consumr

Negotiate on behalf of your customers to get a better EULA for Dell-preinstalled Vista

Operating Systems submitted by jmxz 04/03/07

The Vista EULA (License Agreement) has come under criticism from a wide range of industry experts ranging from security professionals to privacy advocates. For example:
http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/420
“ The draconian limitations I've discussed could only be enacted by a monopoly unafraid of alienating its users, as it feels they have no other alternative. Microsoft may yet learn, however, that there are limits to what its users will bear. ”
Washington University professor and writer for SecurityFocus

Another objectionable clause is how the Vista EULA censors what Vista users can say about the product. http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2006/10/24/0456/5625< has the buying power to negotiate with its software suppliers on behalf of its customers.

If you can negotiate with Microsoft on behalf of your customers to get a less offensive License Agreement for your Vista customers, I think you will become many company's (any that care about security) preferred Vista distributor. Comment »

Pure web browser

Software submitted by hoggy 04/03/07

With more and more sophisticated applications available online, we're spending less and less time using local applications and the features of the operating system.

Mobile phones have very capable web browsers, without expensive and troublesome hard drives, cd drives, graphics cards - why should they have all the fun?

Surely it's time for a cheap browser, with a tiny form factor, or better still embedded in an LCD display.

Would save lots of space, energy, and maintenance

http://www.sandfordtechnology.com 1 Comment »

water cooled blade server

Servers and Storage submitted by a20052006 04/03/07

I have read and seen that blade servers are very high density and produce a lot of heat so why not include water cooling into the backplane of the blade encousure to allow for even higher power density and allow the usage of chilled water systems that may already be present. With the water cooled systems you would have near silent servers as well as excellent cooling. 1 Comment »

One Laptop Per Child = XO Computer

Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by trentreviso 04/04/07

Quanta, the hardware company which manufactures Dell laptops, plans to offer a commercial version of MIT's/UN's OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) computer for about $200.

I would love to have such a laptop available through Dell for about $200.

I would also think it a nice gesture to donate a small portion of the proceeds of the sale of each such machine back to the U.N.'s OLPC project.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070329-olpc-xo-manufacturer-to-sell-bu... 6 Comments »

Dell, Linux and The Music. To be or not To be?

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux submitted by oagostinho 04/04/07

In these days, it's very important for all the people, get some media (music, video ,etc) and listen/see it, anytime, anywhere. But, these stuff have their our rights. In that way, why Dell don't give the means that when I bought some computer from you I have access some kind of portal that I can upload/download it, and then access it?
Maybe I don't need one computer properly, I need one platform that give me that kind of the functions. For example, I don't see a very friendly CD player in Linux, maybe, I don't want not only a CD player but all the stuff that I need to see my films, listen my music, etc! In one system, anytime, anywhere! See Ya! Orlando Agostinho, Computer Engineer, Lisbon/Portugal 4 Comments »

<font> Are You ACTIVELY AVOIDING WINDOWS VISTA? </font>

Operating Systems submitted by reg 04/04/07

Are You ACTIVELY AVOIDING WINDOWS VISTA?


Dell Really wants to keep You as a hardware customer, and not lose your business!

<font>Let DELL know WHY:</font>

<font>
1. Your Employer Banned Windows Vista.
2. Your Government Banned Windows Vista.
3. (1 & 2 are the same, Employer = The Government).
4. Incompatible with Important Software or Valuable Hardware.
5. Too expensive to upgrade, plus upgrade software and hardware.
6. Can't get it to load on my Commodore 64.
7. Other, and please tell Dell why you don't want Vista:
41 Comments »

Partner with Geek Squad & others for Linux DEMOS and Support

Dell, Linux, Service and Support submitted by phubert28 04/04/07

Dell should talk with the various 'Call a Geek' entities about providing Linux system DEMOS and SUPPORT, including ISP connection (where ISP's say they do not support Linux), home networking (including multi-architecture environments: Linux-Windows-Mac OS X), home mail server, web server, print server, etc.

