wnahorn

Pointing stick devices on ALL laptop keyboards

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by hwitherspoon 02/26/07

Sirs:

Some of us use IBM ThinkPads at work, because that's what they buy us. Others have Dell "business" laptops that have pointing stick devices.

To use these units is to become addicted to the pointing sticks as opposed to the mouse-pad below the keyboard. It's an intensely personal preference and, for myself and many other users, it means being able to move the cursor without taking the fingers off the keyboard.

Dell and other manufacturers seem to have decided that "consumer" laptops don't warrant having such a device. Let me tell you, that decision is costing you sales. For those who don't prefer the pointing sticks, the device is quite unobtrusive. But those of us who've gotta have them will simply look elsewhere. And that's a shame, because laptops like your 1210 would otherwise fit the bill perfectly, not just for consumers, but for small business as well.

All your laptops should have both pointing technologies in place. It would make the purchasing decision for customers that much simpler.

Thank you. 2 Comments »

More laptops with a stick mouse.

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by arthurdent3 02/26/07

I noticed the trend of all laptops are moving away from the stick mouse and going strictly with a pad.

I for one cannot live with out a stick mouse and I find the pad most annoying.

Please keep these as an option for your consumer laptops also, instead of just the business laptops.

I have had many dell laptops in the past and now I am using my first IBM just because of the stick mouse issue.

Since you still offer it on the business models why not at lease offer it up as an option on the consumer models.


Even better how about a full size keyboard with a stick mouse integrated into it. 4 Comments »

To bad to reveal Credit Card Number to Sales Agents

Service and Support submitted by thiruplus 02/19/07

I never reveal my credit card number to my even closest freind. But Dell Sales rep will ask me directly to give my credit card number for placing the order.

It is too bad, that Dell is not using the Technology in prope way. When Sales rep wants Credit card number, he/she must transfer my call to the IVR (Interactive Voice Response System) for taking Credit Card Number. As a customer I am frustated to give my credit card number.

Cant Dell Change this simple technology available and train the agents. 1 Comment »

Optional recessed “note pad” compartment on laptop

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by doctorcox Mar 14

For people who frequently need to write bits of information, a recessed, ”post it” note compartment would be helpful.
This could be optional by adding a “removable lid cover”.
Only people who want to access the feature would remove the cover.
Personally, I always have a “post it” pad nearby when I’m using any computer. Having a built-in note pad would be very useful.

9 Comments »

Numerical Keypad on 17" Laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by colonel62359 04/29/07

As a sales associate in a common Canadian big-box store, this is a common trend. Laptops with screens larger than 15.4" are generally used less as "on the road" laptops, and more as portable desktops. Many individuals do not wish to use a separate keyboard; as such, many 17" machines now come with a built-in numerical keypad in addition to the typical 88-key laptop keyboard. This is one major point that has deterred me from considering a Dell laptop, considering that I do a lot of typing and frequently use the NumPad. 1 Comment »

Laptops

Latitude products submitted by kannan_r 02/14/07

The Latitude 620 is pretty powerful when it comes to performance. However there are a coupld of things i miss when i compare it with an IBM TP.

1. A kepboard light is extremely useful, especially when you are working in poor lighting conditions
2. A scroll button is somthing that would help when you are on the move and dont have an external mouse
3. The laptop could be a little lighter 4 Comments »

Track Pointer

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by bayusb Feb 29

I just bought a XPS 1330. I love it so far, but hate the regular touchpad pointer (I have really only had Thinkpads to this point). I think there should be more alternatives to the touchpad. I have been told the touchpad is more natural, but I seem to prefer the little red trackpointer (it gives me more control). Is there some sort of patent issue of who owns the various tracking approaches? 6 Comments »

Bring the Laptop Nipple Back

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by flooted 03/28/07

Remember the laptop cursor Nipple, replaced by the touch-pad. Well bring back the nipple, it's easier to use when you know how. Some Lenovo's have the nipple and the touch-pad. That's a good solution.

Actually I'm not even sure if Dell ever had Nipples..?

Well if they didn't, they should. 5 Comments »

Bring back the track stick/touch pad combo

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by jasorn 02/25/07

I can't be the only one who thinks removing the track stick is the wrong answer. Removing the touch pad doesn't seem to be the right answer either. My wife likes the touchpad and I prefer the trackstick. Why hook us on laptops with both and then remove one?

Anyway, for me it's much more than a preference. The fact is for me it's a usability issue. Try as I might, I can't type without touching the touchpad accidentally. Maybe my hands are too big. I don't know. But the trackstick is nice for me because I can type like normal and not worry hitting the touchpad(it's disabled since I'm using the trackstick).

The problem is I've been to three computer stores recently and haven't seen one laptop with a trackstick.

