Become a Linux leader, make Windows the option
Linux submitted by jonsmirl
Jun 2
Install Ubuntu on every box Dell ships. Make Windows into the option.
This would require some real courage but long run it could increase revenue. Lowering the cost of computing always expands the size of the market.
As more people pick Linux only the budget used for Windows/Office would be freed. Some of that could come back as purchases of other Dell items. The cost differential is especially obvious on sub $300 systems. Who can afford to send Microsoft $150 in license fees on a $300 system?
Note , this is different than add Linux as an OS choice or make special Linux boxes.
-30
Reorganize 'Tech Specs' Page in a Clear, Tabular Format
Dell Web Site, Precision Workstations submitted by sgogeta4
Mar 27
Problem:
1. The tech specs page should clearly list each and every specification of this laptop that is consistent with every other laptop tech spec sheet so that people can easily navigate and compare specs. Taking the Precision M2300 as an example, I search for the words "kg" and "lbs" and nothing found. This is simply unacceptable, these important specs should be easily found.
2. The headings and pictures are nice but the description lacks any technical information on your options.
"NVIDIA Quadro® FX 360M1
The NVIDIA Quadro FX 360M offers some of the latest graphics technology to produce extraordinary visual effects, robust wide-aspect LCD support and compatibility with all major business
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/precn_m2300?c=us&l=e... Solution:
1. As stated above, present ALL key information in a similar format for ALL laptops. This means we need weights (and how this weight was calculated in the footnote as in other pages); pictures of each side of the laptop with the list of each port; description of each option for each section (ie. on the M2300 video card section, it says you can have 256MB discrete memory but on the selection page you only have the option of 128MB discrete memory). Clicking on the configuration for the laptop:
Video Card: 512MB Turbo Cache memory (256 dedicated)
Option: NVIDIA Quadro FX 360M 256MB TurboCache (128MB dedicated)
2. Maybe offer a few more details (source from the nVidia page):
Memory Size Up to 256MB
Memory Type GDDR3
Memory Interface 64-bit
...
Max Power Consumption 17W
The tech specs page is for those who understand these figures (even if you don't, more information is always
http://www.nvidia.com/page/quadrofx_go.html
200
Custimizing home computers
Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by karlgo
Apr 3
I was very disapointed to read the article from Dell upper management saying they will move away from customizing computers. That is the very reason I switched to Dell! It must be time to move on because when it comes down to it, they all make PCs about the same don't they. I can't tell enough how that is a bad idea. Everyone is panicing because of a temporary slow-down in our economy. Dell is panicing. They do this and Dell will drive so many customers right in the arms of HP. Dell is making a huge mistake in competing with HP...Dell blinked.
440
Offer a Consumer Convertible
Education, Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by bsmmoney
Mar 3
The Latitude XT is great for the business community, but offer a cousin for the Home/Home Office category. College students, home entrepreneurs, and techies would all love to use a tablet convertible, but many aren't affiliated with a small business. Redesign the XT for the home/education users. If Dell could market a tablet classroom, schools internationally would be interested. I happen to be in a county school system that offers Dell Inspiron 600m's to every student. The system is great, but the computers can't handle what is thrown at them. I'd love to take notes on the screen, so much easier!
160
Guys I have a GREAT IDEA
Laptops submitted by vardanian
Jan 28
Hoped to realize by myself someday, but unfortunately a lot of ideas bygone. I think that touchpad must be removeable to become external when one wants. And the form can be as the flat square or semi-spheric. That can be reinserted in a container inside the notebook's base and become the standard touchpad. I invite your attention please share your opinions! Thanx.
120
Move Headphone jacks BACK to side on future laptops (i.e. post-1525)
Laptops submitted by mdburkey
Jan 11
I just checked out the 1525 and was totally underwhelmed.
I especially do not like the new location of the headphone jacks -- on the FRONT of the unit. If you are trying to use the laptop in YOUR LAP the headphone jack will basically impale your crotch -- and pretty much makes it nigh on to unusable on an airplane for watching movies.
