jhatsis

FULL 6-Pin Firewire Ports on Laptops

submitted by hotuan87 05/28/07

Give us full 6-pin firewire ports on laptops. For anyone who does video editing with a camcorder, the camera uses a 4-pin plug, and it is annoying to find 4-pin to 4-pin cables; they're more expensive and harder to find. In fact, any cable with a 4-pin firewire plug is more expensive and harder to find. 6-pin firewire ports aren't THAT much bigger.

If Apple can fit them on their laptops, so can Dell! 6 Comments »

Re-inventing the configurator . . .

Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site submitted by guidedstar 05/31/07

As a 30-year tech sector marketing & sales veteran and long-time admirer, I'm compelled to reach out as I've been amazed as how Dell has lost its way in recent years. Recent considerations of retail cooperation with the devil behemoth may indeed be avenues worthy of testing the waters, but what is so needed is a return to your roots that, in my estimation, is the primary source of your stagnating growth.

I'm a one-man band independent consultant these past five years and I offer free first reviews to my clients. With Dell, I'm familiar enough to give you yours now -

1 - You revolutionized the industry by inventing the configurator, a simple, fast and easy way to customize the product and see all the options and their cost impacts. Along the way, the marketing geniuses have totally polluted the original attraction and today it is a curse. To be sure of getting the options I want and at the best offered price, I may have to come in through five different doors, some of them dead ends, to get five different prices on, essentially, the same thing. Some recent changes have been a minor help, but there are still the endless attempts to engorge my configuration with more sales options and fully unrelated bundles of music players and the like. Lost, completely, is the understanding of why we loved you in the first place. And like a Baby Bell, you're frittering away the tremendous store of goodwill that you once had. The remaining comments are similarly attuned to this concern, not that it is the be-all and end-all of what you should be doing, but fixing the online experience is undoubtedly job one.

2 - Help Me Choose used to mean something once. Today, the help links do not provide significantly helpful information, for either first-time buyers or advanced users. For example, even for me, staying on top of meaningful information on the current crop of processors and that competition is difficult. The point is that you have tremendous opportunity, hidden in a major interface redesign that builds in real help, to go back to being the one to educate the world, being the expert we come to, where we can expect straight-talk and real answers. Go back to EARNING more of that goodwill.

3 - The ever-present pricing joke. Endless emails screaming of "three days only!" are so yesterday. Really, they never were from this industry, but badly force-fitted here. The joke is the opposite reality . . . hurry up and buy before we reduce the price even more. Worst, I can come in through different doors and get different prices. To do my own due diligence as a buyer, I have to spend several hours wading through playing your game. There is no one place I can clearly see all offers and options - is that not clearly a dis-incentive to my buying today? There ARE ways to address that need to bring in business, but they seem lost (and truly not only to you). Here's the first idea, provide a 30 day price guarantee that gives a credit in Dell products for any reductions in price you make (requires that monolithic price standard).

4 - Differentiation. Your product marketing group seems a tad lost too. Together with the marketing folk, it feels focused on a hip generation of gamers and not the most of us. One significant opportunity seems to me to be in the form factor offering. Mostly, no one really desires a tower chassis anymore. You've got small form factors that you barely market. Smart marketing would have the first question of the new configurator be what size footprint do you want and would you like us to explain the tradeoffs? That most PCs never get opened by the consumer, would seem to me to be a "no-duh" that if you SOLD small footprint, reduced noise, heat and space, you'd dramatically upsell into this differentiated product, not very available at Best Buy. There are a ton of other opportunities too. Please take them and take back your place of leadership!

Okay, enough, you get the drift and either you sense we're onto something or I'm already deleted. But before I sign off, a couple of positives. Thank you for the recycling effort. It is the one thing in recent history that brings you goodwill, at least from me. And thank you also for the Foundation

Maybe Michael needs a fresh, outside voice not beholden to any interest other than truth. Be well! Tim Brady www.GuidedStar.com

3 Comments »

FOX AIRTIME TO COMMERCIALIZE DELL PRODUCTS

Advertising and Marketing submitted by carmen_frias 05/31/07

Dell buy some commercial air time with FOX when American Idol is televised to advertise Dell Products. Millions of viewers all ages.. 2 Comments »

15" XPS Laptop

XPS products submitted by nosintake 02/21/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

I think there should be a 15" XPS laptop. There are plenty of companies that have a 15" "gaming laptop". I think there should be a Dell XPS with a rotating camera, 1GB RAM, Blu-Ray player, and 80GB hard drive standard.


