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Add all the OS's you sell to the "Help Me Choose: Operating System" page

Dell Web Site, Linux, Operating Systems submitted by jmxz 06/08/07

These pages: titled "Help Me Choose: Operating System" (a Dell help me choose page,another one)
only list some of the operating systems Dell sells.

I assume you also recommend Ubuntu for some home users (those who want better security and performance, I imagine) and FreeDOS for business (since that's what you sell on your Latitudes - even though I can't imagine why you prefer FreeDOS there over Ubuntu). But unless you put them in those pages, we can't easily make an informed choice. 15 Comments »

Make Dell Ubuntu PCs available to businesses and non-profits

Linux, Sales Strategies, Small Business submitted by wyleyr 06/20/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Dell is apparently not yet willing to sell Ubuntu-based PCs to business users, non-profits, or other organizations larger than a "home office." See this Ubuntu forum thread for more:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=478975

If Dell is serious about offering "choice" to consumers -- the main reason that they're offering up Ubuntu -- they ought to offer it to all their customers, including commercial and non-profit organizations.

Perhaps the greatest barrier here is that these other customers often require different support contracts than home users. It wouldn't be necessary to offer the same support options to organizations that purchase Ubuntu PCs as are offered to home users, or to organizations that purchase Windows PCs. (Perhaps Dell doesn't need to offer any support at all, except for hardware; as long as Canonical can support these organizations.) But they ought to at least have the option of buying the boxes, even if they have to get support in a different way.











15 Comments »

Same discounts available on Ubuntu and Windows

Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by jonsmirl 06/12/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

I'm ordering a Vista XPS 410 right now. I wanted a Ubuntu one but I'm going to throw away yet another copy of Windows. The Vista XPS 410 has $200 off today and free ship for a total of $869. The identical Ubuntu machine is $1019 plus $29.99 shipping. So today Ubuntu costs $170 more than Windows instead of $50 less. Why can't I have the same discounts on the Ubuntu machine? 50 Comments »

Dell Must Use Ubuntu Stickers! {Pics Inside}

Linux submitted by thebittersea 06/10/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

96 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 »

Always include all software and driver reinstallation discs for free (or at least let us get the option to)... don't make us pay extra

Software submitted by winoffice 05/01/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

Always include ALL software AND driver reinstallation discs for FREE (or at let us get the option do get the for free if we want as follows)...don't make us pay extra in case that we have a disaster and need to reinstall from scratch...!

No Discs Included (Included In Price)

All Discs Included (this means everything -- all software discs -- OS/Security software/etc., and all driver discs -- this means Windows or Linux drivers or both, whatever applies -- add $0)

Other options (OS disc only, all software discs only, driver discs only, etc. -- add $0)

For some computers, Dell does not include the reinstallation discs. Even if Dell offers them, Dell charges extra for us to get them. In fact, the only time I seen reinstallation discs being offered without charge were for Dell XPS desktops with the flashy lights -- that is, the Dell XPS 600, 700, and 710 systems, for those ware the only systems to offer operating system options like "Microsoft Windows XP Media Center WITH REINSTALLATION CD".

Also, most of the time when software reinstallation discs are not included, driver reinstallation discs (such as XPS flashy lights, as well as printers and monitors) are not included either. Therefore, don't just include the software reinstallation discs -- include as well the Windows/Linux drivers for the hardware (depending on the OS purchased with the computer, if any, which in turn depends on the user's preferences).

Besides, Microsoft as well as ALL software companies include the discs when you get the software seperately, so why can't Dell do the same when the software is preinstalled...?
Customers no longer have to pay extra for re-installation media.




91 Comments »

iTunes preinstalled

Software submitted by plesaleza 05/05/07

it seems many people have iPods, and most of those people use iTunes to put music on them. It would be easier if we didn't have to go only and download and install the program. 6 Comments »

TV Commercial for New Ubuntu PCs

Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by josmar52789 05/03/07

Dell should produce a new commercial for the Ubuntu PCs. It could tell the consumers of America why Dell has chosen to pre-install Linux on mainstream computers and hopefully promote the advantages of this new endeavor. Plus, it's likely that Dell's Linux initiative would be much more successful. 115 Comments »

Pre-installed Linux must play commercial DVDs

Education, Linux submitted by jonmca 05/03/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

You probably know this, but a "show stopper" requirement for most consumers and many educators and business road warriers is having laptops and desktops that can play commmercial DVDs. I have a hunch that preinstalled Linux on Dell machines will be a terrific success if Dell Linux desktops and laptops have this capability. I've been told that http://www.videolan.org/ has one possible approach.

