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redesign your notebooks, its about time

Laptops submitted by playback 02/20/07

I´m using dell notebooks for more than 5 years and i´m happy with technical aspects, reliability, support and pricing so far. But as mentioned before your notebooks look and feel like cheap crap from the last century. The designer of my inspiron 8600 should be.... mmh, we don´t want to be personal here...

Let´s see what kind of notebooks are needed.
(Alltogether you almost have the right categories)

you need small sized notebooks for mainly business, communication + lifestyle
11",12" or 13,3" standard or widescreen
average to high pricing, normal and design models

for beginners, rare users (internet, office)
14" or 15" standard resolution
low price, simple materials

for the working e-life heavy user and gamer (programming, 3d, design, video, music, fotografie, gaming, internet, office...)
14" or 15,4" widescreen or standard, with high resolution option
average to high pricing; normal, design and rugged models

for the homecinema and desktop replacement user, gamer
17" or 20" widescreen
low, average, high pricing; normal and design models

In some of these areas you almost have the right thing e.g. your standard cheap 14" and 15,4" are propriate for what they are and the 20" portable dr notebook is even a nice design try. perhaps the xps 17" is also ok for the gamer.

But there is almost nothing for girls (yes they use notebooks, but not dell) and the big lifestyle community (yes i have to mention apple again, and they do windows now!!!), people who work on their own or in agencies, travel around the world, designing it. If they for the same price have the choice, they by something cool or nice.
As i belong to the fairly big community of heavy users who use their notebook on a daily basis for work (3d, design,fotografie, musicproduction, djing, communication and research) - and lifestyle (information, movie and audioplayback, a little gaming), i would appreciate to have a lightweight, small sized, high resolution, robust, nicely finished and designed notebook with long battery life . That sounds hard, i know, but i also would appreciate a useful audiodevice with at least 4 channel output and working drivers for wdm and asio with low latency (everything a dj wishes and needs to not use an additional interface that sucks energy and space)

lets make this a little more concret: for example this notebook could have
14" display with 1440x900 pixel resolution, non glare
(or 13,3" with 1280x800)
should be about 2kg weight (sorry i´m from good old europe)
give it the necessary ports like at least 3 usb, a 6 pin firewire (yes, the one with power) express card....
give it an option for onboard or dedicated graphics
a simple webcam
and a design of today
make it stable (brushed alu or carbon with kind of rubber corners)
perhaps a version with a kind of water and dust resistance
(dj´s and vj`s are often working under special circumstances)
give it a big or extra battery capacity

find a partner from the music industry like e.g. m-audio (digidesign) or echo or ...
and design a low cost but working audiodevice that does a semi professional job in audioplayback and integrate 4 (six if necessary for surround playback) outputs. Make sure these audiodevices are useable when plugged into the powersupply (i cannot use my laptop when plugged, because their is so much noise on the output, even with a professional audiointerface, that i have to use the accu: actually this should be a reason to give you back my laptop, my friends did ;-)).

On the big scale you are producing laptops it should be possible to develop all these aspects and still have a notebook for (far) under 2000$.

Take a good combination of an apple, asus, samsung and dell laptop and you almost have it.

If needed give me 2 to 4 weeks and i´ll send you a design concept in 3d.

Probably this won´t come early enough for me, because i will need a new laptop within the next year, but anyway it would be good to have a choice in the future.

Sorry for being so detailed, but all this is making me think for years now, because there was never the right notebook for me, even though apple and asus did it almost...and perhaps you already have it in your pipeline...

Thanks for reading and
playback 4 Comments »

Force Microsoft to separate the OS from it's main applications

Operating Systems, Software submitted by darky 05/06/07

Force Microsoft to separate the OS from it's main applications. Main apps like Media Player, Messenger, Internet Explorer, Movie Maker and Windows Mail.

Other software companies would have an immensively greater chance in the browser and media player market, resulting in better software and cross-platform popular branded software.

1. remove and prevent Microsoft from bundling major apps with Windows
2. prevent Microsoft from selling or giving out the software "Free" by either a download link, windows update, or a security update (IE 7)
3. force them to sell the apps at reasonable development cost

This would be necessary for other software companies to have an equal chance. Linux and MacOS X bundles major apps too, but they don't have >50% market share yet.

--------- edit
Comon guys XP and Vista could be much cheaper and less bloated, and Microsofts monopoly would be lessened. 14 Comments »

Internationalization in Europe (like qwerty keyboard and english OS in France)

Sales Strategies, Service and Support submitted by pheur 02/26/07

Until 4-5 years ago, it was possible to order in France (Dell.fr) a computer/laptop with English (GB or US), German, Spanish ,.... keyboard and/or OS. No more. Can't order outside France (e.g. Dell UK) either. Why ?

It would be nice to be able to do this again knowing that:

- all hardware comes from the same assembly plant in Ireland (and there aren't any customs duties)

- you already have the same options for the neighbouring countries.

- you used to do this in the past

- people DO move from one country to another

Why make people's life difficult ? AZERTY is probably one of the worst keyboards ever (still the only one easily available on the French market) and OS translations are sometimes terrible (and look even worse after being used for 10 years with another language). 4 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!
524 Comments »

Delluniversity Student Shop for Europe!

