Intelligent Computers
New Product Ideas, Desktops and Laptops submitted by vc60
11/19/07
Intelligent computers need to be developed which can recognise the user and respond to his requirements and preferences. The user and his preferences etc. would be registered and entered once. It would save time and energy.
-100
Dell: Support Open BIOSes for Linux
Dell, Linux submitted by phubert
10/10/07 **REVIEWED**
An Open BIOS for Linux would free it from the DOS legacy code and speed boot times.
The current BIOS is a legacy throwback... it's time to replace it!
Our current priority is to expand Linux availability by bringing more platforms and languages to market. Read what daniel_j has to say.
5620
Easier way to OPT OUT of Dell selling my private information
Advertising and Marketing submitted by ninefoot3
10/17/07 **IN PROGRESS**
I rec'd a brochure yesterday saying Dell and DFS were going to share my private info with other 3rd party companies for marketing purposes. Well, it said that in about 5,000 words or so. At the end is a box stating that I may opt-out of this by calling the number listed or writing a letter (including certain info) and send it to the listed address.
I chose to use the phone method. After being shoved around to a few people, I finally got someone who could help me 'opt-out'. This involved 'opening a case' as if I had a technical issue with my account.
My IdeaStorm suggestion, hey Dell, make it easier for us to OPT-OUT of your attempts to make money off of my personal information. What's the matter? Didn't make enough money off of my patronage to Dell products and the interest rates charged? Getting an extra $1 for my name, address and age information going to help Michael Dell get a new boat? C'mon!
While I'm disturbed that Dell wanted to sell me out, I'm more disturbed that Dell made it difficult for us to opt-out. A simple URL would have been nice. I know, that would make more people opt-out and Dell would have less names to sell. It's like a mail-in-rebate or the lack of a cancel button in the account information at freecreditreport.com, you HAVE to call, and since that's a pain in the neck, most people will sloth themselves into something they don't really want.
4380
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.
9560
make linux systems EASY TO FIND
Dell Web Site submitted by phubert
10/18/07
At other sites, I have seen comments by individuals who have BOUGHT Dell Ubuntu systems complaining about the difficulty FINDING said systems.
I think you'll get more sales if you improve the visibility!
6410
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!!!!
19850
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.
28500
Support your hardware, whether or not it came with Ubuntu pre-installed
Service and Support submitted by jon_anderson_ca
08/13/07
I just got off the phone with technical support. The tech told me that, even though I'm grappling with a hardware problem, he would only support me if I'm running Windows XP. Actually, he *would* support me if the computer came with Ubuntu pre-installed (and if that were an option a year ago, I would have went that way), but since it didn't, he refused to support me.
I can understand not training people to support tons of Linux distributions, but this is not a software issue... it is a Hardware Problem. What OS I run is irrelevant.
Here's a rough transcript of the end of our conversation:
[ after 10-15 minutes ]
Tech: I need you to check your Battery Properties.
Me: The design capacity is 7800mAh, the last full charge was 1400mAh, [etc.]
Tech: How do you know that?
Me: I use Linux. [ note: I'm running Ubuntu, which Dell sells on laptops now ]
[ long pause ]
Tech: We only support Windows.
Me: This is a hardware issue, not an OS one.
Tech: I agree, sir, it's a hardware problem, but I can't support you unless you run Windows, or unless we shipped the laptop with Linux on it.
Me: Okay... but you can see the problem as soon as the machine turns on, *before* the OS boots! It's a problem with the battery's control circuitry!
Tech: I'm sorry, sir, but we are trained on Windows, and won't support you unless you are running Windows, or unless Dell supplied you with Linux.
Me: Thank you for your time, goodbye.
790
Add 802.11n wireless option for your Linux offerings.
