kevstar31

Make Installation of Microsoft Internet Explorer Optional

Software submitted by badblood 07/12/07

And/Or -

-Microsoft Media Player
-Microsoft Movie Maker
-Microsoft Mail
-Microsoft Calendar 13 Comments »

Distribute Ubuntu Cds

Advertising and Marketing, Linux, Operating Systems submitted by badblood 09/18/07

Believe it or not I need a copy of Ubuntu that I can buy or pick up free in a computer shop.

Why?

Because my internet connection is bad and I just simply can't download Ubuntu and all the driver updates and what not. And I am not alone. About the fastest internet connection you can get in Africa is ADSL running at 4megps, through an unreliable phone line that times out every two seconds. I think Australia isn't much better. What's more there are limits on how much you can download before your account gets suspended or you need to pay more.

Ubuntu needs distribution support, as do all open source offerings. Don't assume we all have lightening fast connections.

Dell distribute Ubuntu CDs.

And anyone reading this who owns a computer shop, you should distribute Linux CDs too!!

Thanks - I really hate my internet connection, truly! 16 Comments »

All hardware should be optional

Dell submitted by badblood 10/30/07

Ever stop to think when you decide to buy a new computer that there are parts on your old computer that still work and meet operational standards. Who has replaced a laptop with busted or outdated processor that still has a good screen or a good CD ROM.

Make all hardware components optional when configuring a new computer so we can keep old components that still work, like power supplies, screens, processors, modems, hard drives, etc. 12 Comments »

Release Ideastorm under the GNU General Public Licence

IdeaStorm submitted by badblood 10/31/07

"The GNU General Public License is a free, copyleft license for software and other kinds of works. The licenses for most software and other practical works are designed to take away your freedom to share and change the works. By contrast, the GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change all versions of a program--to make sure it remains free software for all its users...."

Release Ideastorm under the GNU General Public Licence

14 Comments »

Stop installing Linux; Stop offering Linux.

submitted by badblood 11/28/07

14 Comments »

Allow ALL Dell Staff to Use Ideastorm

submitted by badblood 11/28/07

Apparently only a few moderators and spin doctors from Dell are allowed to use ideastorm and other staff aren't allowed. We were told that they were, but it aint true. We just heard it from a Dell employee. From the horse.

So let all Dell Staff use Ideastorm if they want.

Thanks

47 Comments »

Make a so called '100 dollar' laptop

submitted by badblood 11/30/07

The so called 100 dollar laptops for use in developing countries are going to make their mark as a useful computer system. Not only can such computers be used effectively in schools around the world, they will prove an attractive cheap and somewhat 'disposable' computer system for those in richer countries, as gifts for children, as computers for the elderly, for use in conference settings (due to the network abilities), and as useful systems for people working in field locations, due to their functional and robust nature and cheap price.

Should intel and OLPC make their computers available on the open market there will be considerable demand for such computers. They are cheap enough to buy as a second or third throw away computer, and have just the right amount of functionality. Basically they are value for money, whereas all other mainstream ultra portable computers are horribly overpriced and as a result we expect too much from them.

So develop a '100 dollar laptop' Even make it 200 dollars, but keep it at that. It will sell, not because it is the fastest, most powerful computer, but because rich people will see it as a disposable and useful addition to their expensive array of overpriced gadgets. 8 Comments »

Wireless Control to Start and Shutdown PC

New Product Ideas submitted by badblood Jan 15

Make a little wireless controller to switch on, shutdown, lock or unlock your computer. Like the ones for cars....

16 Comments »

Thumbstick and scroll wheel for laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by badblood Feb 14

Abandon the terrible touch pad on laptops. Replace it with a thumbstick, like on video game controllers. Put a scroll wheel on there while you are at it.

24 Comments »

Sell Linux stuff

Dell Web Site, New Product Ideas submitted by badblood Feb 14

Sell Linux-fan-stuff on your website. Caps, t shirts, socks, bags, pens, etc. Make money and market Linux too.

27 Comments »

Don't multiply votes by 10

IdeaStorm submitted by badblood Feb 18

When you cast a vote the idea gets +/- 10 points, while the user who submitted the idea gets 1 point. This distorts the real number of votes and voters.

