Mini 9 netbook Ubuntu price must be cheaper than XP price with same config

Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by ubondell 09/04/08 **IMPLEMENTED**

OK, one more time. Dell marketing must think we are stupid or can't figure out how to add. There are three Mini 9 configurations: WinXPHome_fat, WinXPHome_lean, and Ubuntu_superlean. They are priced at $449, $399 and $349, respectively, after the usual mystery Dell discounts on only the WinXPHome versions. However, when you price out the Ubuntu model with the features of the WinXPHome versions it comes out the same compared to the WinXPHome_lean, and $65 more than the WinXPHome_fat. DUH??? Where is the inherent discount because there is no external cost to build it with Ubuntu, and how can you explain a surprise $65 charge to build it like the WinXPHome_fat model (1GB RAM/16GB SSD/0.3MPxl Camera)?

They do have a chance to fix this before the Ubuntu version ships IN OCTOBER!! I guess Dell developers are as clueless as the marketers since they need an extra month to figure out how to install Ubuntu. Here's a hint, use PXE. I've used it for a little 5W geode-based server, so I am sure that an Atom CPU can do it!

"http://ubuntu-tutorials.com/2007/10/11/how-to-configure-pxe-networ...

Glad I could help, but I'll wait to order one of these until you get your act straight on the Ubuntu version. You should also add a disclaimer that the WinXP version is the XPHome and that it is really crippled compared to WinXPPro, while the Ubuntu is the full featured version (well except that you are probably still removing Wine and the OpenOffice suite from your install so you don't PO that chair throwing ogre in Redmond.



Please see Vida_K's comment below
43 Comments »

Put Ubuntu on the list of operating systems when building a PC!

Linux, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by samb0057 08/10/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Ubuntu is hidden in a dark corner of the website. I work in IT support, and I have a client who was having virus problems a little while ago. I fixed the problem by installing Ubuntu on their PC. Very recently they called me asking for advice on a new computer, I told them about your new offer providing Ubuntu pre-installed on PCs and they wanted to purchase, but could not find the section on your site (this person is a very basic user, doesn't know what open-source means, probably didn't even see the open source link). There is no way they would have found your Ubuntu section on their own.

I urge you to offer Ubuntu as a choice of OSes in the system configuration wizard, the only way to really sell Ubuntu is to offer Ubuntu as a primary option, rather than a hidden alternative. I personally am looking to buy a new laptop, and you guys have always been my number 1 PC manufacturer (I don't think I've ever bought a new retail PC except from you guys), but I feel that your Ubuntu offerings are lacking. If you offered Ubuntu on some of the great deals you offer on your home page, I would be willing to pay just as much as I would for a Windows Vista system and I probably would have already ordered.


Please see john_h's comment
202 Comments »

Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware

Linux submitted by gergnz 02/19/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I don't care whether the OS is pre-installed or not, I want all the hardware to be totally supported in the Linux kernel without in mucking around. I currently have a Dell M1210 and I wish the modem would work, just in case I need it. The web cam would work, just in case I need it. At least the Intel wireless card is totally supported. Thanks Intel!!
Drivers are available for Linux to make some but not all hardware work. We continue to work with our partners to provide for better hardware support. See more specifics from john_h.




188 Comments »

Standardize Power Cables for Laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by badblood 08/27/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Nothing is more annoying than laptop power cables that are not interchangeable from one computer model to another or from one brand of computer to another. Power cables have been standardized on most electrical applicances, including desktop computers for decades.

Make an effort to promote and implement standard power cables for laptops.


Please see dawn_l's comments below.
116 Comments »

BIOS upgrades that don't require Windows

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Operating Systems submitted by datawolf 08/25/08 **ALREADY OFFERED**

BIOS upgrades shouldn't require Windows. A bootable BIOS upgrade CD should be available.

I'm an Ubuntu Linux user. I bought my wife a laptop from a different manufacturer, which had Vista preinstalled. My wife refused to agree to the terms of the Vista End User License. But she had some problem that made the system almost unusable under Linux, which was fixed by a BIOS update. But the BIOS updater could only be run under Vista. No bootable CD. Wouldn't even work under Windows XP! In the end, we were forced to agree to the Vista License just to be able to upgrade the BIOS.

Now, I'm looking at buying a Dell Studio 17 notebook, but I see the same issue: the BIOS upgrade says it can only be run from Vista. So, I'm still shopping around with other manufacturers. That's the only thing keeping me from buying the Studio 17.


