SMALL BIZ ADVICE
What would you ask Michael?
The Dell Community has contributed: 9782 ideas | promoted 667376 times | 76127 comments

How IdeaStorm Works:

Post Promote Discuss See

darklooshkin

Dashboard  |  Ideas Submitted  |  Ideas Voted On  |  Comments  |  Saved Items

460

The 15" XPS should compete feature for feature with the MacBook Pro

XPS products submitted by ncd Mar 17

There is no reason why Dell cannot make all of the features of the Apple MacBook Pro available on the XPS of similar size. Some options that are missing from the XPS are:

Available Penryn processors (as of 03/18/2008).
512MB of memory on the 8600M GT video card.
LED backlit display.
Illuminated keyboard in low ambient light environments.
Quick-disconnect power connectors.

Notebook thickness should also match or better that of the MacBook pro. Also, consider illuminating the Dell logo on the cover as Apple does (using color instead of plain white) to give the XPS that "gotta have it" quality and a big image boost for Dell. 15 Comments »

250

Highlight Words Dell Doesn't Like!

Dell Community, IdeaStorm submitted by aikiwolfie Mar 17

For whatever reason Dell has taken it upon it's self to include unoffensive every day words in it's naughty words list. As I don't find these words offensive I'm often left bewildered and bemused as to which word it is that Dell are taking offense to.

To minimize frustration please highlight the "offensive" word or phrase when a post is rejected. 19 Comments »

180

Don't know if this goes here but some site errors

Dell Web Site submitted by dragonics Mar 17

There are some errors in the dell.ca/.com site that I've found and have been there for a while. Some are like not being able to choose "Keyboard included in Dell blutooth bundle" because when it saise you must also choose the corresponding mouse in the mouse section there is no, "mouse included in Dell blutooth blundle" there. Other errors or inconveniances include not being able to choose "none" in certain areas when customizing a Dell PC or laptop. Some of these sections are; Monitors, security software, productivity software, and keyboards and mice. I would like to buy a Dell computer but when I'm not able to select "no monitor, no security software, blutooth keyboard and mouse," I don't want to buy it anymore because I have an awsome monitor already so I'm basicly throwing away money. I hope a Dell official reads this and fixes the errors soon. For example; when buying a Dell Inspiron 530s go to the keyboards section and click Dell blutooth keyboard and you won't be able to select a blutooth mouse because it isn't in the mouse section. Thanks so much for reading. Comment »

320

Xtreme Audio Sound Card

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops and Laptops submitted by volcano Mar 19

Xtreme Audio Sound Card is curently a express card for notebooks and is internal card a couple xps desktops. why cant dell give us the option of an Xtreme Audio Sound Card in all desktops and the option of an internal Xtreme Audio Sound Card in notebooks 4 Comments »

160

Laptop tracebility

Laptops submitted by krishari_77 Mar 19 **ALREADY OFFERED**

I would like to suggest adding any tracebility device integrated to the laptop as most of the people who lost their laptop like me can get advantage. Also, i would like to utilize this oppurtunity to get clarified on the present features available regarding the tracebility in laptops.

LoJack and Computrace





6 Comments »

140

Allow me to sort by Dell or Non-Dell comments to a post

IdeaStorm submitted by tea123 Mar 19

I would like to be able to see all Dell comments for a given post in one place. 2 Comments »

600

Proper/decent Bios for flagship XPS 720 desktop (e.g. A06)

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops, XPS products submitted by huggy_bear Mar 19

Plz provide a proper/decent Bios to the XPS 720.
Latest revision (A05) apparently fixes some of the issues reported by customers but there are many more remaining, e.g.:
1) official/proper support for Quad-core Penryn-family CPUs (i.e. Yorkfield Q9450, Q9550 and QX9650).
2) proper support for EPP SLI memory (e.g. reportedly only a few brands/models currently supported...).
3) overclocking options in the Bios to let "advanced users" tweak the FSB, memory clock ratio, voltages, etc... 14 Comments »

