Advertising and Marketing Ideas
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.
540
"Dell E" Find a new name for your new computer...
Advertising and Marketing submitted by badblood
Jun 13
Dell's upcoming netbook ultaramobile thing is apparently going to be called the 'Dell E' which sounds like Deli, where you can buy milk, bread and other nice things.
Please think of another name. Have a naming competition on Ideastorm.
I vote for the Dell Lite as in delight!
'Delle" in german means "dent"
680
Dell - Please Step up your Game, this is rediculous!
Advertising and Marketing, Sales Strategies submitted by epic4life
Jul 2
I have been a dell fan all my life, but at no point have I been on the fence until recently. I have always picked dell over Hp, compaq (when they were around) , sony and toshiba. However, recently dell has not been as innovative as their competitors, especially Hp. I shouldn't have to wait months, years, or forever, for dell to match or better an HP idea that has already come out. Here are a couple of examples.
Hp Mini - It is be probably 4-6 months before dell answers
http://h71016.www7.hp.com/dstore/ctoBases.asp?ProductLineId=539&FamilyId=2769...
Hp Touchsmart - Seriously, one of the coolest touch screens I have seen, where are you dell?
http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/desktops/IQ506t_series/rts/4/computer_stor...
Hp Mediasmart server - Centralize backups, remote access, streaming, pc recovery....dell where are you on this one?
http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/notebook/notebook_hp/home_servers/1/access...
Hp Blackbird and voodoo - Seriously, drop this alienware crapp of a company you bought and make the XPS line more intuned with modern style, with all the bells and whistles....the Alien box isn't cool.
http://www.hp.com/united-states/voodoopc/index_f.html
These are just examples of Hp vs Dell. When you start looking at other companies like apple, gateway, samsung, acer, asus, and lg, you start to wonder who is making decisions behind dell's walls. I can care less about colorful notebooks, but rather I am looking for innovations and technology advancement.
Please don't turn your company into a lowend computer manufactorer like compaq. I have never been an hp fan, but they are appealing more and more to me as dell drags their feet with the mini, the home sever and overall innovation.
For all you linux fans: I wouldn't mind seeing dell make a linux product (within reason) that mirrors their window products. For exmaple: A windows homeserver and a linux (preconfigured) home server.
Please vote for dell to make adjustments to their product line to keep them more insync with the rest of the competition and not worry about stupid things like laptop colors......
210
Show Dell PCs with Ubuntu Linux in stores & TV in China P.R.
Advertising and Marketing submitted by comp_286
Jun 29
It's happy to see that Dell has already opened stores in China P.R. to meet the favor of Chinese people. 1/2 of the products included in store are n-series, with Ubuntu Linux or Red Flag Linux. But it's weird that these products are all running Microsoft Windows XP! It's common in China P.R. to use illegal copies of Microsoft Windows XP, so it's necessary for Dell to tell customers what is open source and what could they achieve from it. If customers could experience Ubuntu Linux or other distributions, they will know how the performance is. To increase sales in China P.R., Show ads on TV is also very important. Add more options of Ubuntu is also necessary.
Sorry for my bad language skill.
160
Linux banner on Dell.com consumer page
Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by rafaelrojasc
Jul 1
Probably this has been thought of before, but Dell hasn't really implemented it: Dell.com features Ubuntu products with a very small and almost undetectable mention on the menu. I think Dell should feature the Linux products with a small yet readable banner with a Tux penguin, an Ubuntu logo or something similar mentioning YOUR UBUNTU IS HERE, YOU'RE GETTING UBUNTU, etc. It's just a matter of promoting your choices a bit more prominently.
100
Ubuntu Linux systems Down Under
Advertising and Marketing, Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by finkisadink
May 10
At present it's not possible to buy a Dell system with Linux preinstalled within Australia. This is something that I believe should be resolved as soon as practicable — at present I'm having to buy systems with Windows preinstalled, only to never use that license... and this also costs me time & money as I have to perform a full SOE build from scratch.