Note: I am saying they should be CAPABLE of this and offer DEMOS, setup and training (for pay, of course). 3 Comments »

Hybrid Hard Drives - Comments from PC Mag

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Operating Systems submitted by dellvin 04/04/07

Quoting from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2110100,00.asp

By John C. Dvorak
The Best-Kept Secret Dept.: Shhhh. Don't say anything. Although hybrid hard drives (HHDs) are nearly essential for a full-blown, high-performance Vista PC, no one's talking about them.

These aren't your ordinary hard drives. Unlike old-fashioned drives, HHDs contain large buffers of flash memory where they can cache data without accessing their main storage platters. Since those spinning mechanical platters are used less often, hybrid drives not only are faster and more reliable, they use less power. That means they're perfect for laptops. They're particularly effective when used with Windows Vista, improving OS performance and capability. Vista is specifically coded for use with HHDs.

I first heard about these drives over a year ago, and I'm shocked that they haven't gone mainstream. I'm stunned by the number of computer makers—especially laptop makers—who, when the topic is brought up, seem genuinely baffled by the whole thing. "What's an HHD? Never heard of it" is a common retort. Very weird.

Samsung recently promoted a 160GB drive with 256MB of flash. But I'm looking for 500GB with 2GB of flash. Where is it? I've gotten the lectures from the HHD makers about these drives and what they can do with Vista, and I'm sold. So much so that I'm not going to use Vista until I can get these drives. I'm waiting. (Foot tapping, arms crossed).

END
5 Comments »

A second External Small LCD Monitor for the Notebooks led

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by anan 04/04/07

Technology improvers aim to make technology friendly user as mush as they can.
With this external LCD monitor you can see a brief for your computer status (Emails status , Msngrs status, Battery status, Wireless coverage) on the go without opening the notebook even without booting to the windows.

Talking, from software side Windows Vista Is supporting this issue. 2 Comments »

Another comment on site USAGE - voting

IdeaStorm submitted by phubert28 04/04/07

I don't know about others, but I tend to _expand_ on a suggestion in my own comments about it.

There are two reasons for this:

1) I try to be brief IN the suggestion post
2) I continue to think about the subject
3) I want to immediately give it visibility under the COMMENTS list

My recommendation, however, is that we refrain from voting until we look at the comments ABOUT a post.

It seems clear that a number of us have changed our view about a post after becoming involved with the DISCUSSIONS under it... and I know I would have liked to change my vote a number of times. 6 Comments »

Dell Forum for the UK

Dell Community submitted by helmecj01 04/04/07

Dell can open a forum for the United Kingdom as well. 7 Comments »

Dell front-runner for PowerCast Adopter...

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

In reading a recent article on a new company called PowerCast, I think Dell stands to position itself firmly as a hub for PowerCast devices, especially in the Home/Corporate environment. Assuming that the technology is successful, a PowerCast-Ready Dell PC that is capable of emitting the radio-waves from the chassis...(possibly from the Dell logo in the front for added effect). This hub could effectively charge my wireless mouse/keyboard/pda/cell phone while I sit in front of Dell products at work. Just an idea...have fun with it. Comment »

Fewer Desktop Enclosures to help Dell's bottom line

Desktops submitted by getgreg 04/04/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Ok, I'm not an "industry analyst" and I obviously don't have access all the data that Dell does, but from what I read it seems that across the board desktop sales are slowing and laptops are becoming increasingly popular. This really comes as now surprise to me, everyone I know who ditched their desktop for a laptop has never looked back. Anyway, if this is the case why does Dell offer, by my count, 12 different desktop enclosures?

