsing through peoples comments, blogs and the Dell forums reveals that many people from the UK (for example), want the opportunity to get pre-installed Linux on their new Dell PCs.

The UK and Europe marketplace is not insignificant, and many people feel that you should extend your offer to this market too.


Please see Ideas In Action for additional information. Ubuntu Linux in other countries is coming soon.
21 Comments »

Don't make us buy Vista

Operating Systems submitted by icantseeyou 02/21/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

From all of the press I have read it is plain that Vista is a big bomb. To buy the cheapest version I hear it isn't even as good as XP SP2. At the same time you need at least 4 Gig to run it. Offer other options... I don't care if it's Linux, XP, or a rat running on a wheel. Don't make us buy Vista.

You can read more about this the OS options Dell offers here.






93 Comments »

No DRM

Software submitted by fgarpe 02/26/07

Don't put DRM hardware or software in any

http://defectivebydesign.org/
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesti%C3%B3n_de_derechos_digitales
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Rights_Management 8 Comments »

Dell Ubuntu for Europe

Linux submitted by yesmathew 05/03/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Dell announced to pre-load Ubuntu on Notebooks and Desktops for US market. What about for Europe? We want for Europe market too... users from Switzerland, Germany, France, UK, Austria, Spain, and others are requesting the same.


See the blog post in Direct2Dell re: Ubuntu in UK, France and Germany; Dell/Red Hat Solutions & More.
85 Comments »

Pre-installed Linux must play commercial DVDs

Education, Linux submitted by jonmca 05/03/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

You probably know this, but a "show stopper" requirement for most consumers and many educators and business road warriers is having laptops and desktops that can play commmercial DVDs. I have a hunch that preinstalled Linux on Dell machines will be a terrific success if Dell Linux desktops and laptops have this capability. I've been told that http://www.videolan.org/ has one possible approach.

Having Linux playing commercial DVDs may also catapult Dell into the complex Digital Rights Management contoversy so it would be wise to get Dell's legal staff involved ASAP and also have this discussed this at the highest strategic management levels at Dell (if this is not already being done).


Check out the Ideas in Action post from Daniel Judd. And you can also check out this follow-up post from John Hull who leads our engineering efforts behind Linux on consumer systems.
32 Comments »

Now You Choose - Concept 2

Gaming, XPS products submitted by dell_admin1 04/25/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

Participate in the product design process! Dell is using IdeaStorm to decide between two new product design concepts. Vote on your favorite and weigh in to tell us what you think.

When we unveiled the XPS 710 H2C at CES this year, we also uncovered it. There were a limited number of systems sprinkled throughout the show floor that had a clear side panel allowing easy viewing of the patent-pending two-stage H2C liquid cooling system.

Since then, more than a few people have suggested we offer a “panel with a view” as an option for our XPS 710 line. Now we need you to vote for one of these two options and, most importantly, share some reasons why you like it.

This “Now You Decide” vote campaign will be open from Wednesday, April 25 to Friday, May 11. The design that gets the most votes will be featured in a future generation of XPS gaming desktops.