Printers and Ink Ideas
Provide clean Postscript Drivers
Printers and Ink submitted by pfismvg
3 days ago
Network printers with postscript support should have clean drivers available for download. Nowadays every printer seems to have a bloated driver with some useless per printer custom port monitor. If you have only one printer on your computer that is usually no problem, if you have a few they may allready make your system unstable. if you have lots ln your windows 2003 print server it is a nightmare.
After some digging I found that you can always use the default windows PS printer driver as long as you have a correct PPD file.
but finding the PPD files on the Dell site is a nightmare and you need to download a lot of huge files before you get everything.
I created a driver pack with the following printers (these I have on my network)
Dell 1600
Dell 1700
Dell 1720
Dell 1815
Dell 3100
Dell 5100
Dell 5110
Dell 5200
Dell 5210
Dell 5310
To find all correct files I had to download more then 200 Mb
the final version is only 2 Mb and supports XP/2003/Vista 32 and 64 bit
http://cid-5059424a2ac3e7cc.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/PrinterDrivers/CleanD...
please check the above file and start providing drivers like this for all your networked postscript printers. I know lots of System administraters will love this.
80
SELL LINUX COMPATIBLE PRINTERS
Linux, Printers and Ink submitted by nycnikato
05/27/07
Right now DEll sells rebranded Lexmark printers. I bought and A920 later to find out that it is very very poorly supported on Linux, and also does not support Macintosh. Most Lexmark/DEll printers for home/soho use are not well supported under Linux. Here are some ideas to fix that, in order of preference
1) Sell Rebranded BROTHER printers, Virtually ALL of brother's printers and multifunctions support Linux (and Mac), they have open source binaries and source code that you could include with ubuntu or any other
http://solutions.brother.com/linux/sol/printer/linux/cups_drivers.html< there is no bad blood or competition between brother and DELL
Brother printers are very very inexpensive, so there is room for margin. Surely brother would manufacture custom cartridges for dell.
2) Compel Lexmark to make their printers Linux compatible. This is unlikely because Lexmark likes to be proprietary with drivers. For some reason it is difficult technologically for Lexmark to produce Linux drivers. There is no processor inside their printers. Brother, HP, Samsung, and others do not have this problem.
3) Sell Rebranded HP printers---- Not so good because HP makes all the money, and DELL directly fuels a competitor.
2030
Use Electronic Paper Screen for Day-Light Users users
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Printers and Ink submitted by marvindanig
May 2
Its very difficult to read the laptop screen in open daylight under the Sun. Especially, in a developing country like India, where people have to run and meet clients under the sun n do all reading while finding a suitable angle to turn the screen on... its annoying to adjust angles to connect optically with the text literally and the eyes get strained ultimately.
Using a layer of electronic paper screen (I know of company named e-ink.com which makes electronic papers) will help users like me to use the laptop more ergonomically. Not only that the electronic screen would consume power at 1/3rd the rate of an LCD or LED would ... Giving me more action time between two charges for the lappy....!
A paper screen can be read under the sun and requires alternative lighting for the night use (just like paperback books). It will suit a very large category of eye-conscious customers and give opportuniy to design another awesome category of LAPTOPS.
210
Make all your printers support PCL
Printers and Ink submitted by kevstar31
Jan 16
"Printer Command Language, more commonly referred to as PCL, is a Page description language (PDL) developed by HP as a printer protocol and has become a de facto industry standard."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer_Command_Language
If you make make printers that support pcl these drivers shold work with your printers:
CUPS-Compatible:
pxlmono and pxlcolor drivers (GhostScript built-in)
gutenprint (GPL (free software))
Edit:
"Vista too. [...]Googling for "Vista PCL 64 bit driver" returns lots of results. Without a well documented interface like PCL, it's harder."(in a comment by jmxz )
260
Expand Wireless USB to All Systems; Add to Peripherals
Broadband and Mobility, Printers and Ink submitted by coachcg
Jan 22
Dell - Thanks for being one of the first to market with notebooks containing wireless USB - the Inspiron 1525 and the Inspiron 1720 ( http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/01/03/40345.aspx ). Could you accelerate WUSB implementation into all your notebooks and then into all your desktops too?
Could you also work on getting WUSB transmitters installed in all your printers and peripherals?
Lastly, it would be great for those that have already purchased existing notebooks if you could work on getting them a wireless USB upgrade - possibly as an express card and/or PCMCIA add on for laptops.