Education, Sales Strategies submitted by rseibel 04/22/07

Please offer a student laptop shop for europe with discounts for the one who need them to write papers, do research and spend much time with them studying.

The delluniversity shop is great you have a big market waiting for you in europe.
Find a way to cooperate with the universities, you maybe already deliver products to them.

It is not possibel to get student discount as easy as in the US in Germany for example.

I have to go to https://www.academic-center.de/cgi-bin/pages/dell_notebooks to get an account custimize, than they will order one for me.

- Almoust no one knows about this possibility, you have to google for a while.
- You still have an intermediary ordering the Laptop for you it is not direct, it is not dell philosophy...

Try it in a country you suppose you can earn most, than move to the others, it is worht it.

Please fell free to comment. 1 Comment »

Extend offers like Linux pre-installation to the UK & Europe

Dell, Linux submitted by leftcase 05/03/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

First of all - well done Dell for listening to the people and making some brave decisions about the operating systems you provide your computers with.

Supplying pre-installed Linux (and XP instead of Vista for that matter) goes a good way towards giving customers what they want.

One thing that is slightly irritating however is that none of these offers are available outside of the US. Browsing through peoples comments, blogs and the Dell forums reveals that many people from the UK (for example), want the opportunity to get pre-installed Linux on their new Dell PCs.

The UK and Europe marketplace is not insignificant, and many people feel that you should extend your offer to this market too.


Please see Ideas In Action for additional information. Ubuntu Linux in other countries is coming soon.
21 Comments »

Dell Ubuntu for Europe

Linux submitted by yesmathew 05/03/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Dell announced to pre-load Ubuntu on Notebooks and Desktops for US market. What about for Europe? We want for Europe market too... users from Switzerland, Germany, France, UK, Austria, Spain, and others are requesting the same.


See the blog post in Direct2Dell re: Ubuntu in UK, France and Germany; Dell/Red Hat Solutions & More.
85 Comments »

Recycle & refurbish old Dell PCs back to Dell for 10% discount

Environment submitted by reg 05/18/07

Recycle your old Dell back to Dell for a 10% discount on new equipment. Dell can then secure overwrite erase the hard drive, install Ubuntu + hardware drivers, then donate the hardware to unemployment, food stamp, and welfare offices Nationwide. The social services offices then can pass out the refurbished used equipment to its clients, and Dell can be given BIG tax breaks by the State and Federal Systems.



1. Recycle - Turn it in, don't landfill it.
2. Reuse - There is still life left in that old hardware
3. Reduce - Buy new electronics less often, get 5 years use out of every PC.
4. Refuse - wasteful spending, wasteful practices & wasteful companies.
5. Refute - Once wasteful practices or procedures are identified, correct the problem with Action! 58 Comments »

Apply an Energy Star Rating System to your Products

Environment submitted by badblood 05/18/07

Everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment. Choosing an energy efficient appliance is one way to do this while saving money. Apply a star rating for all your products, which rates their energy consumption and ability to be recycled.



9 Comments »

Bring the Latitude to the Home/Home Office (Latitude equals Dell style and quality as it SHOULD be!)

Latitude products, Sales Strategies submitted by hotuan87 05/18/07

Compare the touch and feel of a MacBook to that of an Inspiron. It doesn't compare. The Inspiron isn't as stylish, and has a cheap plasticky feel. The MacBooks are solid, sturdy, and, if you have a MacBook PRO, made of metal.
For college students such as myself who put our computers through the abuse of daily use, it only gets worse. My Mac colleagues, however, still show off their shiny (literally) only slightly beaten MacBooks.

The Latitude, however, is everything the Inspiron should be in terms of design and style. Don't limit the Latitude to just Business users, get it to your average consumer!

People shouldn't be comparing the look and feel of MacBooks to Inspirons, they should be comparing them to Latitudes! 3 Comments »

A Site for the Computer Literate, and a Site for the Computer Illiterate

Dell Web Site submitted by hotuan87 05/18/07

The way the ordering interface is now, it's easy to confuse the computer illiterate with the glut of computer lingo out there (How many market brands has Intel released over the past 2 years!?), but also, you can annoy the computer literate by not giving enough detailed information.

It's hard to straddle the middle road...

The ordering pages should adjust to the type of customer.

If the customer is not well versed in computer lingo, you should give them a very simplified ordering interface designed to cut the excess and tell simply what they need (i.e. do what Apple does).