490
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
Double marketing/advertising
Advertising and Marketing submitted by derrickceo
Jun 30
I've always envisioned Double marketing for companies to assit each other in sharing the cost of advertising while both reaping the benefits. Example: Keebler Elf commercial eating his Keebler Cookies while working on his Dell Computer......
I believe Double Advertising to cut cost would be a clever advertising/marketing tool.
80
Stop Being A Microsoft Poodle!
Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site, Sales Strategies submitted by aikiwolfie
May 26
Stop being a Microsoft poodle and start featuring some of the other products Dell carries on it's web site more prominently. I'm not just talking about Linux here. I'm also talking about all of the other great products Dell carries from other manufacturers like Belkin and Logitech.
Unfortunately however as soon as we get anywhere on Dell.com it's all "Dell Recommends Windows Vista". I find this very off putting and it ruins the whole experience of shopping on-line. I don't want to be constantly bombarded with Microsoft adds.
Making the shopping experience more pleasant for consumers helps to simplify their IT experiences by removing stress, which reduces confusion, which leads to better purchasing decisions, which results in happy customers, which generates awesome word of mouth advertising, which brings in bundles of cash for Dell and huge dividends for your shareholders!
460
Updating XPS M1330
Advertising and Marketing, Gaming, Sales Strategies, XPS products submitted by gattomorbido
12/13/07
Only few days (15 gen 08) and Apple will presents the new 12/13.3" MacBook (Pro?):
thinner, lighter, more powerful.
M1330 will lose the 1st position?
No longer the best e thinner 13.3" notebook ever?
Absolutly no! Don't!!!
M1330 was the best and should remains!
Again, who says little size = little powerful?
Let us choice if we want power or battery duration!
We need a very portable system yes, but it must be full powered!!!
Little AND powerful!
So, Mr. Dell, please updating the M1330, the REAL competitor of MacBook (pardon, Macbook was the competitor... :) with thin features:
- video card 8600gs or superior (see LG P300: they made it!)
- gigabit lan (why only 10/100 lan? chipset support gigabit!)
- webcam better, at least 1.3mpx (LG P300 again)
- no glare effetc option (I want to see what happens on screen!)
I'm waiting your updating BEFORE buy my next Dell notebook.
I must change my Inspiron soon, very soon, so be quick!
380
Dell Coupons in India
Advertising and Marketing submitted by yudhajeet
Jun 27
Unlike Dell US/Canada, there is supposedly no coupon applicability on the dell India website.
Please provide coupons for purchases in India. Otherwise remove the field for coupon entry on the order confirmation screen as its totally irrelevant!!!!
There's a huge price gap between dell products in India and US/Canada. Please look into the same.
80
Stop Advertising Windows Vista On Your Linux Pages
Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site submitted by aikiwolfie
May 11
A while ago I noticed the Latitude XT promotional demo video in the Linux section of the Dell community page. And questioned it's relevance then. In the open source page on Dell.com Dell is still trying to steer open source users back to Windows.
The Latitude XT is a Microsoft Windows only product and is not offered with Ubuntu or any other form of Linux so far as i know. In fact the demo video shows the Latitude XT running Windows Vista. Please stop badgering open source users and stop hounding them with this Windows Vista nonsense. We've already decided we're not interested.
390
"Trade In" Program
Advertising and Marketing, Environment, Sales Strategies submitted by john_saddington
02/19/07
I'd love to see a "Trade In" Program and/or initiative, where a customer who's been a long time customer could trade in an old system for a new one, or at least, a good sized discount.
I've got an old laptop and seriously need a new one. It's been out of warranty for a long time, but, would love to get a discount for a new one if I could trade it in.
This would also be environmentally healthy!
