atralyx

VLC Media Player

Linux, Software submitted by filibertord 06/19/07

Dell sould offer VLC Media Player on Ubuntu since it dosent have an mp3 or video player as an alternative to Windows Media Player.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ 2 Comments »

Ubuntu and FreeDos available in system customizing menu

Dell Web Site submitted by arrgh406 06/19/07

i dont see why dell has a special section for open source pc's the shouldnt 1 Comment »

ADVERTISE LINUX COMPTUERS!

Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by usacomputertec 06/19/07

If you want to sell Linux advertise it! Show your support for the Linux community and your faith in it instead of Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. 1 Comment »

Scanners for Linux

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux submitted by jinxed 06/19/07

For years I've been frustrated with scanner support and compatibility in Linux. There is a project that provides drivers for many scanners, but many of the drivers are outdated and many of the better scanners are not supported.

It would be great if Dell could partner with Canon or Epson (or someone else) to provide robust scanning solutions for Linux users. By robust, I mean that the scanner should be full-featured; including film trays, high resolution color scanning, and possibly even software to work with scanned images (ie- document management)..

The scanners should be current (read New) scanners with preferably open source drivers that will work with SANE.

For now, I will have to continue to boot to Windows just to use my unsupported scanner. 10 Comments »

Stop making excuses, and start paying attention. WE WANT LINUX!!!

Linux submitted by homer 02/28/07

Dear Michael Dell,

By now, many people will have started reading Blogs and articles about how you have back-peddled on your commitment to listen to your customers' wishes. Here's just one:

http://blog.lobby4linux.com/archives/104-So,-How-Does-It-Feel-To-Have-Been-Ha...

[Edit] Here's a more "high profile" article, from The Inquirer:

Dell backs down from Linux promise

That makes this site (DellIdeaStorm) nothing but a farce.

First you ask us what we want, then you just blatantly ignore us. What exactly was the point in asking us what we want? Is this some kind of sick joke?

Maybe you were taken off guard, and hadn't anticipated the vast demand for Linux that happened, but it did happen, so deal with it ... or be perceived as a liar and a charlatan.

If you amalgamate all the various Linux "idea" posts on this site, and tally up the total votes, you're looking at something like TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND VOTES FOR LINUX. Are you just going to ignore that, and pretend it never happened?

Here's your response to this amazing phenomenon so far, and my comments:

We are listening, and as a result, we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux, including our OptiPlex desktops, Latitude notebooks and Dell Precision workstations.

Well you are obviously not listening. The vast majority of the Linux requests on this site are not from "corporate" customers, they are from end users seeking home computing Linux solutions. Are you listening yet?

This is another step towards ensuring that our customers have a good experience with Linux on our systems.

It's not a step forward, it's a sidestep shuffle. What exactly are you afraid of ... that people might actually prefer Linux to Windows? I could build and "certify" a Linux workstation in 20 minutes, without the assistance of production facilities and a team of engineers, why is this such a problem for the world's biggest OEM?

Are you suggesting that Linux somehow represents a "problem" with regards to hardware, and that it's going to take a team of rocket scientists months to discover Linux compatible components?

Right now, Linux works with virtually the same hardware that WIndows XP does, and considerably more hardware than Vista ... but that doesn't seem to have prevented you "certifying" Vista (a.k.a. Windows ME2). What a joke!

As this community knows, there is no single customer preference for a distribution of Linux. In the last week, the IdeaStorm community suggested more than half a dozen distributions. We don't want to pick one distribution and alienate users with a preference for another.

No, no, no, no. That's not how it works. This is just more excuses.

At the end of the day, Linux is Linux is Linux. The distro is not that significant (other than the distinction between a commercial or community distro).

Surely the CEO of one of the world's biggest companies can make a decision.

Pick a Linux distro and run with it. And stop making excuses.

My personal preference is for Fedora Core, but if you offered an Ubuntu desktop machine, I'd buy it, because (like I said) at the end of the day it is Linux that is important, not the distro. My primary motivation is to keep my money out of Microsoft's pockets and have an OS ... any OS ... that is not Windows. I can, and probably will, switch between half a dozen distros during the lifespan of that hardware.

However, it is extremely important that you offer pre-installed Linux workstations to end-users, rather than just "OS-free" systems, because without this option, you will be helping to perpetuate the misconception that Linux is not popular. Well congratulations, you have just discovered exactly how much of a misconception this really is. Maybe you should have considered DellIdeaStorm years ago, rather than sit around waiting for point-of-sale figures that could not ever accurately reflect the popularity of something that is a free download.

Trust me ... you will not alienate anyone by making a firm choice of distro support. I'm sure the tens of thousands of home users, who are demanding Linux from Dell, will be overjoyed just to have a choice of any Linux distro.