Please see matt_d's comment
20 Comments »

Standardize Batteries

Laptop Power submitted by volcano 10/09/08

Nothing is more annoying than laptop battery that is not interchangeable from one computer model to another or from one brand of computer to another. When better longer lasting batteries come out you either do with out or buy a new laptop. 3 Comments »

Pre-Installed OpenOffice | alternative to MS Works & MS Office

Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart 02/17/07 **REVIEWED**

Provide OpenOffice.org for free pre-installation alongside Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office. OpenOffice.org is more capable than Microsoft Works, and a serious competitor to Microsoft Office, at a fraction of the cost (it's free!)

OpenOffice.org can open, create, edit and save Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.

Provide as OPTIONS for pre-installation many other high-quality free software programs such as:

- Firefox: web browser with popup and privacy controls; say goodbye to Internet Explorer infections!

- Thunderbird: email program with free anti-spam and privacy controls

- Pidgin: instant messaging all-in-one program for popup-free MSN, Yahoo, AOL and others
&nsbp;[ed: GAIM was renamed Pidgin in April 2007 to settle the issue with AOL's trademark on AIM]

- PDFCreator: creates Adobe PDF files from any program

- Scribus, Inkscape & GIMP: desktop publishing, freehand drawing & powerful image editing

- Audacity & VLC: multi-track audio editing & universal all-in-one media/video/movie/DVD player
- Stellarium & Celestia: planetarium viewer & outer-space mapping, like Google Earth, but for our Solar System

Pre-installed quality free and open source software drastically lowers the cost of new PCs, and helps prevent software piracy. Cast your vote for Linux and other free software. Cast your vote for the Universal Education PC [ed: article removed/merged by dell_admin] utilizing free software.

CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Quality free and open source software is well behaved, and may be legally pre-installed on PCs, and legally shared with friends and family, sharing is encouraged! Cast your vote for consumer CHOICE and public transparency at Dell



Dell is constantly reviewing options to offer to customers. As this is available for free today, we do not currently plan on offering this as an option to factory install.
.

591 Comments »

ONE user account for ALL Dell sites

Dell, Dell Community, Dell Web Site submitted by winoffice 10/03/08 **IN PROGRESS**

It would be good if the Dell Web sites (main dell.com site, IdeaStorm, Community, Direct2Dell, etc.--in short, all of the sites on the top yellow bar on every IdeaStorm page) would work together in such a way that I would need only one account for all of those sites. To be required to have one separate account for every single Web site is hard and annoying.

Oh, and get rid of the password rules while you are at it. One uppercase, one lowercase letter, I cannot even use letters "w", "i" etc. because they appear in my screen name. That is even more annoying and hard.


Please see vida_k's comment
5 Comments »

Show more Ubuntu Pride (don't pretend it's just a side product)

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by meoblast001 10/02/08

Occasionally I prefer to browse the Ubuntu section of the Dell site and I have noticed that often while browsing Ubuntu systems the site refers to Windows-only features (http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop_studio_15?c=u...~ click on Tech Specs). Also, I have been told by some that you still use the Windows logo on the Super key on Ubuntu laptops. Companies like System 76 are already implementing an Ubuntu Super key (http://system76.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=87) Please make the Ubuntu section of the Dell site speak of Ubuntu only Ubuntu and please print Ubuntu logos on the Super keys of Ubuntu Dell systems. 10 Comments »

There should be an option of having no trialware on all computers

Software submitted by jervis961 08/23/07 **REVIEWED**

Here is a news article about trialware and how Dell feels that regular customers want it but small business ones do. Do they not look at the ideas here?

"Not interested in all of the trial software that clutters up new PCs? You're not alone: According to Dell's recent research in both focus groups and broader surveys, small-business users overwhelmingly view trialware as an irritant, not a benefit. That research has led Dell to axe the extras from its new Vostro line of small-business desktop PCs and laptops. Eliminating demo applications is a major step for Dell, which has caught flack for the quantity of trialware on its consumer PCs. (One frustrated customer went so far as to develop a "Decrapifier" utility. The company says that consumers who buy PCs for personal use do express interest in preloaded trial software, but that small-business users have different needs. By eliminating the trialware from Vostro machines, Dell says it has cut the system setup time in half. For now, Dell is the only major PC manufacturer to ship small-business systems without preinstalled trialware as a standard practice. (Some competitors, such as HP, allow customers to choose a no-trialware configuration.)"


