jarnovanderwielen

Learn from the "Hello, I'm a MAC... and I'm a PC" ads

Dell submitted by dsdreamer 04/29/07

Hello, I am a Dell user both at home and at work, and I have watched all the commercials at http://www.apple.com/getamac/

I think Dell could learn a lot from them. Whether or not Apple's claims are true of their own products, it is clear to me that they've nailed the downsides of the typical PC user experience. So why not tackle a few of them, and provide a differentiated, high-value experience to your customers?

Stuffed: The bloatware experience that renders a Dell PC almost unusable out of the box. Other posts have been pleading for a way around that.

Computer Cart: Windows PCs tend to fail with cryptic error messages. Why not provide an application that reads the Windows error logs and interprets them in plain english?

Security: Provide a Dell Quickset option to turn off Vista's UAC (with suitable education about the risks)?

iLife: Why are all the PC's multimedia tools always fighting each other for control of the playback of each media file type? Even Microsoft's Windows Media player is trying to take over playback tasks from the same company's Windows Media Center. This is just absurd. It's the opposite of integration. I think Dell should provide an integrated user experience instead of taking subsidies to pre-install a dozen competing media apps that confuse, distract and ultimately never serve the end-user.

Out of the Box: "Well, first I've got to download those new drivers, and then erase the trial software that came on my hard-drive." Why is it that the driver configuration and BIOS and optical drive firmware all need multiple updates before any Delll system I've purchased will run smoothly? Take a look at the number of urgent or recommended driver / firmware / BIOS updates that are already posted for the Dell Dimension 9200/410. It's pretty much a full-time job to keep up with them. If the maturity of the chipset drivers from Dell's suppliers are so poor, one method of attack is to narrow the range of supported chipsets, and keep your customers away from the bleeding edge; another would be to develop an automated configuration management solution for the drivers in any Dell PC.

I've no idea whether Apple, HP or any other vendor scores better in the above-mentioned aspects than Dell does. I'm just saying that anyone who could solve a bunch of these issues could provide a value proposition that many of us would appreciate.

17 Comments »

Update NVidia Drivers for Quadro NVS

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Latitude products submitted by willjwylie 04/30/07

Can we please see and update to the Dell Quadro NVS 110 video drivers for the D620. I am seeing countless problems with this card and there hasn't been an update for the driver in almost a year. Considering this is the flagship laptop for enterprise users, this video card is pathetic. 7 Comments »

Improve investor relations

Dell submitted by mathoda 04/29/07

Have investor relations provide transcripts and podcasts of all corporate presentations and analyst conference calls. This would make it much easier to review such information. 1 Comment »

Include IMAGED HARD DRIVE on Disc with purchase

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops and Laptops submitted by tripmeist 04/29/07

When a customer buys a system from Dell, you should include an EXACT IMAGE of the Hard Drive "as shipped from the factory." This would include all drivers, preinstalled software, etc. Put it in a BRIGHT ORANGE CARDBOARD SLEEVE WITH A WARNING TO KEEP WITH OR NEAR SYSTEM. Make the disc BOOTABLE, obviously.

Talk about CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE ... No more OS Reinstall, followed by Drivers and Utilities, etc. Take a 90-120 minute process and allow the customer to do a reinstall in just 10-15 minutes. Obviously, put a warning on the disc sleeve that it will only work as long as the hardware configuration has not changed. Make it work with any new Hard Drive, as Dell often has to send replacement hard drives that are different.

PUT AN IMAGE OF THE SYSTEM AS SHIPPED ONTO A DISC. INCLUDE THIS WITH EVERY SYSTEM. 1 Comment »

Alternatives to Intel

Desktops and Laptops submitted by skippydaroo 04/29/07

Stikes me since all the Linux biggots on here are desparate for <insert> to be pre-installed, that there isnta actually that much requirement for the CPU to be an Intel. This opens up scope for a nice array of other vendors who would make lovely alternate platforms and still be supported under Linux.
Laptops with mips in them would be cool, litteraly, and whould be a darn site cheaper as well.
I quite fancy a desktop with a Power PC in it, nice dual core G5. or even a nice cell processor.
This could make DELL different 10 Comments »

Solid State Memory = System; HDD = user data

Laptops submitted by andepiel45 04/29/07

I think that there are two options for splitting OS from user data:

a.- Allocation on a 40 GB solid state memory (if fast enough).

b.- Using two HDD inside the laptop.