Check out our latest Idea in Action
29 Comments »

12-cell Battery for Inspiron 9400/E1705

Laptop Power submitted by goldy 05/31/07

Just a quick short request/idea for Dell. I would really like to see a 12-cell battery developed for the Inspiron 9400/E1705. Depending on how the customer customizes the computer, of course, these laptops can be very powerful and need a large battery while on the road. A 9-cell is OK, but 12-cell batteries do exist, and if they could be conformed to function in an Inspiron 9400/E1705 that would be great. I know it would be on my wish list :) 3 Comments »

official dell stores NOT WALMART!

Sales Strategies submitted by bootdoc120 06/01/07

Dell could be selling computers and other products through their own dell stores staffed by knowledgeable sales people who are also technically savvy. This Walmart idea is trash because the people who work there don't know anything about what they are selling. You could also have a "tech swat team" for on site support. 9 Comments »

Legit System Recovery

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Software submitted by joeevil5000 06/01/07

Dell should include legit system recovery with thier PC's. Meaning, you get a disc with your OS on it, and seprtae discs for any factory installed software. (MS Office, Internet Security, ect.) But they wouldbe the same as if you bought the software off the shelf, only they would be licenced only for that PC. Give us discs, instead of a garbage Hard Drive partition, that's just doing nothin but take up space. 2 Comments »

Self Help Kiosk

Sales Strategies, Service and Support submitted by smfrick 06/01/07

If Dell is truly building a retail model, I would like to see dell place a self help kiosk in that retail outlet where I could take my computer purchased there (or online) and have my system re-imaged to either how I purchased the system or If I want to add more software. Other services which could be provided would be on the spot diagnostics, a list of upgrade options, maybe a video conference to a service technician who can help me. Premium services like a backup of my system or data files, or maybe consultation thru video with a sales person who could advise me on what programs I need to do the function I'm trying to perform. I think it's great that Dell is moving to the retail stores, but don't loose the direct relationship to the customer! Comment »

Tech Support based on user skill level

Service and Support submitted by joeevil5000 06/01/07

Dell's tech support reps treat everyone like they are computer illiterate. Given the fact that some callers are'nt as knowlegeable as others, there should be a teired tech support system. There should be promps in the automated system: "press 1 if you are a biginner user, press 2 if you are an advanced user" That way, the beginner users would get the guys working with scripts and flow charts, using dumbed down terminology. And the advanced users would get reps that know about what they are talking about, and know what YOU are talking about. 4 Comments »

Dell Paypal Payment with dell.com & dell.co.uk

Dell, Dell Web Site submitted by helmecj01 06/01/07

Offer PayPal as a payment option on dell.com

What Is PayPal?

PayPal, the trusted leader in online payments, enables buyers and businesses to send and receive money online. PayPal has over 100 million member accounts in 103 countries and regions. It's accepted by merchants everywhere, both on and off eBay.

Is it safe to use?
PayPal helps protect your credit card information with industry-leading security and fraud prevention systems. When you use PayPal, your financial information is never shared with the merchant.

Why use PayPal?

* Make purchases or send money with PayPal – it’s free
* Shop and pay conveniently by saving your information with PayPal
* PayPal is accepted by millions of businesses worldwide and is the preferred payment method on eBay 3 Comments »

Dell Offer the Blank Keyboard

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), New Product Ideas submitted by jorge 06/02/07

Dell one way to save and improve International sales is with this blank keyboard, it works for any language! Even English! With such a keyboard no one will complain that the keys are not set for their language and Dell can offer stickers (at extra charge) with the key letters and symbols needed for those not so familiar with a keyboard. It also works great for Linux users as there is no predefined keys so they can configure as they wish, no matter how badly.

Here's a view of the blank keyboard.



This keyboard is also good for the environment as when a customer throws it out any international recycling country can actually use the keyboard instead of dismantling it for copper. 18 Comments »

Make sure Customer Care Reps give customers the proper information about Dell Direct Stores

Service and Support submitted by joeevil5000 06/02/07

I am SICK of having to tell my customers that the customer care rep they just spoke to does'nt know what they are talking about. Customer care is consistantly telling customers to go to Dell Direct Store kiosks for repairs, and accesories. We do NOT carry a stock of any products, and we DO NOT do repairs. This is basically giving the customer the impression that we are giving them the run around, and ruining customer experience. 1 Comment »

Firewire

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by sethdixie 06/01/07

Why can't dell offer a configuration for a firewire plug for video cameras, etc? 14 Comments »

Make search box on Dell website accept Service Tag

Dell Web Site submitted by dellvin 05/25/07

I am tired of drilling through the dell website in order to find the page for checking the configuration (specification) of particular Dell computers.

I need this information for checking the details of third party machines that I am interested in buying at auction. Give me the service tag identifier and I can check it out through Dells online customer support.

It would be way easier if the search box on the main web page would recognize that a service tag was entered and automatically to go the relevant computer model with its technical details. etc etc

thanks 1 Comment »

AWESOME Notebook extras (Dell is losing the notebook war!!!)