Please give an idea +/-1 point for 1 vote and don't multiply by 10. 13 Comments »

Put a key on computers to start

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), New Product Ideas, Desktops and Laptops submitted by badblood Feb 23

Put a small unique key on computers to lock and unlock them and to start them. Something to enhance security.

23 Comments »

Offer a Ubuntu based tablet PC

Linux, Laptops submitted by mgrunde Jul 19

I recently purchased an HP tx2500z tablet PC, and I love it. Unfortunately, Vista was the only OS option, and by removing it, I would void my warranty, according to HP. I removed it anyway, and installed Ubuntu on it right away, but not without many problems. See http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=845911

I hate HP, from their over packaging (see http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/07/18/32-pages-of-paper-in-17-box...) to their horrible customer service (When I requested a refund for Vista, as described in the Vista EULA, my HP case manager Kenneth became extremely angry with me and told me I had voided my warranty by removing Vista).

I never wanted to purchase this tablet from HP, but they were selling exactly what I needed for a reasonable price (1050 USD for Turion x2 2.4GHz, 4 GB RAM, Radeon HD 3200 graphics, etc.) I would gladly pay more for a Dell system with Ubuntu preinstalled. Just take a look at what you can do with a touchscreen and compiz:



What do you say Dell? How about a Puma based, Ubuntu running, tablet PC? 12 Comments »

The Real Advantages of Linux

Linux submitted by cosh 03/30/07 **COMING SOON**

• Linux is free. It's free for use on an unlimited number of computers. For ever.
• There are a variety of excellent distros of it now. Similar goals, but different approaches, so you pick exactly what you want.
• An amazing library of free, open programs are available for download with any and all distrobutions. Linux lets you explore these by category and choose which ones to try.
• Linux is efficient and runs on pc's that have a significantly lower spec (and are therefore cheaper) than what Vista ever could.
• Linux is proven secure. No viruses for Linux have ever propagated successfully, and there were only ever 14 of them.
• Linux is absolutely top-of-the-range Open Source Software. Thousands and thousands and thousands of people have reviewed Linux's code, making constant improvements across the OS. Now, the end user can rely on it. Linux is amazingly stable.
• Linux never stopped caring about where you wanted to go today. The designers always listen to problems, and then fix them.
• OpenOffice is a flexible and powerful office-suite and is free for all to use. Again, this is high-quality Open Source Software.
• Linux will let you play your music and movies without fuss.
• Linux will let you browse the internet and email safely.
• As well as being free in price, Linux is freedom. It never places DRM restrictions on you or spys on the way you use music and media. It just does what you ask.
• Thanks to continuing work on the Windows compatibility layers WINE and CrossOver, you can run increasingly complex Windows programs directly in Linux if you prefer, including Office, Internet Explorer, Photoshop and iTunes. Explore some screenshots here.
• Linux has huge online dedicated support communities. Dell can use those, to reduce the efforts of providing its own Linux support desks.

And for comparison, the disadvantages of Windows

• Windows is frustratingly expensive plus you have to pay for it again if you have another computer. Windows license management is glued onto the operating system. It scans your hardware and uses the hardware key (sent to Microsoft's website of course) to track one copy of Windows across different computers.
• If you don't like something that's changed in the new version, tough.
• Windows makes even the basic computers in the Dell range more expensive because it's a memory and resource hog. Vista's requirements have forced basic memory used to manage the OS up four-fold. So with far more memory - you get the same results.
• There are over 114,000 known viruses for Windows. See this list of viruses, and note how many do and don't begin with "W32" (which means Windows).
• Windows is closed-source. Thousands of defects are permanently left in it because there simply aren't enough people working on it to iron them all out (or probably even notice them).
• Windows is bossy and obtrusive. Vista is swamped with irritating security dialogs. You opened this file. Cancel or allow? You want to view this website. Cancel or allow? etc. People don't want to run operating systems - they want run applications and get on with what they're doing.
• Windows Media Player (reportedly) submits reports of DVDs you watch to a file on Microsoft's server, tracked with an individual id. See this page. Surely to god nobody wants this? Or this?!?!
• Look at this Microsoft diagram of how Vista plays HD video. Notice the repeated decryption and reencryption before the data gets sent to your screen. Notice the multiple "protected environments", and the fact that your prgrams are deemed to be "unprotected". Who is Vista trying to protect the video from? - YOU. This blatantly outrageous content protection is because it thinks you will try to share the video with friends and it doesn't want you to. Plus the multiple decryption stages of each frame of video put a frightening strain on the computer meaning only high-end computers will be able to play HD content in Vista (for the near future).
• It's just... not nice. Not just the OS, but Microsoft's attitude. See the Halloween Documents if you haven't already. Microsoft's reports make a shocking read. Their attitude is cold and ruthless, and we don't like that, and we don't like Dell to be tied so tightly into that.

