breakable

pre-installed linux ubuntu on desktops and laptops

Linux, Operating Systems, Desktops and Laptops submitted by fra9000 02/20/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

i think linux will be the future...so please make some model-line of desktops and laptops with ubuntu linux pre-installed... thanks


This idea has been implemented on select desktops and notebooks in the US, UK, France and Germany.

80 Comments »

IdeaStorm should be using Webstorm software

IdeaStorm, Software submitted by jervis961 Jul 30 **REVIEWED**

is a idea platform from Brightidea.com that like the current software used here allows a user to: post ideas, vote on ideas, and comment on ideas. The major difference is that Webstorm software has much better user features that we have been asking for since this site launched.

Wouldn't you like to be able to change your vote on an idea or even remove your vote altogether? How about editing tools when you are posting an idea? User profiles where you can post your credentials? Send a private message to another user?

Check out this site that uses the software and see what we are missing out on. http://tinyurl.com/6xrnt5



Please see vida_k's comment
39 Comments »

Traing video for Ubuntu

Linux, Service and Support submitted by lightbulb Aug 1

Dell has a chance to stand out as a supporter of Ubuntu by actually offering people who would try it but are apprehensive, a tutorial on CD. Most new clients for Ubuntu are going to come from the Windows world and won't know (without a tutorial) just how easy it is to use.
Dell should offer one as an accessory on its site.

If you don't have one already, email me and I'll put you in touch with a guy who authored a 3 CD set for training on Ubuntu 7.10. 2 Comments »

Can we get Studio Hybrid with Ubuntu?

Desktops, Linux, Operating Systems - Multiboot submitted by arhere Aug 1

I LOVE the new Studio Hybrid PC's. Can we get it preinstalled with Ubuntu? This would drop the price even more and be a GREAT PC for surfing the Web and such.

If you say no to this idea, can we at least get a "Ubuntu capable" certification for the hardware?


41 Comments »

Offer a system based on completely free software

Linux, New Product Ideas, Sales Strategies submitted by kenpokarateboy Jul 26

Offer a system that fully respects the freedom of its users. Use a free BIOS (such as coreboot- http://www.coreboot.org) a completely free operating system- Ubuntu is great, but it still contains proprietary software. Instead, use Gobuntu, a Canonical-sponsored Ubuntu derivative, if you have some sort of agreement with Canonical, or even better, the FSF-sponsored gNewSense distribution.

You should partner with the FSF is such an endeavor- I'm sure the would be happy to support any company that is trying to free computer users be offering a computer that truly respects freedom and openness.

Dell, this is a call to you to allow us to use software that does not force us to bind ourselves into EULAs, to use software that we can examine, and modify, and share, and improve, to use software that supports freedom and collaboration, rather than profit and restriction.

Right now, It is nearly impossible to get a computer like this, except by building it yourself. If such a computer were available from Dell, I would certainly purchase it the next time a need a computer, and I'm sure many other free software users would agree with me. Comment »

Wireless Earbud/headsets

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by daewootech Jul 28

I would love the ides of having a set of either wireless earbuds or bluetooth headsets for combination music, phone, video conference etc.. use on my laptop.

they could plug right into the laptop for charging/pairing/storage duties.

Adobe Fireworks mockup:
http://www.daewootech.net/temp/bt1s.jpg

3 Comments »

Include a totally free ANTIVIRUS

Software submitted by estebanhillcoat Jul 26

Include only a totally free antivirus solution like AVG, AVAST, AVIRA & etc.

Avoid all types of trialware software and remember that customers pay for YOUR HARDWARE not to watch COMMERCIALS. 16 Comments »

Pay Attention To Our Ideas!

IdeaStorm, Software submitted by aikiwolfie Jul 29

Using the new "Top Ideas" feature I tracked all the top rated ideas from the highest voted to 0 points. From page 1 to page 400. On every single page there were a healthy number of ideas relating to Linux, Ubuntu, OpenOffice.org, Firefox and free open source software in general.