Dell offers a broad amount of software choice and minimal software shipped. Read jeremy_f's post on the options we give our customers





160 Comments »

Stop Overcharging on Notebook RAM

Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by realskript 08/28/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Dell really... REALLY need to stop overcharging... and when i say overcharing... i mean atleast double what you would pay to pick up the ram yourself.
On XPS Notebooks... you are charging $500 for 4GB of ram... when you could easily go pick them up at your local computer shop for $250... and pocket the other half of the $500...

It would be nice if dell could save the customers as well as the company itself this hassle.. and start charging NORMAL prices for an upgrade in RAM.

thanks =D

PS..... PROMOTE THIS!!!!











89 Comments »

Make Inspiron Mini 9 Ubuntu flavor available for download or factory dual boot.

Inspiron products, Operating Systems submitted by redraiderbum 10/13/08

For various reasons, I would like to be able to run both windows and linux on my mini. I could download the full version of Ubuntu, but considering the dell version is optimized for the screen size it would be nice to have that as an option. Is it possible to make the dell version of Ubuntu available for download? If not, the other option would not help me any longer: is it possible to allow customers to choose a factory dual boot setup for others who may want the option? 3 Comments »

8GB memory support for XPS M1330

Operating Systems, XPS products submitted by 7oby 09/21/08 **UNDER REVIEW**

Linux Ubuntu x86_64 and Vista x64 editions support 8GB without any hassle. It's an important feature when working e.g. with many virtual machines.

Please enhance your BIOS to support 8GB for the XPS M1330!



The M1330 features the PM965/GM965 chipset and for this chipset you developed already support for >4GB for the following notebooks. Just reuse the code:
. Dell XPS M1730 8GB support
. Dell XPS M1530 6GB support
. Dell Precision M4400/M6300 8GB support

We'd even appreciate this feature as an undocumented and unsupported feature. Just there and working for those who need it.


Please see vida_k's comment
12 Comments »

Dell Mini Ubuntu (Linux) Missing Webcam

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Laptops submitted by ewalk153 10/04/08 **IMPLEMENTED**

It would be great if the Dell Mini product site would add back the webcam option for the Unbuntu Linux version of the product.

When the site first launched http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9 , both the 0.3 megapixel camera and the 1.3 megapixel camera were available as configuration options, but they have since been dropped from the site when ordering the linux version of the product.

Any ideas from Dell on why the change in product offering? Any chance that this will be added back in as a product configuration offering? I have to imagine that the drivers for a webcam are available, and if not, there are plenty of developers who would be interested in building them. This site lists a lot of information on getting a webcam running on a linux pc:

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/html_single/Webcam-HOWTO/




31 Comments »

Have Firefox pre-installed as default browser

Software submitted by robinjfisher 02/19/07 **REVIEWED**

Does what it says on the tin! Most people only use IE because they aren't aware of other browsers - they think Internet Explorer is the Internet! What would really drive take up of alternative browsers is if Firefox was pre-installed as the default browser so that when people look for the "Internet" in Windows, they are using FF.
Firefox advocates at Dell have initiated discussions and driven action around exploring alternative internet browsers and experiences. As you can tell from our response to the Linux community, open source continues to be a part of our conversations about new products and services.





1377 Comments »

Quit forcing McAfee subscriptions

Software, Laptops submitted by kyliemanders 07/26/08 **ALREADY OFFERED**

I bought a 15" Studio laptop and was unable to order WITHOUT the McAfee $79 per year four year subscription. The first thing I do is uninstall. I would prefer to use Windows Defender.


Please see ian_h's comment
18 Comments »

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.

465 Comments »

Sell Linux PCs Worldwide - not only the United States

Linux, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by ergo 05/02/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Dell has now decided to sell computers with Linux pre-installed. GREAT MOVE! But for the moment, it only concerns the US... Here outside the US, we can't wait to buy a pre-installed Linux Dell PC! Please sell Linux PCs worldwide!


Check out the details on Dell Linux systems worldwide!
528 Comments »

No more plastic wrap, please

Environment submitted by falbert 05/22/08 **UNDER REVIEW**

In the last shipment of computers I received I was shocked by the amount of plastic wrap used for items like power cords, USB cables, VGA/DVI cables. Do these items really need to be individually wrapped in a plastic bag. I can just imagine the tons of plastic used by Dell annually...

Something to think about


Please see brooks_p's comment
117 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".







20 Comments »