First way reduce size of the laptop, second gives more space to the system.

I think is crucial to avoid replace the old partitioning way and use two complete devices. 2 Comments »

Ask the customers, not the nerds!

IdeaStorm submitted by cullend 04/29/07

This isnt a rip on nerds/ geeks or people who use this site. The fundamental problem with ideastorm is that it is influenced by smart people, who have more time, and know more than the average customer. Why doesnt Dell make a runonce software, so on first bootup the user is presented with the top 10 ideas, and they can vote, or creat there own. That way, the real customers can decide! 8 Comments »

Stop gouging Windows Vista prices

Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by cullend 04/29/07

Come on Dell! You charge an ADDITIONAL $200 to upgrade from Vista Home Premium to Windows Vista Ultimate. THAT IS ABSURD! We all know that you use OEM, as you are an OEM... The price for Windows Vista Home Premium is 111.99 from Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116202) . For Ulimate OEM, it is 189.99 via (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116213) We all know Dell gets a way deeper discount, that is fine. But when you charge $200 for Ultimate, when the real price difference between the two is $78. Where does Dell get off charging a $200 difference?! Dell, lower the price of ultimate... 7 Comments »

Portable Designs

Laptops submitted by kallark 04/30/07

Is time to make a DELL Table PC

The LCD wide screen is flips and rotates 180 degrees, it is also a touch screen. that will be a notebook, that you can actually take notes on it.
Examples:



Is time to move to the next generation of computer, small, less heavy and more portable than ever.



Transparent notebook.

This is an example of a common desktop transparent chassis

Imagine that on a portable, with some neon led's on it, flashing a the sound of the music in the portable. 7 Comments »

Computer Insurance PC

Sales Strategies, Service and Support, Desktops and Laptops submitted by oagostinho 04/30/07

I think that'll be very useful if I can buy some kind of insurances for my PC (desktop and laptop), and pay for that with a competitive price, of course! For example, if I lost my computer, some damages, and maybe, if my computer will be replaced for their brother most ne, in one year. See Ya! Orlando Agostinho, Computer Engineer, Lisbon/Portugal 5 Comments »

Partner with Entertainment Company

Dell submitted by rorers 04/30/07

Dell has made several attempts to enter the entertainment space - MP3 players, TVs, etc. Since Dell is also aggressively pursuing the gaming market, why not PARTNER with (not buy) a company that already has those arenas covered - Sony. Dell is currently offering digital TVs, still and video cameras, gaming systems, and other Sony accessories. With a partnership, Dell could capitalize on the popularity of the PlayStation brand by incorporating some of the characteristics into future system designs or by simply making the two items more compatible. Additionally, Dell and Sony could collaborate on home entertainment systems that tie the audio and video with the systems of Dell. Dell brings industry leading notebooks, desktops and viedo projection systems to the table that could sell next to or replace Sony models. Dell would also have the ability to utilize existing Sony storefronts that have traffic due to the entertainment/accessory offerings. 3 Comments »

Dell has to Build a Foundation Technology

Dell submitted by rexsolomon 04/30/07

Dell still has no idea about what a Foundation Technology is - and thus cannot shape a future befitting a multi-billion dollar corporation.

Take skyscraperevac.com - they have what Cisco, Juniper, HP/Compaq, and all the various techology companies out there sorely want (YES, including Dell): an essential technology for a long-felt yet long-unresolved need - which MOST importantly, is a high-tech (patented) Foundation Technology for evolving and embedding digital intelligence and communications into the infrastructure itself.

Think Starship Enterprise and its communicator. Now we have cellphones which can do pretty much the same thing. Coincidence or normative forecasting?

Okay. Hope I haven't lost you yet. Even way back when, Star Trek's main 'computer' was embedded into the infrastructure itself - all other tools (i.e. tricorders, etc.) were just extensions of the bigger capacity and capability of the starship main computer. 'Mainframe minded'? No, not really.

Lost you huh? Dell, the only way to predict the future (and future sales) is to create it. All the good ideas being offered to you in this site is for nothing if you don't have the guts to act on it.

Portable hologram devices - projection or in-eye, digital selection, mobile communications, etc. - all of these technologies already exist today.

The KEY is that the real CPU activity is in the infrastructure itself, clustered, fault-tolerant and powered by DELL.