We want users to have the opportunity to help define the market for Linux on desktop and notebook systems.

This is just nonsensical marketing gobbledegook. Say what you mean, and stop obfuscating the truth with gibberish.

You can "define" the market right now ... by selling us what we want, rather than what Microsoft dictates you sell to us. The 200000+ vote for Linux should be a clear enough "definition" for anyone ... who's prepared to listen ... and not bury his head in the sand.

In addition to working with Novell,

Bad move. By all means offer Microvell to any corporate user gullible enough to swallow Steve Ballmer's baseless FUD about Microsoft's intellectual property, but I think you'll find home users rather less than receptive to any distro offerings from any company that sleeps with the enemy.

we are also working with other distributors and evaluating the possibility of additional certifications across our product line.

This is the only promising statement in the whole response, but it sounds like a lot of hot air to me.

Actions, not words.

GIVE US LINUX!

Are you trying to rejuvenate sales or not? Give the customers what they want.

We are continuing to investigate your other Linux-related ideas, so please continue to check here for updates.

Oh I'll be sure to, but I'm not holding my breath. Microsoft has you far too firmly under their thumb for me to seriously expect any positive changes at Dell.

Thanks for giving us all a glimmer of (false) hope, though. 68 Comments »

Ubuntu & Win XP Dual boot; Open office and Firefox /Thunderbird

Linux, Operating Systems - Multiboot, Desktops and Laptops submitted by bsteff 02/20/07

Sell desktops (and yes laptops) with dual boot of Ubuntu AND Win XP. My particular work environment cannot tolerate Vista and I don't like the control Microsoft is attempting to exert over my PC. Consumers are NOT mindless idiots!!! GEt rid of DRM. I will gladly pay for digital content and I will not sell/give it to a friend or acquaintance (read pirate/thief). GWA is bad enough with threats from Microsoft to crank up the pressure on non-genuine PC's. I am a physician and I control, to a large extent, at my hospital system what type of software we get in the form of PACS (computerized x-ray digital image viewing on local PC's - thin client) Almost all of imaging is now digital.

The threat of Microsoft DRM degrading images used for the critical diagnosis of patients is intolerable such that we are exerting considerable pressure on vendors to provide clients that run under open source. Why open source? Simplyu because it puts us back in control. If images are degraded and critical diagnoses missed, we docs and our patients are going to pay the price. Ubuntu, and other GUI's of LInux (such as Xandros) can let us avoid this. I run Ubuntu routinely and find it dependable and easy to use. I can trust it. Microsoft has lost my last shred of trust with Vista and its DRM and driver situation.

On another front, we in medicine are under tremendous pressure to cut costs. For a faculty of over 400 at my medical school and staff of about 1500, the cost of MS Office is tremendous. Open Office Org. software is a great help in this regared and even has features that MS Office does not offer. MS has lost our trust. We will probably all use Open Office Org in the future - so why not offer it as loaded at purchase time. I would be willing to pay a nominal fee, say $30-50 for the loading up of the software on my PC so htat i can use it immediately when I receive it.

Dell should know that the loading of all the JUNK software that comes on my PC's from Dell is a Large factor in my reluctance to order new PC's at shorter intervals, no matter what the technical hardware advances.

Brad A. Steffler, MD
Medical School Professor 2 Comments »

Diagnostic CD

Service and Support submitted by joeaguy 02/19/07

Include a hardware diagnostic CD. Put it in, boot up from the cd, and it will scan that all your drives, memory, cards, motherboard, etc, are in working order. Some tools to check and repair NTFS, FAT, and etx3 file systems from the disk, and/or scan for viruses would be great also.

Apple provides hardware diagnostic CDs with many of its computers, and also includes a copy of TechTool, which can do disk repair and includes some preventative maintenance tools, with an AppleCare subscription. Having a report from such a tool really helps with support calls, in saving both support diagnostic time, and saving customers time in getting support to realize there is a real problem.

The diagnostic partition included on many Dell machines is just too easy to get erased if you reinstall your OS. A CD would be an option I'd prefer. 36 Comments »

More AMD machines, higher graphics options, better sound integration

Desktops and Laptops submitted by pjf3rd 02/17/07

I applaud Dell for offering a few machines with less expensive AMD processors, but Dell needs to offer AMD options on more machines and notebooks, from the low end to the high end. Competition is good, sell more AMD and force Intel to reduce their ridiculously high prices.

And Dell needs better graphics options all over the spectrum. Why can't a buyer get a better graphics card pre-installed on ANY machine in the line, not just the higher-end ones?

Bottom line -- if I want to pay to get high-end graphics and sound and save money by choosing a lower-power processor and less software, why can't I?