5370

Give XPS Notebooks Gigabit Ethernet

XPS products submitted by croftki Feb 17

I understand that Dell market research says home users in general are not interested in gigabit ethernet for home networks. Those who pay for the premium design in the XPS line, however, are more likely to want gigabit ethernet. I would rather buy something more exciting than a business class notebook, but I want to build on my home technology with each purchase I make. XPS Notebooks unfortunately do not help me do this. It seems my only option is to buy a Latitude. 28 Comments »

86050

No OS Preloaded

Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by agreer 02/17/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

I have a XP Pro retail copy, will soon buy retail vista, I also like Linux: Make WINDOWS-FREE, and OS-Free an option for more than just expensive business lines.


Dell has systems available that do not have an OS pre-loaded called N-Series line. You can check them out at www.dell.com/nseries.

459 Comments »

11190

Make XP/Linux drivers available for all model even if only Vista is pre-installed

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Operating Systems submitted by vineets001 09/24/07 **REVIEWED**

There are good hardware models coming out. And only Vista is pre-install option. If people want to wipe off Vista and install XP or Linux, let them do that. Make a commitment to have the drivers available.


We're working on having drivers for the hardware we ship more widely available. Click here to learn more from john_h.





29 Comments »

24040

Backlit Keyboards

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by rarmasu 02/21/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

I find myself many, many times in dark or poorly lit environments having to guess the various keys - would be fantastic to have a backlit keyboard - with backlit individual keys as the best option.

I would actually pay extra for that convenience if the option was available.
This could be done for desktops or notebooks.


Check out Vida_K's comment below on the New Latitude.
301 Comments »

25120

Linux Hardware Compatibility List

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by s3indiana 02/20/07 **IN PROGRESS**

Create a listing of Dell hardware that's compatible with the major Linux distributions (Fedora, OpenSuse, ubuntu, Freespire) providing compatibility with not just systems (desktops and laptops) but include peripherals (printers, camera's, flash drives, compatible routers, etc.). Include levels of compatibility so the reviewer can make an educated choice. This would provide the greatest assistance for those looking at alternatives...

We're working to add something like this to our linux.dell.com wiki. Click here to see what john_h has to say.





30 Comments »

7838

Avoid Glare On Screens and Notebook Frames

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by bobetsue 02/20/07

Glare and reflection from high glare screens, screen frames, and notebook computers is annoying and distract from function and use.

In stores, this may be a marketing ploy. Consumers may not fully understand the problem of glare. Online sellers like Dell should inform buyers when shopping whether the screen and case are "glare" or "nonglare."

When "nonglare" was introduced to television, shoppers considered it an advantage worthy of extra expense. In the art world, nonglare glass is considered worthy of extra expense.

How did we ever get glossy screens?

Dell should offer customers a choice between "glare" and "nonglare." 242 Comments »

117983

Have Firefox pre-installed as default browser

Software submitted by robinjfisher 02/19/07 **REVIEWED**

Does what it says on the tin! Most people only use IE because they aren't aware of other browsers - they think Internet Explorer is the Internet! What would really drive take up of alternative browsers is if Firefox was pre-installed as the default browser so that when people look for the "Internet" in Windows, they are using FF.
Firefox advocates at Dell have initiated discussions and driven action around exploring alternative internet browsers and experiences. As you can tell from our response to the Linux community, open source continues to be a part of our conversations about new products and services.





1193 Comments »

140489

Pre-Installed OpenOffice | alternative to MS Works & MS Office

Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart 02/17/07


Provide OpenOffice.org for free pre-installation alongside Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office. OpenOffice.org is more capable than Microsoft Works, and a serious competitor to Microsoft Office, at a fraction of the cost (it's free!)

OpenOffice.org can open, create, edit and save Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.