One device on my person. Just one. Allowing me to see, hear, feel and 'touch' a myriad of tools made available (by subscription or authorization) by the infrastructure itself.

If Dell can define the next evolutionary step in computing, it will be able to define, long-term (and in its own terms) its continued growth - despite its current size.

If it does not? Dell is now almost exactly where IBM was in the mid to late 1980s, in terms of size, influence, structure and complexity. Today IBM PCs are called Lenovo.

Fortune favors the bold and Michael Dell was very bold as a startup entrepreneur. Will he set a course for the stars or just give 50% of his wealth to Bill Gates (ala Warren Buffett) to be given away to charity?

A gentle reminder: don't be too in love with your PC hardware, motherboards, hard disks, memory (ad nauseam) - and yes, even your Operating Systems. That is not the point.

Enhancing human capabilities and providing real beneficial change to life and living. That is the point. 2 Comments »

Hire Karim Rashid as Design Consultant

Desktops and Laptops submitted by ustexasjoe 04/30/07

Karim Rashid is arguably one of today's best designers. Dell should hire Karim as a product design consultant for new, hip desktops and notebooks.

http://www.karimrashid.com/ 3 Comments »

Add a Printer and Flat Panel Monitor Category to the Idea Storm

IdeaStorm submitted by lkmorris37 04/30/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

Check out the list of categories on the right side of the page.





2 Comments »

RAID for consumer PCs

Desktops and Laptops submitted by astrashe 04/30/07

A lot of people are afraid of data loss, and would love better turn key consumer solutions.

A lot of people I know ask me about mirroring when I talk about it, and are disappointed when they find out how much more a PC that does that costs. A couple of friends have asked me to built the machines just to get that one feature -- I don't, because Dells make more sense for warranty and support, and do a better job of addressing real world problems than my home built RAID pc would. But as far as perceived risks go, disk failure looms huge in the average user's mind.

The ideal solution, in my view, would be three reasonably small disks in a single box. Two are used for a mirrored system disk. The third is used for something similar to retrospect express backups. It's all configured out of the box.

If one of the mirror disks dies, a message box would pop up telling them exactly what to do -- call Dell, tell them this happened, get a replacement drive shipped out.

And ship the thing with a CD that they could boot from to restore from the retrospect-style backup -- let people recover from disaster without spending several hundred for a geek to come out. Not a windows system CD -- a "restore the backup, all your software, the drivers, and your data" CD. Comment »

Dell Stores

Advertising and Marketing submitted by mr.c 04/30/07

One thing that Dell needs to do a better job of is promoting their products. I have seen Dell kiosks in malls and they are impressive and I always see people stopping to look. Dell's direct model is a fabulous idea and bringing it to another level by having Dell stores will do nothing but help boost Dell name but their pocket books as well. Comment »

Customer Support by Customers-Network

Service and Support submitted by oagostinho 04/30/07

I suggest that you will have to create one customer networks, that give the possibility by ourselves to help another customers and return discount/coupon in function of feedback's customer. See Ya! Orlando Agostinho, Computer Engineer, Lisbon/Portugal 2 Comments »

...saw the leaked memo...

Dell submitted by kurthamm 04/30/07

I think you are on the right track. I have been doing PCs since 1982. There was a time when you put the street corner PC vendor out of business. There were years where it was stupid to get into the PC business.

I am seeing a resurgence of locally owned PC vendors. They provide the custom support that you cannot. They are popping up in a response to your support model (sorry).

Why not reach out to the independent computer stores and offer them a product line that would put them on the map? Who wouldn't want to sell your PCs?

Just a thought.
I love your company.
Good luck!
Kurt 1 Comment »

get more creative

Desktops and Laptops submitted by bunny 04/30/07

i think dell needs to get more creative and artcy(i think thatrs a word) with their computers dell has always been an innovator in desighn but they need to take it to the nextr level. look at the XPS m2010 things a beast i love mine its the coolest comp ive ever owned and i just love all the spiffy built in features dell needs to expand their product line and REALLY THINK OUT OF THE BOX!! i know they can 3 Comments »

New choice on front of DELL.COM

Dell Web Site submitted by kevintrooper 04/30/07

They should have one of those icons similar to the notebooks and PC! but,... I'ts both combined in one image and says (when clicked on it): if you want a PC or Notebook then u choose a operating system!

And vista buisness! (sorry couldn't find good image)

If you think there should be another choice Post it in the comments! 8 Comments »