Linux submitted by jmxz
08/15/07
I can't find any of your Linux offerings with a 802.11n offering. Seems most 802.11n chipsets have pretty weak driver support right now; but fundamentally 802.11n does work with Linux (heck, Cisco 802.11n devices are even linux based). Adding 802.11n as an option along - even in a partially working state with a disclaimer that drivers are not stable - would help some linux customers including (a) those people who don't mind helping debugging the driver, and (b) those people willing to use wired networking until the drivers get more mature.
Also, of course Dell could tell the vendors to provide a working driver as Michael Dell himself suggested
http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20000815S0014 "One of the big challenges has been the driver world," Dell said. "Chipset companies and peripheral companies need to develop for Linux. Dell can be a powerful ally. We can say, 'if you want to work for Dell give us drivers with support for Linux.'
Dell - please stay focused on the highest-voted ideas, though. Don't distract yourselves with this one until you've addressed the ideas below which have been the top-ranked ideas for at least 6 months without adequate responses.. - 147,808 - dhart - Pre-Installed Linux [and not just on a couple obsolete models in limited geographies]
- 127,719 - dhart - Pre-Installed OpenOffice | alternative to MS Works & MS Office
- 107,313 - robinjfisher - Have Firefox pre-installed as default browser
- 89,183 - ootleman - No Extra Software Option [only a couple models are crapware-free today]
- 78,007 - gergnz - Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware
- 73,600 - agreer - No OS Preloaded [and not just on a couple obsolete models]
1220
Better Notebook sound and features
Laptops submitted by foxx
02/17/07
I was looking for a high end notebook for video editing. Every Dell model I looked at was missing something essential.
Most serious is the lousy sound. I can understand for low end notebooks, but high end need A REAL SOUND CARD. I would have been willing to buy a sound card, but that required a PCMCIA slot and you had elimintated those. I gave up.
4729
http://www.dell.com/open shouldn't steer people towards Windows
Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by limulus
08/02/07
If I want to look at the open source offerings on Dell's site, there's a nice short URL that redirects to the appropriate page: http://www.dell.com/open
However, some of the wording on the page sounds like it was written to DISCOURAGE people from buying those systems and steer them towards Windows; an excerpt:
---
Not sure Open Source is for You?
The main thing to note is that when you choose open source you don’t get a Windows® operating system. If you’re here by mistake and you are looking for a Dell PC with Windows, please use the following link.
Shop Dell PCs with Windows
---
To make the page better:
* remove the "Not sure Open Source is for You?" and "Already an Open Source fan?" sections or change them to something like this:
---
New to Open Source?
A very important thing for people familiar with Microsoft Windows® but new to open source to note before buying is that it is an alternative to Windows®, not a cheap version of Windows®. Programs specifically designed to run on Windows® will NOT run by default on Dell's open source systems. If you want to run programs such as "Microsoft Office® 2007", "Adobe Photoshop® CS3", "iTunes® 7.3" and "The Sims® 2" you're in the wrong place! (Dell's Windows® systems may be found here.)
If you already knew that or are ok with it, please continue shopping below...
---
* if its to be kept, move the "You asked, we listened." part down into the Ubuntu description, but get rid of the "advanced users and tech enthusiasts" mention; installing an OS (regardless of the OS) is usually the most difficult step (and one not done by 'average users') but Dell has done all the hard work (most notably by selecting compatible hardware) and after that Ubuntu is really not that hard to use :)
* in the "What Is Open Source?" section, the following sentence needs work: "A downside is that some open source software requires intermediate or advanced knowledge to use, and in the case of operating systems, may not be compatible with the same software applications and hardware as Windows operating systems."
What is the reference for "advanced knowledge to use"? Are we talking about the command line? Ubuntu can be used without ever seeing it. Perhaps consider striking that. The real meat of the issue, of course, is that Windows embraces proprietary things and its an uphill battle to try to support them in an open OS. Perhaps use the following:
"A downside is that consumer software applications and hardware choices which are compatible with the proprietary Windows operating system may not work in an open source environment or may require significant tweaking to make them work."