6205
Provide Linux compatibility information on all products up front
Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by spm
02/21/07 **REVIEWED**
My company used to buy all out IT products from Dell. The main reason we don't buy any Dell products any more is that it is so difficult to get information from Dell on Linux compatibility, except from a few very expensive high end products. Calling Dell product support to find out if a particular product will work with Linux and where to get drivers is an offputting experience. Dell sales staff seem to take a perverse delight in telling customers that they don't support Linux, and when I tell them that I don't want support from them, only compatibility and driver information, they tell me that they can't give me that information, nor information on chipsets which might allow me to locate information from elsewhere.
The bottom line is that I expect at the very least to be provided compatibility and chipset information before I buy a PC. Neither myself or any other customer is going to buy a Dell PC to test it on Dells behalf - product testing and certification is the manufacturer's responsibility, not mine. White box suppliers, and other mail order suppliers on the other hand are only too willing to provide motherboard, chipset, and component information etc. to allow me to check compatibility.
The reason why we no longer buy any Dell products is simple - we use a small number of Linux PCs in our office and all the servers in our office run Linux. We buy all hardware, peripherals including low end desktop hardware so that they are deployable with both Linux and Windows. We do this for obvious reasons - for example, we might want to plug in a printer originally purchased for use with Windows into a Linux server print queue, and we may want server applications to print to the printer. We may want to redeploy Windows Desktops later as Linux desktops - for example to use as a shared data access desktop. Therefore, although our desktop PCs are overwhelmingly Windows, we won't buy any hardware that isn't Linux compatible, even if it is intended for use with Windows initially. Dell unfortunately doesn't meet those needs, and we cannot buy equipment from Dell. I am sure a lot of other companies which use Linux in the office have similar issues.
Here is what Dell needs to do to have a chance of winning our (and other's) custom:
1) Advertise and inform about Linux compatibility or otherwise. Finding out about compatibility before buying is the most difficult thing about Linux, not installation or configuration. Any company that can do this has a huge advantage for little or no cost.
2) Provide full Linux compatibility information on all Dell products - not just high end desktops. Ideally, certify products for the top distros - RHET, SLES, Debian, the latest free Fedora, OpenSuSE, Ubuntu if possible. Linux users don't necessarily want a preload - most Linux users are quite capable of installing Linux themselves and would probably install some other Linux distro if one was pre-installed. Preinstallation is only useful to us as an indication that the product is Linux compatible. If a feature is only partially supported by Linux, say so and say what is supported - Linux users will understand, and may not need all the features, or like us they may only want the Linux compatibility for possible future redeployment. If driver support is external (most will be) then provide links pointing to those sites in Dell support, and if you need to make a disclaimer to avoid liability for a third party products outside Dell's control, do so. Again Linux users will understand.
3) Exclude products from the Dell inventory that don't support Linux as far as possible. Generally for every part that is not Linux compatible, there is one that is Linux compatible for the same price.
4) Don't ask customers to pay the Microsoft tax. Linux machines or no-OS machines with zero cost OS and no support should cost significantly less than a Windows pre-loaded machine. Customers know when they are being cheated and don't like it.
5) Linux support (except for driver information) is not usually required (except for servers), only web based information. If the customer needs Linux support, it will probably be from an independent consultant/techie rather than from Dell. Sell your Linux PCs as "Linux OEM - no support" PCs at a significantly lower cost than the equivalent Windows PC.
6) Linux on the desktop is most competitive on the low end desktop - particularly for schools etc. Sell Linux PCs preloaded onto low end desktop computers with appropriate free software for that market, at a competitive price rather than on high end workstations.
Upfront Linux capability would be difficult to implement on our web store. But, check some of the alternatives john_h posted.
10300
Sell AC adapters at retail stores
Advertising and Marketing, Laptop Power submitted by undead999
May 7
Since Dell is selling computers at retail outlets offer ac adapters for laptops at best buy, staples and anywhere you sell laptops. Also offer ac adapters at your kiosks.
AC adapter usually fail without warning, waiting days or weeks for a replacement AC adapter is not always an option for many users. Generic adapters dont always work on Dells, in addition many are underpowered espicially for 17 inch models
490
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
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