I was forced to buy an HP notebook last year because HP offerred a 2Ghz AMD processor, 1GB RAM and 100GB hard drive + DVD-RW for under $1,250, while an equivalent Dell notebook was well over $2,300. And I got 15.4 in WXGA as well. The only HP drawback was 1280x1024 max on the LCD, but the graphics card supports 1600x1200 for an external monitor.

The last Dell desktop I bought (Dimension 8400) came with Soundblaster Live sound, but because it was a separate card and not chips on the MB, there are no front-panel sound connections. This is extremely annoying and makes sound connection changes much more difficult (my CPU is in a cabinet where it is harder to get at the back of the machine). Choosing higher-end sound should not remove convenient front-panel connections.

I have been a loyal Dell buyer since the mid '90's, and I still recommend Dell to friends and co-workers, but I will buy where the price and features are the best. Wake up Dell! 1 Comment »

Microsoft

Software submitted by dchampagne 02/17/07

(1) Offer a TOTAL SYSTEM RESPONSIBILITY option, where Dell would take responsibility for both software and hardware. We bought a high-end Dell desktop system two years ago, and are disgusted with the Microsoft s/w problems we have had. of course, Microsucks doesn't care, and neither does Dell. Even though our Dell machine works well and has a year left on its warranty, we are seriously considering scrapping it in favor of getting an Apple system.

(2) Offer s/w options other than the crap Microsoft sells.

Thank you for asking for suggestions. 17 Comments »

Built-in mic should work with Linux

Linux, XPS products submitted by adnan_wasim 02/20/07

I've had problem getting the built-in mic, such as the one on an XPS M1210 to work in Linux. This makes VOIP on Linux not possible. This needs to be fixed!

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=523113 2 Comments »

Handheld and phone to sync with Linux

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Broadband and Mobility, Linux submitted by stephanw 02/20/07

I'm teacher an i like to work with linux. But all available (popular) Phones or Organizers uses Active Sync or a Software that works only with MS Outlook.

Please develope a handheld, or better a cell phone with organizer that supports calendar, contacts and notes synching with a linux software (Evolution, or others). And i would buy it immediatly.

Best regards
Steve 6 Comments »

Integrated webcam with drivers for windows and linux

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Laptops submitted by mahei 02/19/07

Integrate a webcam into any screen and notebook!Nowadays with skype,msn,yahoo,google talk anybody is running around with a webcam being somehow ridiculously connected to the PC.

And please use a *mechanical* shutter for privacy, no need for any spyware/virus to have a look at my private life.

And offer free drivers for windows and linux!!!! 2 Comments »

Pre-Installed Gimp Photo Manipulation Software

Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by kyle.burton 02/20/07

Include a pre-installed copy of the open source Image Manipulation software: Gimp with windows based installs. In addition to open-office, a photo manipulation package like this would be a useful add on. Including picasa or other on-line image organization applications would be useful as well. 3 Comments »

Upgradable Linux Media Center

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by swirtun 02/20/07

A media center PC with expensive and nice box, with an amplifier, and other stuff to satisfy a HiFi user, but with the replaceable PC parts. PCs get obsolete much faster then good music gear so why replace the whole thing, it should be possible to just replace the PC parts, and it should of course run Linux. 4 Comments »

MythTV Media Center

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by barius 02/19/07

There are some good MythTV PVRs out there, why not a Dell? Comment »

Dell and Linux or O/S Free !

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by brjones 02/20/07

I vote to have Ubuntu or Kubuntu installed or just be able to buy a new Dell cheaper (with possibly even an AMD processor) with no pre-installed O/S.
If Dell could do this, I might even replace my trusty old OptiPlex!

Dell Optiplex GX260/2.4 GHz
2GB RAM / Dual 160GB HDD's
Nvidia GeForce FX5500
Ubuntu/Kubuntu 6.10/OpenSuse 10.2

Billy in Sugar Land ;) 2 Comments »

Linux with Corporate Support (Mandriva Linux)

Linux, Service and Support, Desktops and Laptops submitted by odiseo70 02/20/07

I've seen many interesting topics about dell machines running free linux. But I think that a major linux distribution end user oriented like mandriva linux will be great for dell pcs and laptops. It's great because Mandriva has a very interesting costumer support infrastructure and it is one of the more easy to use distros I've seen. 5 Comments »

a linux laptop

Linux, Laptops submitted by chrisrose.chrisrose 02/20/07

Boy, I sure would like to see a laptop shipped with linux. 13 Comments »

3G LinuxBios Upgrade

Linux, Service and Support submitted by vr 02/19/07

I would offer each registered dell customer a LinuxBios hardware upgrade
& a 3G WiMax pccard for wireless users with google gtalk for tech

http://www.laptop.org 1 million ordered Comment »

Pre-load ubuntu

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by alan8373 02/20/07

Pre-load ubuntu on dell laptops and desktops (especially laptops!) 6 Comments »