For those who do not know about Wireless USB, here is a good article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_USB
Bluetooth has been nice and probably will need to remain in notebooks for a time, the speed and range of this new WUSB technology will allow us to have much more mobility in our workspace and reduce and/or eliminate the need for docking stations.
520
Linux Printing Solutions
Linux, Printers and Ink, Service and Support submitted by jfelisky
02/21/07
I have a Dell 3100cn laser printer, which was a nice purchase until I dropped Windows XP and moved to OpenSuSE on my home computer.
I've tried a lot of different message boards looking for a way to keep that printer, but I'm so frustrated with Dell's lack of Linux support that I have to consider HP, since the LaserJet family is more broadly supported.
1760
Printer Cartridges
Printers and Ink, Sales Strategies submitted by burkem
02/17/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
I own a very nice Dell all-in-one that works fine. But it goes through printer cartridges like no tomorrow. Why can't Dell provide bigger/fuller/better cartridges, and why can I buy them only from Dell? I feel like I have a Barbie doll for a printer--initial acquisition cost low, but buying the dresses has been very expensive. Why can't Dell, which set the standard in home use years ago (I am on my fifth home Dell), set the standrd for printers?
39
Make DELL Laser Printers with Separate DRUM and TONER kits - Cleaner, Greener, and Cheaper!
Environment, New Product Ideas, Printers and Ink submitted by reg
06/13/07
People are sick and tired of getting ripped off by expensive H.P. Laser Toner Cartridges. Samsung makes the TONER packs separate from the DRUM, making it very inexpensive to use:
Make a DELL Laser Printer with separate Toner and separate Drum kits, it is cleaner, better for the environment, and much more affordable for the home laser printer user.
DELL should partner with Samsung to make DELL Laser printers - they have demonstrated a very good design, and DELL can 'bring it to everybody' - and get 1 up on H.P.'s Toner EMPIRE.
240
printer cover
Printers and Ink submitted by bcbeachbum
Jun 5
I think it would be an excellent idea is you werer to make available a dust cover for your printers. I would even be willing to pay for it.
100
printer and laptop in one
Printers and Ink, Laptops submitted by buttafuco
06/26/07
it would be so cool if you could print something without having to carry a separate, bulky printer, just your laptop. or instead of having to find a kinkos or hotel business center where they will charge you $.50 a page or something crazy. i think the technology is small enough that it could be incorporated into the bottom of the laptop as an option for people on the go. Dell could either make it like a battery that you can pop out and put a paper thru and bluetooth send from your computer or where the printer is actually part of the laptop like a bottom layer.
if you demote - explain why please. bad idea? not feasible? wouldn't buy it? duplicate?
-310
Every printer should duplex! (two sided printing)
Environment, Printers and Ink submitted by one4spl
07/02/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
As an environmentally aware company that makes long shelf-life products (not food or toys) you should be aware that the biggest environmental impact your products have are the results of their use, not their manufacture.
Towards this end all your printers should duplex as standard, and if taken to the extreme the drivers should be set to duplex by default.
They should also go into a very low power state shortly after going idle.
Cheers,
Luke
We offer this capability in some printer products. We constantly seek improvements printers. Thanks for your great suggestions.
440
Dell 3115cn Color Laser MFP FAX features
Printers and Ink, Service and Support submitted by ssantjer
04/20/07
I recently purchased a Dell 3115cn Color Laser MFP. Most features work well. Two features seem to be missing from the FAX:
1. Incoming faxes only print from tray 1. With the optional 550 sheet paper drawer installed, I would like for the option to have incoming faxes pull paper from drawer 2. Since this is the "hi-cap" drawer, this is where I put the cheap copier paper. More expensive color laser paper is in the smaller drawer 1. For now, I am left with the choice of printing faxes on expensive paper, or putting my main paper supply in the smaller drawer 1.
2. The Dell FAX driver does not have an option to select or assign a cover page prior to transmission. Please add the ability to assign or select a cover page within the Dell FAX driver.
Thanks
Steve Santjer
0
Improve 3115cn litterature, drivers and documentation
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Printers and Ink submitted by delluser
09/02/07
The MF 3115cn printer is presented as a networked, platform independent multifunction printer.
PROBLEMS:
- Buy the product and witness there is in fact no way to "email to fax" or "print to fax" on platforms other than windows PCs
- Ask support, only to verify they're clueless
- Wait for a documentation update... there was one, but networked faxing is not really on the menu
IS THIS THE SOLUTION, REALLY:
- Sniff what the network fax driver does under windows. Indeed it does "print to fax" with extra parameters
- Test and reverse engineer to discover the list of params and accepted values
- Hack a PPD for Mac OS/Linux and plug it to Cups.