1. 
   Dimension 9200C/XPS 210 - Small Form Factor
   
   


2. 
   Dimension E520/Dimension E521 - Mini Tower
   


3. 
   Dimension C521 - Desktop
   


4. 
   XPS 410/Dimension 9200 - Mini Tower
   
   


5. 
   XPS 710 - Full Tower
   
   


6. 
   XPS 710 H2C - Full Tower
   


7. 
   Optiplex - Ultra Small Form Factor
   


8. 
   Optiplex - Small Form Factor
   


9. 
   Optiplex - Desktop
   


10. 
    Optiplex - Mini Tower
    


11. 
    Precision Workstation 690/490 - Full Tower
    
    


12. 
    Precision Workstation 390 - Full Tower
    

The really crazy thing is of those 12 enclosures there are really only 5 distinct sizes: Ultra Small Form Factor, Small Form Factor, Desktop, Mini Tower, and Full Tower.




Wouldn't now be a really good time to trim the number of enclosures down to 5 or even 4 enclosures? (The "small form factor" and "desktop" enclosures are almost the same size.) It seems to me that the cost savings of cutting the number of enclosures so drastically would be huge. Also, the enclosures used for the Optiplex line along with the XPS tower should accommodate every system you're currently selling.

Also, at the same time you could merge Dimensions into Optiplex and Precision Workstation into XPS. Lost of people have written here about killing the product segments and making all systems available to all customers, and this would be a way to do just that.

Lastly, I've seen a lot of interesting and crazy ideas here, but not a lot of ideas that I think would actually help Dell's bottom line and give customers a better product. I personally think offering fewer enclosures would do just that. It would cause Dell to have to design, manufacture, and stock fewer enclosures, make the process of buying a Dell a little less dizzying while giving home consumers a higher quality enclosure.

What do you think? Man I'd love for some Dell employee's to chime in here. Maybe I'm just way off...
And if I'm not, well I'd love an internship :)



10 Comments »

Free movie or music downloads with new system from Dell

Advertising and Marketing, Desktops and Laptops submitted by george_hewitt 04/04/07

Why not partner with a service company to offer new customers who buy a dell system free movie and music downloads.

At the rate people download these two types media. The costumer should be given other plus to buy a Dell. Free stuff!

Give a person a real reason to use there new system for fun. A safe an easy way to download and find movies and music.

The key is free movies and music. A good amount of each would be a reason to buy. 100 free movies and 10,000 free songs would be a nice start. 2 Comments »

Dell Support - Driver download page

Dell Web Site submitted by dbeckler 04/04/07

Please consider rolling back to your previous version of the Drivers and Downloads page. I think it was much easier to find drivers (especially when I'm looking for ALL drivers when doing a clean install of a system). The currect version is very cumbersome to use.

-- Denise 1 Comment »

Dell does NOT sell Vista - yet many people think they are? Is Dell missleading them?

Dell, Operating Systems submitted by jmxz 04/04/07

Quoting the Vista License Agreement [1]

"8. SCOPE OF LICENSE.
The software is licensed, not sold.
This agreement only gives you some rights to use the software."

Yes, I realize that most software, including Linux, is distributed under licenses. But when I buy a Dell machine, they never show me or explain to me the relatively narrow conditions - much more restrictive than XP or Linux - under which I'm allowed to use Vista.

For example, the license even restricts what a user's allowed to say about Vista [2].

Many Dell customers - and apparently many IdeaStorm customers - seem to be under the false impression that Dell's selling them Vista rather than giving them a very limited license to use Vista in a few narrowly defined ways. Even for legacy Windows Only Machines this License Information can be very important in the purchasing decision making process -- since some of the most important differences between Vista Business and the other versions are the conditions under which you're allowed to use the software[3]. Examples: [4]

• * Home Basic
  • o Can't copy ISO to your hard drive
  • o Can't install to a network server
  • o You may share files, printers, etc with a maximum of 5 network devices
  • o You MAY NOT use Remote Desktop, only Remote Assistance
  • o You MAY NOT use in Virtual PC | Virtual Server |VMWare
• * Home Premium
  • o Still can't copy ISO to your hard drive
  • o Still can't install to a network server
  • o Sharing for 10 network devices
  • o Still no Remote Desktop
  • o Still no virtual hardware
  • o 5 simultaneous Media Center Extender sessions (up from 3 in MCE 2005)
• * Ultimate
  • o Can copy ISO to your hard drive
  • o Can install to a network server (I'm assuming for Terminal Server scenarios)
  • o Sharing for 10 network devices
  • o Can use Remote Desktop
  • o Can use in a virtualized environment, BUT
    • + Can't use DRM-protected content if Vista Ultimate is the "guest" OS
    • + Can't use BitLocker if Vista Ultimate is the "guest" OS
  • o 5 Media Center Extender sessions

