incubus240

Show the Vista performance rating during system configuration.

Dell Web Site submitted by jervis961 02/17/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

People may not realize that Vista gives your computer a performance rating based on several factors (processor, RAM, hard drive and video card).
Dell should show the performance rating on the side as you build your computer and update it as you go along changing the configuation. This should give people a guage as to if an upgrade will really improve your overall performance and also what kinds of games and programs your new computer will be capable of.

LED Back Lighting

Monitors and Displays submitted by drew08867 06/28/07

Dell should transition all monitors to LED back lighting. More cost effective (in terms of energy use), greener, longer life. 11 Comments »

Better Styling, More Choices on Video Cards and a Hybrid Video Design, and Definately less or NO pre-installed Software.

Sales Strategies, Software, Laptops submitted by kman79 02/16/07 **REVIEWED**

Dell probably does build one of the best performing notebooks that one could order, well at least you could make it to be one of the best performing notebooks, but they lack in style. Of course the priority of having the notebook is having good performance, but having a stylish exterior adds value and want for the notebook/laptop. The white and gray casing gets old, and needs updating. I like the simple yet stylish look of the M1210, the rest of the line should be updated. Maybe it's just me, but the rest of the XPS line of laptops need to be toned down, it just looks to kidish and has too many things going on with it. Design a better looking notebook with the current hardware performance you have available right now, and you can guarantee it will sell better. The design does not have to be complex, but anything is better than white and gray plastic exterior you currently use. Get ideas from Apple, Asus, Sony, Toshiba and even HP. Give the exterior look of the notebook some curves......maybe evem a glossy finish, and a little texture. People spend thousands of dollars on their Dell Notebooks, at least make them feel better by making the notebooks look like it's worth the money spent on them. Give the notebook some attitude, a personality and a soul and not just a piece of plastic with a keyboard and a screen.

Dell should also give customers more choices with the video cards. I wanted to get an M1210, but was dissapointed that it only had a Geforce Go 7400 as the only choice for video card. I was more than willig to spend the extra cash on a higher end video card. Also, if sony has not patented this design/idea, what about a Video Hybrid design where you have a choice between intel graphics while on battery, and purve Nvidia graphics when plugged in. I think the idea is genious and very useful. You can use intel graphics when your running on battery to save and extend battery life, and switch over to nvidia graphics for full-on graphics power when the notebook is plugged in.

More importantly, let it be the customer's choice on which programs and services they want installed on their ordered computer. I hate turning on my newly ordered computer and having all these unwanted software and services already installed. I hate having to spend the first minutes to hours after receiving my computer uninstalling programs or doing a clean OS install.


Over the past year we launched several laptops that were developed purely for the consumer. Check out all the details on mike_h's post.





10 Comments »

6 major issues to be fixed by Dell

Dell, Sales Strategies, Service and Support submitted by jervis961 02/17/07

Dell became a top company by providing choice and customer service to a customer that wasn't available at the time but has since fallen behind the pack in these areas. Needing a translator when calling customer support is unnacceptable and other companies are rapidly passing Dell in technology advancements. While this site is a good start, many things need to be changed for Dell to become the market leader again.

1. Customer support needs to be in well spoken English and with employees who are allowed to do more than just read from a script. If they are speaking with a computer savvy customer the rep should be allowed to deviate from the script as long as they don't go outside the relm of normal policy.

2. Better options: Other companies offer high end components in small computers but Dell only supplies intel video processors in its 14" laptop. Dell needs to allow customers to get the size computer they need but with options from low cost through the high end so they can get a computer that is "Purely you".

3. Less forced options: I hate that I am paying for and XPS with internet security when I don't need it because I already have a subsciption that will transfer over or AOL is installed when I know I don't need it. They need to add an option of none of the above to all the added software sections.

4. Better pricing: Why is it over $200 to upgrade from 1 GB of 533 MHZ ram to 2 GB of 677 MHZ RAM? I can go to Crucial.com and get the 2GB 677MHZ kit for under $200. Upgrading with Dell after you own is even worse at over $300 this is crazy.