Sales Strategies submitted by americasarmyrocks 05/25/07

Dell should make their 17-inch notebook with a built-in keypad like Toshiba, HP, and Alienware. They should put a webcam, MagSafe power supply, backlit keyboard and touchpad (like the XPS), and fingerprint reader in their notebooks. If Dell would include all re-instalation discs with their computers, they would problably get more business, along with having all programs optional. Also, Dell should make an option on the XPS to have dual hard drives and dual graphics cards, Alienware still has them whipped on that.
A better battery would also be appreciated, My new notebook's battery only lasts 2 hours!!! We should not have to pay for a descent battery. Dell should include the TheOpenCD.org CD as an option when customizing their computer.

If Dell were to make all these options possible on their notebooks, they would by far exel all other brands. PLEASE Promote these ideas that will revolutionize the market on notebooks.

Thanks a lot Dell for itegrating some of these ideas with the new Inspiron notebook line :) Rock On!!! =) 18 Comments »

Fast performance antivirus

Software submitted by carlolsen 05/25/07

I find that my antivirus (Symantic) takes a bit of my CPU, and a lot of my disk bandwidth. I stick with them, though, because they are name-brand, so I assume have good protection. Besides, I don't have the time or desire to evaluate alternatives.

However, I would trust other antivirus vendors, if they had the Dell blessing, and I would love to see something faster that ships as standard. 7 Comments »

Let the customer choose their Carrier.

Service and Support submitted by m.j 05/25/07

We should let the customers choose the shipping company thru which they want their products to be shipped, we can have a default carrier and have the customer pay extra if they want to change it, this is quite similar to upgrading a part or product.

We have a lot of customer calling Dell and express their dissatisfaction with us because they weren't happy with the service that was provided by the shipping company. Though this is not a Dell issue, it still affects our Customers' Experience. 1 Comment »

Stop Whining Your Linux Distro Wasn't Chosen

Linux submitted by rockettech 05/25/07

Seriously, folks, if you appreciate Linux factory installed on Dells, support them. If you can't wipe Ubuntu and install your favorite distro instead, maybe you should go back to your Fisher-Price interface. How about SUPPORTING Dell for supporting Linux. No matter which distro Dell chose, there would be a bunch of whiners complaining their favorite distro/kernel/point release/compiled version/desktop environment/color scheme/text editor was not used. Show Dell there is UNIFIED support in the Linux community and make yourselves a community Dell strives to serve. Support Dell first, then explore the possibility of offering distro choices once Linux's appeal has been proven. All that is proven now is the Linux is a fractured ungrateful community that can't be pleased. 2 Comments »

Where is Ubuntu offer on you home page?

Dell Web Site submitted by macmoh 05/26/07

Hey where is Ubuntu offer on your home Page, I dig it about 5 min at www.dell.com then at last I found it, why it is buried so inside, please take it to above ground from underground.

Thx. 3 Comments »

Get the facts about Ubuntu

Linux submitted by gustavoang 05/26/07

Dear Dell:

Thank you so much for offering GNU/Linux preloaded, but please, provide your clients with accurate information about this operating system:

1.- You said: "For advanced users and tech enthusiasts, we’re happy to offer a new open-source operating system"
Grab an everyday computer user and ask him to use Ubuntu. Then ask him how difficult it was for him to use it. Even monkeys can use Ubuntu!

How do you know that those who asked you to offer GNU/Linux preloaded are advanced users and tech enthusiasts? Please, show me your research.

2.- You said: "A downside is that some open source software requires intermediate or advanced knowledge to use".

Just like proprietary software!

- Do you think Windows bluescreens are easily dealt by an everyday computer user?
- Among Windows users it's quite normal to reinstall Windows once a year (at least)... Is it easy for them?
- Do Windows users get rid of adware, spyware and viruses easily?
- Is it easy for them to setup and use firewalls (a must-have in Windows)?

3.- You said: "may not be compatible with the same software applications and hardware as Windows operating systems'

You should add: "However, a huge amount of hardware works out-of-the-box on GNU/Linux, unlike Windows. Also, installing software on GNU/Linux is far easier than Windows".

If you're going to keep that message against GNU/Linux, please add this one about Windows: "Windows may not be compatible with the same software applications as GNU/Linux distributions and some hardware will not work out of the box on Windows, unlike GNU/Linux. Also, you don't have to worry about badware if you use GNU/Linux and you would enjoy freedom in computing, unlike Windows".

Why do you only talk about GNU/Linux drawbacks? Is Windows perfect in your opinion?

By the way, why is it so hard to find a GNU/Linux preloaded computer on your website?

Thank you so much for your attention.

Best regards,

Gustavo Narea.
Madrid, Spain.

GNU/Linux rocks! http://www.getgnulinux.org/ 5 Comments »