Provide as OPTIONS for pre-installation many other high-quality free software programs such as:
- Firefox: web browser with popup and privacy controls; say goodbye to Internet Explorer infections!
- Thunderbird: email program with free anti-spam and privacy controls
- Pidgin: instant messaging all-in-one program for popup-free MSN, Yahoo, AOL and others
&nsbp;[ed: GAIM was renamed Pidgin in April 2007 to settle the issue with AOL's trademark on AIM]
- PDFCreator: creates Adobe PDF files from any program
- Scribus, Inkscape & GIMP: desktop publishing, freehand drawing & powerful image editing
- Audacity & VLC: multi-track audio editing & universal all-in-one media/video/movie/DVD player
- Stellarium & Celestia: planetarium viewer & outer-space mapping, like Google Earth, but for our Solar System

Pre-installed quality free and open source software drastically lowers the cost of new PCs, and helps prevent software piracy. Cast your vote for Linux and other free software. Cast your vote for the Universal Education PC [ed: article removed/merged by dell_admin] utilizing free software.

CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Quality free and open source software is well behaved, and may be legally pre-installed on PCs, and legally shared with friends and family, sharing is encouraged! Cast your vote for consumer CHOICE and public transparency at Dell.
574 Comments »

19540

Stop Overcharging on Notebook RAM

Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by realskript 08/28/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Dell really... REALLY need to stop overcharging... and when i say overcharing... i mean atleast double what you would pay to pick up the ram yourself.
On XPS Notebooks... you are charging $500 for 4GB of ram... when you could easily go pick them up at your local computer shop for $250... and pocket the other half of the $500...

It would be nice if dell could save the customers as well as the company itself this hassle.. and start charging NORMAL prices for an upgrade in RAM.

thanks =D

PS..... PROMOTE THIS!!!!











88 Comments »

9540

Submit hardware specifications to the Linux Driver Project

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux submitted by upstaked 10/05/07 **REVIEWED**

Back in January kernel developer Greg Kroah-Hartman from Novell started a project offering companies free Linux driver development.

This proved so successful that Novell made it his full-time job and turned to a project with over 200 kernel developers: http://www.linuxdriverproject.org/ .

So Dell, submit specs and convince your hardware providers to do so too. I want to spend my money on great new hardware that runs on Linux.





We constantly work with our hardware partners to develop and maintain open-sourced drivers. Also, we make it clear that through their own developers (or other projects like the Linux Driver Project) they need to deliver on drivers.






13 Comments »

24340

There should be an option of having no trialware on all computers

Software submitted by jervis961 08/23/07 **REVIEWED**

Here is a news article about trialware and how Dell feels that regular customers want it but small business ones do. Do they not look at the ideas here?

"Not interested in all of the trial software that clutters up new PCs? You're not alone: According to Dell's recent research in both focus groups and broader surveys, small-business users overwhelmingly view trialware as an irritant, not a benefit. That research has led Dell to axe the extras from its new Vostro line of small-business desktop PCs and laptops. Eliminating demo applications is a major step for Dell, which has caught flack for the quantity of trialware on its consumer PCs. (One frustrated customer went so far as to develop a "Decrapifier" utility. The company says that consumers who buy PCs for personal use do express interest in preloaded trial software, but that small-business users have different needs. By eliminating the trialware from Vostro machines, Dell says it has cut the system setup time in half. For now, Dell is the only major PC manufacturer to ship small-business systems without preinstalled trialware as a standard practice. (Some competitors, such as HP, allow customers to choose a no-trialware configuration.)"


Dell offers a broad amount of software choice and minimal software shipped. Read jeremy_f's post on the options we give our customers





149 Comments »

11750

Ubuntu on all models where it works

Linux, Operating Systems, Small Business submitted by jonsmirl 08/01/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I'm still throwing away copies of Windows. Recently I have ordered some Dimension 9200s from Small Business. All of these machines are running Ubuntu today without problem. They're being used to replace some PE400SCs that are starting to die. A 2GB quad core for $649 was too good a deal to pass up. It makes a great small server.

Please offer Ubuntu as a choice on all configurations where it works. I would have still paid $649 for the box and you could have kept the money you're sending to Microsoft.
We continue to explore different Linux opportunities on our systems. Check out daniel_j's comment below.




40 Comments »

10500

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! 62 Comments »



Rss track my votes