Linux is not the be-all and the end-all, but it is growing faster, much faster, than Windows. The Linux community can scale ten times the number of developers that Windows can. Arguably, it's set to soon be superior to Windows in virtually every respect.

Dual-booting options with Windows and Linux give maximum choice to the user. This option is a must for Dell computers. Microsoft's vendor-lock-in contracts which force PC retailers to support and "recommend" only Windows are unethical and we don't like them. It's gone on for too long. Let's be honest Dell, ask yourself, what are Microsoft so afraid of? Will they lose money through dual booting both Windows and Linux? No not if Windows was the better OS... So is Microsoft quietly admitting to it... Come on Dell, we all want you to show the world how much more a computer can be! We want you to show the world what a computer is meant to be, and marvel at people's suprise and delight! Giving your customers choice can only be a good thing. Don't ignore this chance to become the open source pioneer.

Might I suggest that promotion is vital. Linux computers will not sell well if they are hidden in some back-alley part of your website. To get the best results for the work you put in, make sure people can see it and that it is well-described, so people who've never heard of it don't get confused.

Make sure that you make these computers available to markets outside America too. Don't ignore us here in Europe! The European Commission's had quite enough of Windows anyway, after fining Microsoft €497 million ($603 million USD) for anti-competitive behavior.

Another idea, to iron out compatibility problems and get interesting extra feedback, beta-test some of your new Linux range with a large-ish selection of people before making it fully available. Unlike with Windows, you have full options to customise the style, background and layout and almost complete behavior of the OS. You might want to put your own touches on it. For example the default installation of Ubuntu is a light-brown/orange colour, which lacks much universal appeal. Test to see whether people want something layed out similarly to Windows or just barebones Linux defaults for the particular distro(s). (I personally would like something similar to Windows' look.)


Open the window. Linux is ready for Dell, and Dell is ready for Linux.

We appreciate the promises you've made already Dell. Thank you. We're all behind you and look forward to the results.



52 Comments »

Match HP's Vista refund of $200 for people who reject the pre-installed Vista EULA.

Operating Systems submitted by jmxz Jul 21

It looks like HP is now refunding $200 to people who reject the pre-installed Vista license agreement

I went down to Best Buy and picked up an HP dv6815nr since it was on sale for $599.99+tax. After powering it up, I was confronted by the Microsoft Windows Vista EULA and the HP EULA: ... [long story].... I received a check from HP in the mail for $200 on 7/17/08 ... So, world, it CAN be done - this is ~34% refund bringing the total cost of my laptop to $399.99+tax. Don't take NO for an answer. Know your rights and enforce them, or you may one day no longer have them.

Idea: Match the refund HP's giving for people who reject the Vista EULA.

(note that this idea is about the dollar-value of the discount; and shouldn't be merged into the ideas about making the process easier) 4 Comments »

Provide clean Postscript Drivers

Printers and Ink submitted by pfismvg Jul 16

Network printers with postscript support should have clean drivers available for download. Nowadays every printer seems to have a bloated driver with some useless per printer custom port monitor. If you have only one printer on your computer that is usually no problem, if you have a few they may allready make your system unstable. if you have lots ln your windows 2003 print server it is a nightmare.

After some digging I found that you can always use the default windows PS printer driver as long as you have a correct PPD file.

but finding the PPD files on the Dell site is a nightmare and you need to download a lot of huge files before you get everything.