If the customer is computer literate, then give them a sophisticated ordering interface that gives them all the information and specific options they want and desire in all its gory detail. 1 Comment »

Environmental responsibility of Dell

Environment submitted by dhari 05/19/07

If you print a single invoice of Dell, it will take 3 pages. Can the unnecessary details and sales terms be printed on the reverse or on weblink? Environmental responsibility of Dell should not be over with printing ISO 14001 on the paper. 1 Comment »

Offer a Better Range of Audio and Video Cards

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by aussie_guy 04/24/07

Provide customers with a diverse range of audio and video cards so as their desktops can be "customised" to their own liking, and not have to settle for what DELL may have in stock. It has been noticed quite often, that within a four week timeframe, DELL adds or removes high-end cards from the selection list; which is frustrating for customers who make a decision to buy and then find they can't have the system they had hoped for. In summary, DELL should consistently offer a better range of audio and video cards so as customers don't have to settle for a mediocre selection. 2 Comments »

Better AntiVirus and Internet Security Solutions

Software submitted by aussie_guy 04/24/07

Come on DELL, you can do much better in this area... some weeks you offer the customer a choice of: None, McAfee, or Norton... other weeks your choices are McAfee, McAfee, McAfee. If you are going to limit people's choices to the two big names, do the right thing and make sure your selection list always includes an option for "None". Going one step further, how about offering people a choice to use other security software vendors? 1 Comment »

Take quick advantage of CPU price drops

Sales Strategies submitted by officeglen 04/24/07

This weekend Intel dropped the price on CPUs, including a 38% drop on the Q6600. At the time of writing this, when trying to purchase a XPS 710 Black, an upgrade to the Q6600 is still $800 US - to quote the web site, an upgrade from E6300 to Q6600 is " Intel® Core™2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.4GHz,1066FSB) [add $800".

My suggestion is to quickly react to CPU price changes - update the web site ASAP, and send out an email to potential customers "great news, and we pass on the savings to you!" - so now less people want to buy in stores, since they could be losing out of $100s in savings.

I've purchased many Dells over the years, both for work and for home, and I would love it if the company could rebound a bit. 15 Comments »

Create a better ecosystem for design innovation

Desktops and Laptops submitted by mathoda 04/24/07

The Apple iPhone indicates that touch screen controls haven't been used very well in laptops or tablets to date. It's likely that there is a new class of multitouch controlled intuitive tablet devices that someone will seize on. That someone may very well be Apple, after it finishes its initial work on the iPhone. It may be Microsoft. It may be some open source startup leveraging Linux.

Dell has historically been very against innovations in design that try to get too far ahead of the market. Dell doesn't do software. Dell doesn't want to waste funds on design student's lame ideas. That's fine. But Dell doesn't want to be left behind by someone like Apple that can design both the software and hardware in an integrated, pleasing fashion.

Dell should therefore be focused on creating a good ecosystem for design innovators to use. If I'm an open source startup with a new touch screen interface can I go talk to Dell? Provide an avenue for startups that may have different interface ideas than Windows and MacOS X to reach the market. Create a flexible system, that can take any design, and match it to the right customer. 2 Comments »

Change the structure of Ideastorm

IdeaStorm submitted by mathoda 04/24/07

When an idea hits a certain threshold (maybe 1000 votes?), Dell should indicated next to the idea in a special box what is being done about evaluating the idea. That way you can immediately relate Dell's action to the more popular ideas. The box could be updated like a blog.

I know Dell has an ideas in action tab, but that takes awhile to read through, and isn't as easily accessible as putting Dell's actions right next to the ideas themselves. Comment »

Offer A Free Downgrade From Vista To XP

Operating Systems submitted by huper 04/24/07

I for one have had it with Windows Vista. I find this software so full of bugs that I am spending more time transferring log files to Microsoft than getting actual work done. They are certainly not paying me for my time to repair their flaky software! When I got my Dimension E520 it came loaded with a 2.8Ghz Duo Dual Core Intel Processor, 2GB of RAM, 256MB on an NVIDIA card & 2 - 250GB hard drives. Surely this system would be powerful & I could focus on writing & getting work done quickly. But no, the slow speed of this operating system taxes the hard drives & CPU so they are regularly running at 75% & 89%. I have tried changing the swap file to use a different drive, removed non essential services as well as swapping out memory from one slot to another. I have used every OS both client & server since DOS 1.0 & this is by far the worst! (Except maybe BOB or ME). Dell wants to give users an upgrade to Windows Vista within a certain time frame. How about offering a downgrade to XP for people who don't want Vista? Otherwise I will be checking into which Linux version will best run on this hardware.
MCSE since 1996 & now an extremely disgruntled Windows Vista hostage! I will happily surrender my Windows Vista disk for one with XP it!! 18 Comments »

Linux-Compatible Components

Linux submitted by jtoegel 02/22/07

I think Dell should choose Linux-Compatible components for its PCs, i.e. no components from manufacturers which are supported by the linux kernel, a GPL Driver or at least a binary driver provided for major linux distributions. That would also force manufacteres to publish the specifications of their Products, which would make Life much easier for both Linux and Windows users as well as for PC manufacturers like Dell. 3 Comments »

Flexible OS selection

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

Woould GREATLY appreciate the ability to select more than ONE OS for a new computer. Given the ONLY choice of XP Media stinks! One should have all XP choices.
Having a linux boot sector would be good also.
No reason why Firefox can't be placed on the new unit @ Dell--it's FREE.

Dell just needs MORE selections especially since it touts building YOUR OWN computer THEN give us the abilitly to CHOOSE !!! 1 Comment »