Additionally, moving ALL the ports off the back of the unit onto the sides is similarly irritating as well. One of the good things historically about Dell laptops has been that they had two USB ports on the back and two USB ports on the side -- which meant you had two you could get to easily for flash drives and two that you could leave more permanently tethered devices plugged into all the time (printers, wireless mouse fobs, etc). Now they ALL have to stick out the side of the laptop and get in the way more -- and get bumped more.
Basically, with the exception of the HDMI port, it is inferior to the 1520 in almost every respect -- especially ergonomically.
Yes, it is "pretty" and thinner -- but so what???
Would someone at Dell please fire the Apple-wannabe designers and hire back some real design engineers who actually do usability studies on their products rather than just designing them to look pretty and satisfy the college age fashionistas?
Who really CARES if you can order the d*mn thing in Neon green, chartreuse, or lavender as long as it works well, is reliable, and has all the appropriate ports in CONVENIENT locations?!?!?!?
The world needs a lot less Stephen Jobs and a lot more Henry Fords -- i.e. you can have any color you want as long as its black!
170
Update drivers more often.
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Service and Support submitted by laxmanb
12/31/07
Dell hasn't updated drivers for the ATi Mobility Radeon in my notebook for 7 months. Since ATi, Nvidia, and most other manufacturers release new drivers on a regular basis to OEMs (once every month), And the early Vista drivers are buggy (my display driver stops working at times after hibernating), Couldn't you just post them onto your Drivers and Downloads page on a regular basis?
610
Transparent XPS Case
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), XPS products submitted by daniel117
12/22/07
While surfing the web, I noticed that some gaming PCs had transparent PC cases. So I said, "Since XPS is mostly and mainly used for gaming, why can't it be like the other systems with transparent cases?"Anyway, it looks cool when all the "behind-the-scenes" stuff can be seen without taking off the lid. There should also be dark blue colored lights inside to enable you to see inside, also like the other gaming systems.
230
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.
1320
Need Gigabit Ethernet in M1530.
XPS products submitted by hoodedthing
12/06/07
What about Gigabit ethernet...? It's really not new technology, and it's pretty dissappointing not to see it in the m1530. It wouldn't be that hard to implement now.. Just start sticking gigabit ethernet ports in the laptops instead of 10/100.
This kind of thing is pretty easy to do, it's not expensive for you guys, and makes a huge difference in transfer of files for wired internet. Put gigabit ethernet in the 1530.
1480
XPS m1330 should have at least 3 USB ports
XPS products submitted by ordinary_user
12/02/07
the XPS m1330 should have AT LEAST 3 USB 2.0 ports; If it means removing the 1394a port, so be it.
most peripherals are USB based; e.g. If I attach an external HDD such as Seagate FreeAgent, it uses 2 ports by itself. I would also work with a mouse when connected on my desk....
A solution such as attaching a USB hub may not be feasible, as I do not know if the USB port can support the current drawn by multiple devices connected to it (apart from thumb drives etc).
170
Raise your hand if you're tired of negative Vista articles
Operating Systems submitted by matthew2142
11/28/07
Neowin member ispamforfood (interesting nickname!) has posted an interesting question on our Back Page News forum asking "Raise your hand if you're tired of negative Vista articles".
It is true that there are many news outlets that are having quite a bit of a lark bashing Microsofts latest offering, hardly surprising based on the real-world problems that many people suffered after upgrading their Windows XP machines. In defence of Microsoft, the recommended machine to use Vista with has increased quite a bit from Windows XP where 256MB of Ram was quite enough (or 512 for optimal performance) and now the recommended is 1gig or 2 depending on who you believe. Personally, I had 1GB in my machine when I upgraded (clean installed) but I only saw an improvement after I added an extra 1GB, bringing my RAM up to 2GB.
It's probably also fair to mention that Microsoft has since released Performance & Stability updates, which do fix a lot of annoyances such as slow copy/paste (calculation time) to other partitions. Anyway I have also done a poll, so voice your opinion by voting Yay or Nay to negativity on Vista by clicking the Member Poll link
Link: Neowin Discussion in Back Page News
Link: Windows XP was also treated the same (thanks deck)
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=603325
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=600187&hl=< PROMOTE IF YOU ARE GETTING TIRED OF THEM. DEMOTE IF YOUR NOT AND LOVE THE VISTA BASHING
-60
Unintelligible system summary details on the support page
Simplify IT submitted by fahlenkp
11/26/07
I can't count the number of times I have hoped to have the system summary help me out after entering a service tag. I should be able to go look for details that help me. The hard drive brand and model, the webcam, whatever. Sometimes you can find information based on the part number and some searching. The ideal solution would be to have HUMAN READABLE details in the field describing the part number. I'll paste an example of what is listed at the end of this post.
