geekhack

Volume control wheel + OSD

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by ra0 02/26/07

I've worked for 2 months with an Asus W5F. And I have to say there is a lot of interesting concerns on this laptop. But I've just discovered a new addiction : a wheel to control the volume on laptop.
The last time I've known such an addiction was the 1st time I used the wheel on a mouse. After this experience, it was quite impossible to work on a computer (especially dealing with text editor or web browser) with a classical 2-buttons and no wheel...
From now on, I cannot imagine something more convenient than a wheel on right side of latopt to easily control the volume of my laptop. Especially to mute the system. It is always a pain to remember what are the Fn keys to control the volume. Whenever it is working... (when the CPU is 100% throttle, Fn keys are not very efficient...). And it is the same with ability to control the volume with mouse wheel (it is a pity to find the right place for cursor on the screen for sound volume being adjusted with mouse wheel...).
Second, to get it more comfortable, there is also an OSD menu displaying the modif in volume level. A pleasure...
And you can of course find the old Fn keys to Mute/Up/Down volume control...
As I said : I've just developped a new addiction : Please Mr. DELL, add a volume control wheel on your laptops !!! 1 Comment »

Install Novell Suse

Linux, Operating Systems, Service and Support submitted by x684867 03/19/07

Dell should offer customers the choice of Windows or Linux. Specifically Dell should offer Novell Suse Linux with technical support.

In the interest of its customer base, Dell could consider offering its existing customers the opportunity (for a fee) of upgrading their existing computers to Novell Suse Linux with a support option.

Novell has given its Suse Linux a great set of features which rival Windows Vista or Mac OS X. This includes a graphics interface with translucent windows...running with 512MB or less.

For years Dell has lost face with me and my customers because of quality issues. The inability to buy a reliable, linux-based system has lead me to consider other options. I am now encouraged to see Dell's consideration of the Linux option.

Sam Caldwell
Unconventional Technology, Inc.
Round Rock, Texas 6 Comments »

Split this site in 3 (linuxgeeks, mylaptopstinks and realisticideas)

IdeaStorm submitted by santiagosrz 03/26/07

I think repetitive ideas are making this website unuseful. 9 Comments »

Une Webcam par défaut

submitted by nutnut 02/28/07

Je pense que tous les PC de bureau et les portables devraient intégrer une WEBCAM :

Sur l'écran du Pc de bureau
Sur l'écran du portable.

Nutnut 2 Comments »

Half-Life compatible + (gaming edition laptop)

Gaming submitted by raipekass 02/27/07

Half-Life 2 Compatible logo Comment »

No glaring screens for Laptops

Laptops submitted by conficio 02/22/07

The recent trend to very bright, but highly glaring screens is really bad ergonomically. It might be fine if all you are doing is watch a video, but for serious work, 8 - 12 h a day it is really bad for your eyes.

Get back to basic ergonomics! Please. Or at the very least indicate which screens are anti-glare and which not. Comment »

Too Many Choices & Configurations

Sales Strategies, Simplify IT submitted by briapf 02/26/07

In my opinion, buying from Dell, is like going to Starbucks. There are so many options, and all you want is a coffee! Provide a quality product, that supports a majority of the people.

Offer two types of machines - high end or low end, with the choice of operating systems, even dual boot Windows / Linux.

The machine should come standard with the features most people need large hard drive, RAM, wireless, internet, bluetooth, camera, DVD R/W.

Keep it simple, but offer quality. Right now, there are too many choices, bundled packages, rebates, etc... I believe people get lost in all of the choices, with weekly specials, constantly changing.

Offer incentives for students and small businesses. 2 Comments »

Dell's own OS

New Product Ideas, Operating Systems submitted by sangelnet 02/27/07

Dell being a big part of the global PC market share, they should have their own OS. Comment »

Make spare parts available to 3rd party repair shops

Service and Support submitted by brentrbrian 02/26/07

Make spare parts available to 3rd party repair shops. Make getting spares EASY, like ordering off web ... this will provide feedback on quality. Comment »

"Caps off"-Keyboard

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by starcolm 02/26/07

First of all, I want to excuse me for my horrible english. I'm a german student and.. well I'm not very good in english but to keep everything international i'll try my best =)

I read about some guys who founded a kind of campaign against the "caps-lock" key on the keyboard. This campaign is quite successful (depends on the definition) because on our/my/your/every keyboard there are tons of unused key, as "pic up" and "pic down", "roll", "pause" etc.. I'm not sure about the english names of the keys, because I've a german in front of me, but anyway, you should think about all the keys on your keyboard you've never ever used. By reducing the keyboards to the necessary things and kicking out all those useless keys, Dell or other manufacturer could save a lot of space, and could replace it with other devices as a touchscreen or something else. There are different ideas of a lot of people...
The source of my text was this page: "http://capsoff.org" where you can find some really good ideas and also examples of a good use of keyboards.)
Have a nice day and thanks for reading Mr Dell and all the rest =) 7 Comments »

Facial Recognition Using a Webcam

Software, XPS products submitted by lektronimo 03/21/07

Could a facial scanning software be integrated into XPS systems, so maybe along with fingerprint readers we can get two modes of protection against data theft? Don't know what the camera resolution must be to plot the dots on the picture, but I'm guessing around 2mpx would be more then enough. Obviously, you would get difficulty in unlit rooms, so a small led flash could be incoperated next to the rotating camera.

And can this be somehow used with Vista Ulitmate's BitLocker function?



Check out my other idea as well, it could tie in with this one easier. Comment »

All Desktop and Notebook Motherboards Need a TPM Chip

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops and Laptops submitted by dwayne 03/18/07

With computer security being one of the biggest issues, regardless of the operating system, a Trusted Platform Module should be standard on every motherboard. If the end user is opposed to TPM, they simply do not need to initialize the chip. Comment »

laptops

submitted by madison 03/08/07

go with touch screen and make the key board optional as part of the touch screen Comment »

dell and openBSD

Dell submitted by ajelula 03/21/07

seria interesante distribuirlos con openBSD Comment »

Divide Idea Storm into Linux & Non-Linux Sections

IdeaStorm submitted by areteas 03/26/07

Organize this site. The Linux enthusiasts have cluttered it up with multiple, redundant postings, so that it takes forever to see anything else. Create a separate Linux section, and have any posting that mentions Linux go automatically into it. Their quest is a good one, but not the only one. 8 Comments »

Eye tracking for Notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by dellvin 03/08/07

Dear Dell,

For NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS the time has come to implement eye tracking technology.

We now have these off the shelf technologies:

1. Webcam with megapixel resolution

2. Infrared CMOS CCD sensor technology

3. Face recognition technology

4. Eye tracking software

SURELY, these elements can now be combined with manual input devices to control windows, menus or buttons etc etc.

So DO IT.

Thanks

Comment »

send a flower with every computer

Advertising and Marketing submitted by inogate 03/22/07

Put a flower in every box with computers 11 Comments »

of course

Linux submitted by jmelquiades 03/27/07

yes, a stiker for linux will be great Comment »

Dell should sponsor American Idol

Dell submitted by guardianxps 03/24/07

Hey Dell,

During the last show of American Idol they showed how some large fortune 100 companies were contributing to a good cause to help the poor.

Dell has already shown its ability to understand, recognize, and act on the enviornment. So, maybe it would be cool to see Dell work with a good cause and helping the poor both here in the US and in Africa.

Just a thought. 3 Comments »

Happy Birthday Emails

Advertising and Marketing submitted by joabe313 02/15/07

As part of improved customer experience, I believe that sending birtday emails to customers could improve customer relations. 21 Comments »