I created a driver pack with the following printers (these I have on my network)
Dell 1600
Dell 1700
Dell 1720
Dell 1815
Dell 3100
Dell 5100
Dell 5110
Dell 5200
Dell 5210
Dell 5310

To find all correct files I had to download more then 200 Mb
the final version is only 2 Mb and supports XP/2003/Vista 32 and 64 bit

http://cid-5059424a2ac3e7cc.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/PrinterDrivers/CleanD...

please check the above file and start providing drivers like this for all your networked postscript printers. I know lots of System administraters will love this. 4 Comments »

Allow Dell Ubuntu models to be preinstalled with ATI graphics cards

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by laptoplinux Jul 14 **REVIEWED**

I have noticed that the computers being offered with Ubuntu Linux preloaded only come with Intel graphics cards. While I realize that Dell might be hesitant to offer an Nvidia card on those models due to the closed source nature of Nvidia's current Linux drivers, I see no reason not to include an ATI card as an option on Ubuntu systems.

ATI now has an open source driver for its cards that is rapidly improving and on track to achieve feature parity with their proprietary driver very soon. Since there is now an open source driver, I see no reason why a Dell Ubuntu computer could not also come with an ATI card pre-installed with the open source ATI driver installed and configured.

Links to ATI driver news:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Open-Source-ATI-6-8-0-Driver-Released-79000.shtml
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=ati_r500_3d&num=1


Furthermore, I see a significant use case for such offerings since Linux boxes are often used for 3D graphical rendering and modeling in both scientific fields and entertainment fields. For example, Dreamworks Animation makes use of extensive Linux-powered 3D rendering, and the Shrek movies as well as the recent Kung Fu Panda movie were produced entirely with Linux-powered Hewlet-Packard workstations.

In short, I see no reason why the Ubuntu offerings should be restricted to only Intel graphics solutions when a perfectly good and rapidly improving open source driver exists for ATI hardware.


Please see john_h's comment
5 Comments »

Open Source Bundle Option for MS PC's

Advertising and Marketing, Software submitted by arhere Jul 16

The world of open source software is growing in popularity with Firefox and Open Office software. Offer an option for the most popular Open Source applications to be installed on a new machine for a small fee.

Open source software is free, but DELL can charge a small fee for the configuration and support of the software loaded. The fee will help justify the idea which will appeal to the open source community and customers looking for a complete application package at a lower system price.

Some examples of popular open source applications, see web sites like these...
http://www.opensourcewindows.org

For the open source fans getting ready to (-10) this idea remember, DELL is a business that wants to make money. For an idea to be implemented, it has to be appealing to both business and customer.

-AR 7 Comments »

give the origianl CD of the OS and not an ISO

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Service and Support submitted by siger May 19

when there is a problem with the Master Boot Record the ISO can't repair it and we have to go to a reparation company.

Please give us the original disc and not an ISO. IT Is more expensive but , more satisfaction for the customer. 12 Comments »

Put Ubuntu on sale at the same time as Windows (unfair to Ubuntu sales count if we install it afterwords)

Advertising and Marketing submitted by brett_alton Jun 26

I'm pretty frustrated to receive a flyer with a Inspiron 1525 laptop on sale for $599 while the Ubuntu laptop with the same specs are $699.

Why is this frustrating you ask? Why don't you just buy the $599 laptop, wipe it and put Ubuntu on it you say?

Well, I can easily purchase the $599 laptop, wipe Windows off and put Ubuntu on but there are two problems with that:

1) I don't get Dell's support for Ubuntu Linux
2) Dell doesn't see what I do with my PC after I purchase it, thus, they don't know that they actually sold an Ubuntu laptop. This means that it is one more Windows laptop sold over a Ubuntu laptop. Why is this important?

Well, apparently a few weeks after supporting Ubuntu, Dell sold 40,000 Ubuntu-based laptops. It is finally my turn to purchase one, but I want to be added to that count so that Dell knows I'm buying an Ubuntu-based laptop. Why is this important?

I want Dell to continue selling Ubuntu-based laptops, so I think it would be in the Linux communities and Dell's best interest to offer the same deals on Ubuntu laptops as Windows laptops.

I don't want Windows Vista and I don't want you to think I want Windows Vista. I want Ubuntu, but I want to pay the same price as the other guys. 9 Comments »