The highest voted Linux/FOSS idea had 151870 points and the lowest had 9 points. I'm sure there are other with negative votes in the remaining 79 pages. But most of those ideas were about Microsoft products. Windows XP, Vista, Microsoft Works and Office. The remainder were hardware related, things Dell just can't do or non-idea threads.

Sure this must tell Dell something about the demand for free open source software on Dell PCs? The highest voted idea of all time here on IdeaStorm is Pre-Installed Linux | Ubuntu | Fedora | OpenSUSE | Multi-Boot with 151870 points. In fact the entire first page is all about Linux, FOSS and no trial ware. That theme continues all the way through IdeaStorm to page 400.

So when we ask for more Linux support and better FOSS support please don't fob us off with the old "supply and demand" excuse. There is plenty of demand amongst the Dell consumer base to warrant treating Ubuntu as an equal to Windows.

1. Please put Ubuntu in the OS list and let people make a proper informed choice.



2. Please let people deselect pre-installed software they do not want. Including the OS.



3. Allow people to buy bare hardware.



4. Give us a choice of web browser, e-mail client and office productivity software beyond Microsoft!

Open source your driver software development

Linux, Software submitted by matsubara Jul 25

I understand the full compatibility of Linux drivers are under way and that it is being carried out by a team in Dell. However, it seems that it is not leveraging the full power of mass collaboration. Turning these drivers into open source projects could accelerate this process and enable users to bring new ideas to the table (this could even give you ideas on how to evolve computer devices).

Of course, this strategy also brings risks that could be mitigated if only Dell personel were allowed to commit changes to latest driver version. Although that would be less democratic, in an open source of thinking, at least it would empower the community to help Dell build better software.

A second step would be to do the same with Windows drivers. I know there might be legal issues in this territory, but it is also a scenario that might change over the next few years (Microsoft is getting increasingly open-minded about this - not as fast as it could be, though).

Anyway, the bottom line of this idea is "Empower your users and leverage mass collaboration to your own benefit!" Comment »

Display Noise level and Watt usage for systems

Desktops submitted by bbr Jul 16

Expected 3D Mark score (if able)
Total expected Watts usage for a system.
Expected noise level dB.

All interesting things to know. but impossible to backtrack on the Dell hardware building pages. 4 Comments »

Open Source Bundle Option for MS PC's

Advertising and Marketing, Software submitted by arhere Jul 16

The world of open source software is growing in popularity with Firefox and Open Office software. Offer an option for the most popular Open Source applications to be installed on a new machine for a small fee.

Open source software is free, but DELL can charge a small fee for the configuration and support of the software loaded. The fee will help justify the idea which will appeal to the open source community and customers looking for a complete application package at a lower system price.

Some examples of popular open source applications, see web sites like these...
http://www.opensourcewindows.org

For the open source fans getting ready to (-10) this idea remember, DELL is a business that wants to make money. For an idea to be implemented, it has to be appealing to both business and customer.

-AR 7 Comments »

Don't install MediaDirect on new notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by rq Jul 11

I bought a new Inspiron lately, and found an application named DELL MediaDirect installed on it. I suggest to ship without it (at least without its "embedded" version) anymore though, because:

1) The "embedded" version is installed in a separate partition, which boots Windows XP Embedded, which, according to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/products/wexpe/default.mspx , costs DELL $90 per shipped unit, thus, increasing price of the laptop.

2) The MediaDirect, which is installed as an application in Vista, starts when certain combinations employing AltGr are used, thus interrupting the work user is performing (this is actually a bug in that software). This makes typing in Lithuanian trully annoying, and probably affects other keyboard layouts too.

3) The "embedded" MediaDirect can't play many movies (presumably because of the lack of codecs), so again, it's quite useless.

4) Vista wakes up from sleep just as quickly as "embedded" MediaDirect starts. No point for it, again. 10 Comments »

Montevina Released! Update Notebooks NOW!!