I am not so sure the community of 3115cn owners is that large since I have not found a solution to this problem. But surely you Dell should do something about this! The hardware is really fine and the printer driver for Mac OS is good -- for the printing part. I guess it is a matter of finishing the job.
I am posting today because yesterday I witnessed the install of an ink jet, wireless, MF HP printer. In a breeze, Mac and PC clients could print or fax over the network. That product is priced at a fraction of the 3115cn but obviously HP invested enough in software development.
70
Dell Ink and Printers - Sell them at Best Buy and other stores. ******Edited******
Printers and Ink, Sales Strategies submitted by stormrider451
Mar 1
Now that DELL computers AND printers are starting to be sold at Best Buy, I believe that selling Dell Ink and possibly more Dell Printers at Best Buy is a good step to take for DELL. Maybe selling more Dell printers would be a good thing when DELL ink is easier to get or at least its sold in the same plac e the printer is being sold.
The reality is that buying Dell ink is a total hassle for some people. My mother in law has spent hours waiting on the phone trying to order an ink only to get the wrong ink sent to her in the mail and sometimes even faulty ink that didnt work. You might say, order it online, its faster, but when she tried that they also sent her the wrong ink. This is not an efficient way of handeling the retail of a product that needs to be replaced every so often. This ineficiency pushes costumers just as her to go to the local Walgreen's store or Office Max to simply refill the cartriges (which is cheaper too), hanging dell to dry in this department.
The recent contract that allows dell to sell ink at Staples is a very good step forward, but I think its not enough. I mean, we dont even have a Staples here in Puerto Rico. But we do have Best Buy (as of yesterday actually :D). Lets get DELL ink into other major stores like Best Buy. The truth is that this kind of hassle of having to order your ink makes me shy away from buying any DELL printer. Why buy a DELL printer if I can buy an HP printer and get the ink anywhere I want? Older people prefer to get in their cars and drive to a store to buy things, instead of logging in and trying to buy it online. And trust me, with the amount of baby boomers around, you would benefit a lot from making this kind of changes.
EDIT: ****************************
Best buy has the product red printer. Seriously, if you are going to sell the printers at Best Buy, you need to sell ink there too. If someone is going to buy that printer, many will ask: "Ok what ink do I buy for it?" because many people when they buy a new printer take extra ink cartridges. The Best BUy person will then tell them that they will have to go online to order the ink. What do you think many people will do on that moment? Many will simply say, thats not pratical at all, I want my ink now and NOT buy the printer. Plus, the person doesnt even know how the dell ink service works online, so he will have to make a decission on a purchase he doesnt even know how its going to work out or doesnt even know how much the ink is worth because he cant see it infront of him. Many people will simply NOT buy the printer due to this uncertainty especially older people who find internet a scary business. The availability of Dell printers at Best Buy makes the availability of Dell Inks at Best Buy even more needed.
Thanks!
110
Construction Printer
Printers and Ink submitted by bapepper2
Apr 23
If you want to capture the printer market consider focusing on the construction market (the largest industry in the nation). My wish list:
1. 11x17 color
2. Laser
3. 2 trays (8.5x11 & 11x17 with 250 or 500 sheet capacity...reem of paper, duh)
4. front and back capable
5. scan straight to PDF
6. tough
7. networkable/wireless
8. copy (enlarge/reduce 10% to 1000%?)
9. scan (4800dpi x 4800dpi?)
10. fax (pc-fax)
11. print (fast)
Also need a portable see through scanner for scanning plans 8.5x11 would be a good start but 11x17 would be great. Similar to the HP ScanJet 4600 See-Thru Flatbed Scanner but without a back. You would just lay the scanner on the plans and be able to see what you are scanning. This is a huge problem for Architects, Engineers, Contractors, Owners... We usually have to disassemble 200 pages of 30"x42" plans, fold up the page you want and put it on a scanner. I can not believe that this market has not been tapped.
I would be glad to give you more feed back and help with product design features/testing in the field.
200
Create OSX drivers for your printers
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Printers and Ink submitted by hoodamanny
02/27/07
I am not sure if Dell realises but not all families and more importantly offices are windows only. We have a mixed household and because of the lack of support for osx I have to get my printers from hp or canon. I would love the have the facility to at least print to my dell printers from my daughters laptop or then again allow my creative team to get dell printers.
Considering that the manufacturer of the printers supplies osx drivers... it woudl be awesome if you did too!!
230
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