You guys have amazing database systems. Why not show them off? Give me details of my system with a part number, a replacement name that makes sense and a link to purchase the old part or a new upgrade? Why not post a link to not only the newest driver but the oldest driver and firmware as well? All of this data should be a few clicks away, not a maze where normal users give up.
Pete
IT Manager
from a vostro 1700 delivered today-
1 DY656 ASSEMBLY..., CABLE..., PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD..., LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., GYGBT
2 NW681 COVER..., SCREW..., MYLAR..., BLACK..., 1500/1700
1 PY585 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., 17, WXGA+, VIDEO ELEC. STDS. ASSOC...., SAMSUNG...
1 DX495 BEZEL..., PLASTIC..., LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., WCMRA, BLACK, 1700
1 PM027 ASSEMBLY..., CAMERA..., 2M, INTEGRATED..., MANUFACTURED IN CHINA..., LITEON..., M08
300
No OS Preloaded
Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by agreer
02/17/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
I have a XP Pro retail copy, will soon buy retail vista, I also like Linux: Make WINDOWS-FREE, and OS-Free an option for more than just expensive business lines.
Dell has systems available that do not have an OS pre-loaded called N-Series line. You can check them out at www.dell.com/nseries.
85150
Give Us Some More RAM
submitted by pizza
11/14/07
I've been buying from Dell for a long time and I'm sorry but this is really bugging me. First of all Windows Vista uses resources and you should have at least 2GB of RAM in your Dell system. Dell in all there wisdom are offering 1GB of RAM included and making us pay more if we want the 2GB WE SHOULD HAVE. I really don't see why they can't include 2GB so there customers can have a PC that runs well since Dell has almost abandoned XP and forcing us to use Vista. My Dad bought me an Inspiron 530S for my birthday and OK so the first time the computer stars up slow because it needs toconfigure all of the stuff right? Well second and third time around it is a bit faster but still not as fast as I would like it being a NEW PC. My Dad's XP starts up in UNDER ONE MINUTE! Here he have people saying OHHH YEAH Vista is going to have blazing fast start-up times. Well that isn't happening. I for one am NEVER going to buy from Dell again. They are greedy and make it impossible to upgrade the PC's you buy so you HAVE to buy a new one. I have 2 Dell PC's and I am just going to return them and build my own I think Dell does not care for there customers and want to jack up the price for every little thing in the PC.
ALSO: I have had to have a tech support guy come over 4 TIMES to fix my Dads computer. 2 times for the fan, and the next time he came to replace the motherboard and the motherboard was faulty. Great work Dell. So he had to come again and finally his computer works.
-50
Add a little lamp to laptops
submitted by badblood
11/11/07
Lenovo has added a little lamp to their laptop keyboards. The ThinkLight keyboard light allows you to work in low-light conditions. Located on the top edge of the display, this tiny LED illuminates your keyboard to let you keep working. ThinkPad notebooks are the only notebook family with the ThinkLight keyboard light.
This is a really nice feature and doesn't drain the battery and helps you type in the dark.
100
What is missing: Inspiron 1720
Inspiron products, Linux, Operating Systems submitted by albano
08/16/07
URGENT:
RAID support. It is ridiculous that a two HD bay notebook does not offer this;
Gigabit Ethernet. I don’t believe that my wireless LAN is fastest that my wired LAN;
HDMI / DVI support. A notebook with Blue Ray without HDMI. No comments;
Nvidia 8700M GT. The Windows Vista Experience Index is limited by the 8600M GT.
Will be a must:
Choice of OS. All Vista and Linux;
Car power adapter accessory;
Backlight keyboard;
Fingerprint scanner;
A bigger battery. It’s a lot of space in the back of this notebook to attach a bigger battery.
250
 track my votes
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