Laptops submitted by q0987 Jul 15

Nuff said. 21 Comments »

I sure hope you are not finished Dell

Gaming, Inspiron products, Laptops submitted by ccpljat Jul 9

So we got some of what we wanted in the Studio notebooks. That's GREAT!

I'm still waiting to see some dedicated graphics in the Inspirons. I don't want a hugely expensive computer, but I want to be able to run my two computer games. And they are even 3-4 years old! 16MB dedicated graphics, 64MB dedicated graphics. Integrated graphics just doesn't cut it. Give me at least 128 MB DEDICATED!!! 6 Comments »

Add more staff to the Linux development team.

Linux, Service and Support submitted by aikiwolfie Jun 25

The Linux guys at Dell do a great job. But there just aren't enough of them to meet our impatient demands. Please take on a few extra bodies with Linux programing credentials to speed things up! 2 Comments »

switch to LED monitors

Monitors and Displays, Laptop Power submitted by yardsale Jan 16

I dont know why dell hasnt done this yet. switch all monitors on desktops and notebooks to LED. did you know that you can run an LED screen at full brightniess and it uses less power than a LCD monitor at the lowest brighting level?!? its cheaper, its energy efficent, and it needs to be done! promote this, if you demote i wanna know why! 63 Comments »

Paint that doesn't rub off and is certified non-toxic/allergenic

Desktops and Laptops submitted by ninjagecko Jul 2

== Non-rub-off paint ==

People who use their computers often will find the paint very quickly rubs off on where their hands rest, where they touch the trackpad (in models without the mouse-stick), where they touch the mouse buttons, and where they touch the keys.

Please do not use shiny metallic paint or other things that easily rub off (or if users like metallic paint, make sure to coat it in something that will never rub off).

== Non-toxic paint ==

Also, a user's hands are constant contact with a computer, and the plastic (and chemicals inside the plastic) slowly rub off onto one's hands. Thus it is very important that the materials are not toxic.

Of course Dell did their due diligence on non-toxic components, most likely trusting the material specifications... but who did the testing for the material specifications? Did independent labs do carcinogenicity / mutagenicity assays?

Dell can make an industry-leading move by marketing certified non-toxic maybe non-allergenic components.

Any laptop keyboard will literally disintegrating right into a user's possibly-sweaty hands over the course of years, and as such, assumptions that "plasticizers will stay in the plastic and not leech out" cannot be made. It would be good if 1) not only if the components did not rub/flake off, but also 2) that extensive tests were done on every single chemical used in the plastics and paint.

An easy way around this is to find a non-toxic, non-rub-off, and transparent coating and coat UI components in that. 3 Comments »

Magnet latch

Laptops submitted by ksnipersixfour Jul 8

Dell should start to sell all or most of their laptops with magnet latches instead of the current ones that stick out. 15 Comments »

It's time to upgrade to Ubuntu 8.04.1!

Linux, Operating Systems submitted by zmjjmz Jul 9 **IMPLEMENTED**

Now that Hardy Heron has received the .1 update (signifying stability), it's about time you upgrade the Dellbuntus to it!


Please see jesse_l's comment
18 Comments »

End PC Payola | Pioneer a PC Builder Code of Conduct

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

Dell's image was damaged by the $1bn Intel kickback scandal. Many in the computer industry believe that Microsoft's grip on Dell and other PC Builders is airtight due to secret deals and marketing kickbaks. Consumers appreciate lower prices on new Dell PCs thanks in part to bundled 3rd party software, however we are not permitted to choose the software that is pre-installed, and kickback deals are not transparent.

In the music recording and radio broadcasting industries, similar shady practices are called payola. Please, end PC payola, and give control back to your customers.

We encourage Dell to pioneer a voluntary PC Builder Code of Conduct, and regain the public trust.

CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise payola circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Transparency at Dell is necessary for true consumer choice. For example, transparency can be improved by providing the choice of pre-installing quality free and open source software (developed with near 100% transparency). Cast your vote to have the OPTION of buying a new Dell PC pre-installed with Linux and other free software like OpenOffice.org. 82 Comments »