Do so many people hate them they aren't manufactured anymore? Comment »

Offer pointing stick mouse on all laptops

Laptops submitted by sleino 02/20/07

Dell used to offer the pointing stick mouse input device on most Latitudes and some Inspirons but seems to have gotten away from it. I can't stand the glide pad nor an external mouse and will not even consider Dell laptops unless they have the pointing stick option once again. Comment »

Bring BACK POINTER Mouse OPtion! Touchpad is bad!

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by sidharthg 08/07/07

The removal of Mouse Pointer from the keyboard of laptops is really bad! Touchbad is soo hard to use. 8 Comments »

Eraser Head Mouse

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by cjbarth Jan 4

While touchpads are certainly easier for some people to work with, nothing compares to the speed and accuracy of an eraser head mouse on a notebook, especially while working in a car or in other unfavorable conditions. Please make the eraser head mouse either optional or standard on all notebooks. I shouldn't have to get a business line notebook to benefit from this really simple feature.

In addition, it would be very nice if you had the scroll button like ThinkPad’s do. They have a blue mouse button that you press while moving around the eraser head mouse that would cause the screen to scroll and pan. That is so much more effective than working with the edges of a touch pad.

Chris 1 Comment »

Offer Pencil-Eraser-Pointers Again!

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies submitted by nicu 03/01/07

I like the good old pencil-eraser-pointers in addition to the touch pad. Not everyone likes them so have those and the touch pads. When I use a laptop for gaming the pencil-eraser-pointer is much easier for me to use. 3 Comments »

Numbered keys on notebooks

Laptops submitted by ron912 04/28/07

I'd like to see an expanded notebook with a number keypad on the right side. I think there are a lot of financial prefessionals that would appreciate this. 6 Comments »

Laptop / Notebooks Keyboard Interface - Expand and Lighting

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), New Product Ideas, Laptops submitted by kreisler 05/03/07

These ideas would probably serve the XPS series well, but no harm with the Inspiron for selective suggestions.

1. Expanded Keyboard
For the larger notebooks, probably 17", accommodate a full sized keyboard (with the numpad on the left, like a normal desktop keyboard)

2. Keyboard Lighting
All the letters, numbers and symbols on the keyboard are replaced with see-through plastics (not the entire single key surface, just the letter part), and insert lighting into the key itself.

As added feature, the user can turn on and off a 'light sensitivity feature', a futuristic-looking suggestion that when a key is pressed, the light will lit up and then will dim off (to a default low lighting or entirely off) gradually in a time span of around 1 secs (time span is short as people type fast these days)

Hence when typing on a keyboard night or low light environment, you will have a very nice sequencing of lights over the keyboard. I would think this bumps the cool factor of the notebook one notch up.

Thanks for reading.

6 Comments »

Bring back the classic Inspiron keyboard layout

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Inspiron products, Latitude products submitted by devwild 06/26/07

The keyboard layout long used on the Inspiron series and C/D series Latitude notebooks is one of the most well regarded layouts in the marketplace for ease-of-use. The new layout for the Inspirons hops on the bandwagon generated by other designers, splaying the special keys around the sides of the keyboard in a completely non-standard orientation, and further displaces the keyboard layout by bringing the arrow keys tight into the keyboard itself.

I always understood this move in the ultraportable market, as not only does it save space, but in general Dell has been utilizing OEM products with less say over the design. The standardized main Inspiron and Latitude series however are given much more thought, and I think deserve to maintain some of their best assets through the generations.

Improvements to the keyboard should focus on functionality which provides tangible usability, such as backlighting options, rather than sacrificing usability for (minimal) aesthetic improvements. 4 Comments »

Dont eliminate XP just yet

Operating Systems submitted by javaprog07 02/17/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

Ok, well I know I may be chastised for bringing this up, but vista is still a young operating system with its own problems etc... I would like to see both Home and Business computers, especially notebooks have an XP Home and Pro option on top of Vista until it has at least been out for a year. For those seasoned users like me who just feel that you need to let a new OS mature before jumping right in. I am planning on buying a new notebook, and I would like to insure I wont have to format it on arrival just to have XP.
Check out the Idea in Action to find out more about Dell offering XP.




204 Comments »

Notebooks with full 88 key keyboards

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by sjnrichards 05/09/07

Unfortunately, other notebook manufacturers have discovered that a full keyboard and number pad can be used with a notebook. For someone who uses numbers regularly at work and is frequently on the road, having this option is highly desireable! Now I know that the XPS 2010 has a full keyboard, but what about a 17" or a 15" with a full keyboard. Others have it and I am wondering when Dell will offer this option. 3 Comments »

Make laptops with numpads !!

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by johell 02/28/07

Please make laptops with numpads !! 11 Comments »

Numeric Keypad on 17" Laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by z_darius 02/20/07

HP, Acer, Toshiba and a bunch of others offer it. HP has even an option of dual HDD. 17" laptops have quite a bit of space inside to pack a lot of goodies.



Most people looking for desktop replacement with the mobility option need the full keyboard. What's the holdup at Dell? 10 Comments »