5. Custom Dell website: Customers want to feel special why not make a MYDELL website that when you log in you get a site designed the way you want it. If you aren't interested in the small business site it gets removed, you don't like to go thru the accessories sections when customizing a system so you don't see that section. Click on customer support and a list of your computer pops up asking which one you need help with and only shows the options for that system.

6. Customer loyalty rewards: I have bought 6 Dell systems over the last few years, why can't I get better customer service or pricing due to my loyalty to the company? 78 Comments »

Give Dell employees better discounts so they can experience the customer experience

Dell submitted by pwalker 02/02/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Dell employees tell me they don't get discounts on Dell products. It's time to give Dell employees good discounts so they will more frequently experience your customer experience. This is important. I believe motivating them to be Dell customers more frequently will generate a lot of ideas for improving dell.com, products and services.


We did update our Employee Purchase Program in November.
60 Comments »

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 »

Properly warn consumers about ~3GB Max useable RAM limit with Vista 32bit

Advertising and Marketing, Operating Systems submitted by benjesuit 06/18/07

Only Vista 64 bit can use 4GB of ram or higher. Vista 32bit (such as the recommended Home premium), like XP (32bit) will only report a max of ~3.1GB.

Therefore, it behoves Dell to properly warn consumers at time of configuration that they will not be using the sum total of their 4GB purchased if they choose any Vista edition that is 32bit.

Perhaps using red font parenthetical under the selection of 4GB instead of a footnote superscript.



*Vista Home premium is a 32bit operation system.

See MSFT's confirmation of this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605 59 Comments »

Stop mounting substandard displays on high end notebooks please...

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by sergioo Jan 15

If I go to buy a cheap notebook, I can blame me or the reasons why I have no money to buy a better one.
But if I buy a GOOD notebook, as a Dell is expecting to be, even more if a Latitude or Precision, and you put a WSXGA+ Samsung like the SEC3350, or the other WXGA+ by Auo, and I paid a high end notebook to get a sandy, oily, dirty, yellowish display, with light leakage, whites not white, blacks not black, porr colors and bad viewing angles, may I get a bit angry?
And why must I get angry and fax an angry letter to Escalation to have all solved, if it is my natural right to have a good to very good display out of the box?
Don't you realize yet how often people avoid Dell for:
1) bad displays
2) bad customer care
???
TO me it is a pity. I really like all the rest in Dell.
It is a pity... 13 Comments »

Advertise Graphics RAM correctly

Advertising and Marketing submitted by joffe100 04/20/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

When we say we want to buy a 512Mb graphics card we really do want a 512Mb graphics card - not 512Mb with 256mb physical memory with 256mb shared! This is really BAD and misleading advertising - you do not see other RAM memory being sold 1Gb (512Mb physical, 512Mb shared!)

Should read: 512Mb physical memory and it actually be 512Mb physical memory

NOT: 512Mb** and then some tiny asterixed disclaimer on a linked page that points out that the 512Mb is some funky combination of 3Mb physical and the rest being pulled from virtual memory - this kills many graphic intense apps and games...

suprised no-one has sued over this? Not sure many buyers are even aware....





64 Comments »

Include cleaning and screen protection cloth with laptops

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by jkeating 11/02/07

A nice dell branded cleaning cloth should be included with new laptops. This cloth would be used to clean the laptop sceens as well as lay on top of the keyboard when the laptop is closed to protect the screen from keyboard imprints. If a cloth is included it is far more likely that this cloth would be used to clean rather than some other cleaning device which may damage a user's screen. 10 Comments »

Add E-SATA Ports to notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by dvt 02/17/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

E-SATA provides a way to add fast external storage with much better performance than USB or Firewire. Adding an E-SATA port would greatly improve the expandabiliy of Dell's notebook computers.


Please see Vida_K's comment below
33 Comments »

XPS-Whole of life upgrade!

XPS products submitted by kcobley Feb 8

Today I received an email reply to my request for upgrading the CPU on my XPS720 BIOS A05 to an Intel E8500. The text of the reply " Dell does not offer processor or motherboard upgrdes for discreet items.Dell does not recommend upgrading the processor or motherboard in any given system as the design layout has been customized on all Dell systems and the power of the system may not be suitable for the system.Dell does not recommend that you perform an upgrade of the processor as this might damage the system."