Dell should clarify this by summarizing the important restrictions from the Licenses on each of the OS's they distribute - for example, the GPL's conditions for redistributing (unlikely to affect most users) and Vista's restrictions (likely to affect most users - depending on which version of Vista they buy). And making sure people see the terms in the purchase process.

[1] http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2006/10/what_do_you_nee.html
[2] http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2006/10/24/0456/5625
[3] http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/420/2
[4] http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/2006/10/11/Important-Windows-... 11 Comments »

In how many ways does Dell mislead customers about Vista

Operating Systems submitted by jmxz 04/04/07

Dell seems to be doing a lot of misleading customers about Vista:

• On Dell's High Performance Computing Clusters page [1] clearly states "Dell recommends Windows Vista™" on the same page that talks about Dell's impressive results in the Top500 supercomputers list. Yet when I go to the Top500 lists themselves [2] I note that all 17 of Dell's supercomputers on the list are running Linux (6 redhat, 11 unspecified)
• More generally, Dell *OFTEN* puts "Dell recommends [a specific version of Vista]" on a page where the version of Vista they recommend is horribly inappropriate for the system they're discussing on the page (for example, recommending a high-end version of Vista on a machine with a low memory setting)
• They do not show the various Vista EULAs and how severely they restrict the ways customers can use - and even talk about(!!!) - Vista [3]
• They put misleading and false "Vista" stickers on their machines [4]
• They never disclose to customers the spyware they're including with Vista [5]

Dell should fix this in a few ways:

• Dell: On pages that showcase your Linux successes [1], don't put the Dell Recommends Vista ad [6]
• Dell: Don't put the "Dell Recommends Vista" ads on a page if the computer being discussed has less than the 2GB Ram and very fast CPUs and high end graphics cards that Vista requires to get a decent experience.
• Dell: Don't even offer the Vista OS as a choice if a machine has less than the 2GB Ram and very fast CPUs and high end graphics cards that Vista requires to get a decent experience.
• Dell: Make your customers read a summary of the EULA (and the specific one that matches their version of Vista - because the versions have very different license terms[3]) before buying it.
• Dell: Tell people about the spyware you bundle with Vista that can be used against your customers [5]

[1] http://www.dell.com/hpcc
[2] http://www.top500.org/static/lists/2006/11/TOP500_200611.xls
[3] http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/65619
[4] http://www.computerworld.com/blogs/node/5302
[5] http://ideastorm.com/article/show/65249
[6] http://ideastorm.com/article/show/63583< more ways Dell misleads customers about Vista that I missed? 4 Comments »

Set Monitors to shut off after a period of time as default.

Monitors and Displays, Desktops and Laptops submitted by mikedee 04/04/07

i fix alot of computers and its amazing to me how many people leave their monitors on 24 hours a day .. its not all the end users fault as MS has XP set at Never by default .. Dell should set a default time to shut off monitors .. 10mins , 20mins whatever it may be as long as its not Never .. 5 Comments »

Make Linux/Other OS available in ALL countries

Linux, Operating Systems submitted by phdelval 04/04/07

Please make all OS available in all countries.
One example: the Latitude D820 is offered in USA with FreeDos, but in Spain (for example) we have no other choice than MS Windows.
I hope your new offering with Linux will be available in all countries... 1 Comment »

Switch completely over to AMD Processors for Dell computers

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

You can buy a Intel processor for the same price as a amd processor, and the amd processor will be about 75% faster than the Intel processor, so dell could sell ceaper computers if they switched completely over, you can research yourself on Google and see that amd is faster, cheaper, and more reliable than intel 3 Comments »