(for software, the tweaking is a reference to Wine... for the hardware, we can hope for support in future Ubuntu versions ;)
2320
Better selection of Linux notebooks
Linux submitted by kasoroth
08/07/07
An Ubuntu notebook with higher specs would be nice. At a minimum, I'd want a decent monitor option (1920x1200 resolution), a decent NVIDIA video card option, and gigabit ethernet. I'd also prefer an AMD processor, and a price point about $50 less than an equivalent Windows system.
2340
Why Can't Dell Put Linux On Their Really Serious Notebooks?
Linux, Service and Support, Laptops submitted by kenjennings
08/09/07
These guys can do it...
http://www.emperorlinux.com/mfgr/dell/rhino/
Dell Latitude D830 or Precision M90
# up to 17" WUXGA w/ X @ 1920x1200
# Full Linux support: 1667 - 2333 MHz Core 2 Duo
# Full Linux support: 512 - 4 G RAM, expands to 4 G
# Full Linux support: 60 - 160 GB Hard Drive
# Full Linux support: DVDROM Drive, or CDRW/DVD Drive, or DVD+/-RW Drive
# Specification: 6.3 - 8.6 pounds
# Full Linux support: 10/100/1000 Mbps ethernet
# Full Linux support: 802.11a/b/g (54Mbps) WiFi
# Specification: Linux Pre-Configured (dual boot available)
# Specification: EmperorLinux user's manual
# Specification: Three year warranty & One year tech support
They've got everything working on Linux. Maybe Dell should partner with these guys to get a better selection of Linux-able Dell notebooks.
3200
Stop moving *Backwards* in your Linux progress - return the NVidia graphics option.
Inspiron products, Linux, Laptops submitted by jmxz
08/16/07
During the first 2 days of your Ubuntu sales you didn't offer any accelerated graphics options on Ubuntu laptops. After numerous Ideas requesting the addition, and phone calls to your sales guys as well (I know I made at least one) the option was added and I even posted an idea thanking you for having the option on the day I ordered one.
Now I see that you again removed the option of accelerated graphics on Ubuntu systems?!?
WHY? It works fine on the E1505N you sent me!
What's with the horrible history of backwards progress on your Linux systems.? You showed backward progress on the warranties (and then fixed them again). You showed backward progress on the pricing and discounts (and then fixed them again; and then undid the fixes again).
It seems that just as fast as you mark Ideas "Completed" you go around un-completing them.
You're making me believe the conspiracy theories that were originally made in jest about people in Dell trying to make the Linux projects fail.
1620
Don't make it difficult for people to find Ubuntu machines
Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by xivulon
08/09/07
Ubuntu is now shipped to Europe, but it is hidden away and not that obvious to find. If you did not follow the news, you would probably have missed it completely. What link do people usually follow when buying a laptop at dell.co.uk? They follow the most preminent links:
Notebooks > Home > Home Essential Notebooks
This is where they usually end up to: http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/notebooks_good?c=uk&...
The inspiron 6400 does come with Ubuntu, but do you see a "Select with ubuntu" button anywhere? I don't think so. If you want a Ubuntu machine you have to get there via a completely different route, by selecting the OS first (on the less visible left column) and then the machine... You can do that for XP too, but with XP you can also select the machine first and then the OS. Why is it not the same with Ubuntu? Moreover, if you click on the laptop image, it will automatically select Vista (thus giving it far more preminence).
So, I am glad Dell started shipping Ubuntu, but to me it looks like they only want to make informed geeks happy, while hiding the option to average joe. If Dell was really serious they should have Ubuntu listed in the customization section of each and every supported machine.
Customize your Operating System:
* Ubuntu Linux [subtract £30]
* Genuine Windows XP [Included in price]
* Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Basic - English [Included in Price]
* Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium - English [add £23.50]
* Genuine Windows Vista™ Ultimate (32Bit) - English [add £117.50]
There is already a conflict-resolution message, so you could easily signal incompatible OS/hardware choices. The above is what I call "choice", anything else is muddling the water.
3260
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.
21670
 track my votes
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