Having Linux playing commercial DVDs may also catapult Dell into the complex Digital Rights Management contoversy so it would be wise to get Dell's legal staff involved ASAP and also have this discussed this at the highest strategic management levels at Dell (if this is not already being done).


Check out the Ideas in Action post from Daniel Judd. And you can also check out this follow-up post from John Hull who leads our engineering efforts behind Linux on consumer systems.
32 Comments »

Mark posts as "Duplicate"

IdeaStorm submitted by thorin_2 02/21/07

Many posts are duplicates. A demote button may help but really you need a "Is duplicate" button. If an item get's tagged "duplicate" a certain number of times it get's dropped. Perhaps only after enough tags that include a link to the source or superior post that is *being* duplicated. The fact that there are so many duplicate posts really muddies up the survey pool and makes the vendor's work all that more difficult to compile poll results. 9 Comments »

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 »

See only Linux compatible components when building your own system

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by frozenfire 05/03/07

It would be nice when building you own system on the Dell site, you can tick a box and then it doesn't show the components that aren't Linux compatible. 3 Comments »

More RAM!

Desktops and Laptops submitted by mwmtjm 01/30/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Do away with 512MB of memory as a base option to buy consumer desktops and notebooks. With Vista running best on 1GB at a minimum, don't make customers have a basic experience with the new OS because Dell wants to be able to advertise at a lower price point. The success of Vista -- and subsequently for Dell -- will be largely in word of mouth. Take a long-term view and build the momentum one great customer experience at a time right now!


113 Comments »

Link up with Adobe and create a version of iLife and preinstall

Software submitted by crysalidzzz 05/02/07

Offer Adobe software preinstalled for:
- digital photography
- digital video
- digital vector graphics
- digital music (somthing like GarageBand) - and offer a good keyboard to go with it

I think the Elements software covers *some* of these bases. But with Adobe create an INTEGRATED digital package rather like iLife. (Or a CS3 for the average user).
Then build machines with a suitable spec (esp graphics card) and call them the Dell Adobe Digital World PC. And then offer it at a decent price.

The average user wants to do something with a pc. But sadly, a few of people i've seen are just playing solitaire. Comment »

(FREE) Reactos OS an alternative to XP compatibility

Operating Systems submitted by shaktia61 05/02/07

Reactos is still in Alpha development, but instead of picking Linux, I would rather have an XP compatible operating system. 3 Comments »

Proof that Linux and OSS are ONLY for hobbyists!

Linux, Operating Systems submitted by phubert 03/06/07

Since so many have tried to say Linux/OSS are only for hobbyists and 'not for business', I thought it would help if we could supply anecdotal evidence of business, Education and government USE of Linux and OSS.

The title, clearly, is an exercize in light sarcasm. 481 Comments »

Open Drivers

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Service and Support submitted by d0t-bat 05/02/07

Allowing the ability to download drivers from companies other than Dell (ie. Perc RAID controllers and being able to use drivers from LSI). Also providing up-to date drivers for old hardware that is "locked" such as laptops with outdated video drivers which cant be upgraded easily due to software restrictions. 1 Comment »

Become the open source OEM

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by ntaylor0909 02/17/07 **REVIEWED**

I read the same question on Linux forums, all the time: What is the best brand of computer/laptop to purchase for Linux. I know that there is the n series of computers and notebooks, but it could go a step further. Accept the recent offer of free Linux driver development from the Linux Kernel Community so that DELLs "just work" with Linux. Maybe look at some ideas like LinuxBIOS and/or OpenBIOS. Become the OEM that everyone recommends. There is a growing market for Open Source friendly computers and DELL could own that market.


In the past year, we've made a lot of progress on getting Linux to work well on all of our products. Our goal is to become the hardware vendor of choice for Linux users. Click here to learn more from john_h.





44 Comments »

Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware

Linux submitted by gergnz 02/19/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I don't care whether the OS is pre-installed or not, I want all the hardware to be totally supported in the Linux kernel without in mucking around. I currently have a Dell M1210 and I wish the modem would work, just in case I need it. The web cam would work, just in case I need it. At least the Intel wireless card is totally supported. Thanks Intel!!
Drivers are available for Linux to make some but not all hardware work. We continue to work with our partners to provide for better hardware support. See more specifics from john_h.




184 Comments »