The first rule of gaming PC's THEY MUST BE UPGRADEABLE and that includes Motherboards, CPU's,PSU's!

The second rule of gaming PC's Machine information and software updates such as the recent BIOS A05 must be accompanied by information posts, that tell customers what these updates do!

The third rule of gaming PC's DON'T MISINFORM YOUR CUSTOMERS that bizzare email is gobbledegook, what does the phrase "the power of the system might not be suitable for the system " MEAN!

An XPS buyer is likely to know what is possible. The E8500 is according to Intel's publicity requires both less power and cooling that its predecessors!The A05 BIOS is required and it fit's the 775 socket. SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM!

THE KEY TO SUCESS IN GAMING MACHINE SALES IS LIFETIME UPGRADABILITY AND SUPPORT in other words we don't need to buy new cases especially as the XPS720 case is a large BTX or a PSU or Optical drives. We only need to replace what is needed to be replaced and that's new generation CPU's and the occasional Motherboard on socket change and worn out componentary like hard drives/video cards. It's possible to make money selling upgrade componetary (newegg and other sellers do). It's Dell's business model policy that is the problem. 1) Dell needs to ensure on contracing for motherboards that Both NVidia and Intel are going to support them and not produce compatability problems-It's clear there is some problem with component ordering.On new CPU inroduction Motherboard providers need to be required to test New CPU's with boards. Dell should also test new CPU's on Test machines and after CPU's are tested, they can be released as CPU UPGRADES. Dell could email all XPS owners and offer upgrades to Motherboard ,CPU and other componentry and this could even be carried out by service personel at the customer 's cost (this would also save on warranty claims as a lot of people may replace Graphics cards and CPU's prior to failure in operation).
This is far more environmentally accptable than the previous Dell policy of not upgrading thereby forcing customers into buying new machines. Customer may then purchase continually year in and year out rather than a major purchase every 4 years and ongoing service plans could also be sold.
By whole of life I mean as long as essential components such as motherboards/fans can effectively modernize the machine around 4-5 years, however if an unexpected development occurs that reneders modernization impossible well so be it. One things for sure CPU's/HardDrives (replaced by Solid state) and better ram are going to lower power requirements. GPU cards will eventually lower power also, when they proceed down the Intel road in chip performance rather than the very low tech and sloppy SLI designed to extract as much money as is possible from customers for too little reliablity and performance. 17 Comments »

software CD dell printer & download web site

Dell Web Site, Software, Simplify IT submitted by helmecj01 Jan 19

Have all software what is on the CD for dell printers and have it on the download web site as well. If people lost the CD they can download it from Dell. 1 Comment »

CD ISO file for the reinstallation CD for Windows XP and Windows Vista on the download web site.

Software submitted by helmecj01 Jan 19

Dell can have a CD ISO file for the reinstallation CD for Windows XP and Windows Vista on the download web site.

Included Microsoft hotfix and updates 6 Comments »

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 »

Make Linux and no Operating system standard options on all future products

Operating Systems submitted by jervis961 08/17/07 **REVIEWED**

OK Dell you have committed to supplying Linux options in limited form. Since you have laid the groundwork already here is the next step. Every new product you release that needs an Operating system should have Linux and also no Operating System as an option in the configuration along side Windows. Since you have to write drivers and test compatability for Vista when making a new product just make it compatable with Linux at the same time. There will no longer be a need for a seperate sections for Linux or no Operating system since all of the products will have the option. this will help make your site easier to navigate for you customers. You can also create an ACCURATE help me choose section for the OS choices.





Check out what daniel_j has to say on the options we offer.





189 Comments »

No Extra Software Option

Software submitted by ootleman 02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Would love the ability to have a clean Vista install. No AOL software, no earthlink software, no google software - just a clean, original OS.


Check out jeremy_f's update on our current software options.


591 Comments »

Standardize Power Cables for Laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by badblood 08/27/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Nothing is more annoying than laptop power cables that are not interchangeable from one computer model to another or from one brand of computer to another. Power cables have been standardized on most electrical applicances, including desktop computers for decades.

Make an effort to promote and implement standard power cables for laptops.


Please see dawn_l's comments below.
105 Comments »

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 »

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 »