Evaluate using Apple's internally at Dell.
Enterprise submitted by jmxz
Apr 18
And before voting this down, read about IBM's fascinating pilot program for using Macs internally and the advantages they're finding.
IBM’s Research Information Services launched an internal pilot program designed to study the possibility of moving significant numbers of employees to the Mac platform. The study has already found an enthusiastic response from participants and is helping to drive Mac support for IBM’s business applications. ... IBM is actively working to move away from its dependence upon Microsoft Windows and toward a heterogeneous cross-platform future.
The pilot program document outlined a series of reasons for evaluating MacBook Pro laptops as a replacement for the Windows-based ThinkPads currently in use inside the company:
# Alternative to Microsoft Windows
# Less prone to security issues
# Widely used in the academic world with which Research has close ties
# Many new hires are more comfortable with the Mac and lately asking for it
# Growing Mac community in Research and within IBM that finds the development environment on Mac more convenient
# Growing acceptance of the Mac as a consumer and business oriented client platform
The first phase of the pilot program ran from October 2007 through January 2008.
...
Of the 22 of 24 who responded, 18 said that the Mac offered a “better or best experience” compared to their existing computer, one rated it “equal or good,” and three said the Mac offered a “worse experience.”
Surely you at Dell want to give your employees a "better or best experience". And if you can learn something from it, and bring some of those "better or best experiences" to Dell computers too - it would be good for your customers as well.
-370
Get GNU/Linux Machines in Retail Stores
Linux submitted by dpic
Feb 14
Imagine how successful Dell's Ubuntu offering could be if just one Dell Ubuntu machine was put in retail stores. If people knew of an alternative to Windows, they would go for it! So what do you say, Dell? Why don't you try to put at least one of your Ubuntu machines offered in retail stores?
6940
Implemented: Ubuntu Dell is Le$$ Than Windows Dell
Linux submitted by thebittersea
05/05/07 **IMPLEMENTED**
see comment from Erik down below... [Dell's Pricing Team]
$774 Inspiron 1420 (Ubuntu)
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5250 (1.5GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Ubuntu version 7.04
Anti-glare, widescreen 14.1 inch display (1280x800)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
80GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card
Integrated High Definition Audio
$824 Inspiron 1420 (Vista)
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5250 (1.5GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Genuine Windows® Vista Home Basic Edition
Anti-glare, widescreen 14.1 inch display (1280x800)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
80GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
24X CD writer/DVD Combo Drive
Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card
56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
Integrated High Definition Audio
The difference in promotion pricing was due to an error on the site, which has been fixed.
33690
Secure Terminals
Software submitted by lally
12/09/07
Real security is still incredibly painful to do. Implementing stronger security: smartcards, PKI, etc, are still pretty tough to do for smaller shops. Why not sell preconfigured machines and bundles to get them up & running?
Laptops with smartcard readers, and packs of 5 smartcards ready to use. Preinstalled encrypted HDD software. Desktops with decent physical security (& locks included). Basic servers that handle secure e-mail, IM, and PKI.
Just resell PGP software (or configure GPG for Linux/Solaris), with the heavy configuration work already done! Choose something appropriate for small businesses and shove a wizard in front (or reuse something from PGP). And put in some hardware to tighten the whole thing up with better authentication than you get from passwords alone.
10
Pre-Installed Linux | Release Early, Release Often, Release with Predictable Support
Linux, Service and Support, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart
12/19/07
Release Early: On PCs that ship with Pre-Installed Linux, always ship the very latest Linux versions (without sacrificing quality, of course!). For supported Linux distributions, this means same-day shipping when a new version is released.
Release Often: Ship updated versions of Linux methodically, like clockwork. For example, PCs with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed should ship with updated versions every six months, in sync with regular Ubuntu Linux releases.
Release with Predictable Support: With every PC shipped, commit to a fixed period of Linux support (ideally around 5 years) for the latest versions of supported Linux, so that every Dell PC can end its long life running a long-term-support version of Linux.
For example, Ubuntu Linux LTS versions are released every 2 years, and supported with security updates for a minimum of 5 years (that adds up to around 10 years of reliable support for Linux for every PC shipped by Dell).
Of course, this idea implies continually expanding the Dell/Linux HCL (hardware compatibility list) to incrementally include more models, both new and old, until all PCs and peripherals sold by Dell have predictable, reliable support for operating with Linux. Dell should commit publicly to fully support Linux on all new hardware sold by Dell.
Dell is doing a great job of ramping-up support for Linux across Dell product lines. To be competitive in the market for pre-installed Linux (expected by astute analysts to become dominant on desktop and notebook PCs within the next decade), Dell must consistently ship new PCs with the very latest versions of the most popular Linux distributions.
Most operating systems are developed with predictable alpha and beta release cycles, which should give Dell enough time for internal testing and to ship new machines on the very same day that updated versions of go gold. In the example of Ubuntu Linux, like clockwork, every six months. The built-in automatic-update features of most Linux distributions can be used by Dell to distribute updates until guaranteed minimum support periods have ended.
-70
IPhone Killer
New Product Ideas submitted by aridiz
12/10/07
I've read some minor rumors, and there is even another idea already on the board for an Android Built Device (find here: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/75352/ ).
But I'd like to see a mobile device:
Part Phone,
Part Digital Organizer,
Part Multimedia Player,
Running Windows Mobile 6.
Android is still so young, I look forward to it... but with
Windows mobile, you could get it to work with Blackberry Connect, so you may even get some blackberry converts that couldn't go it IPhone.
I was sorry to see the AXIM's go, and there is still a market out there for the mobility and connectivity this kind of device could provide, an Dell can get it out there.
Thanks for reading...
Now...What do you think?
-80
Partner with Cisco on IP phones
Enterprise submitted by pattyboy
12/18/07
Set up a partnership that could produce an embedded VOIP client that can be tied into Cisco VOIP systems. Obviously, this would be have to be proven to generate more revenue for Cisco than the revenue loss of some of their standalone clients might cause. I would accomplish this with a hard client in the BT keyboard/Mouse combo. Takes one thing off the desk. The tech is here already for it, integrate it with Outlook contacts and we'd be somewhere.
20
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.
250
Add one (two is better) port to AC adapter on notebooks
submitted by fxmulder
11/30/07
I have my notebook with me most of the time, and use usb cables to power/charge other devices. It would be good to see a usb port on your AC adapter so I wouldn't need to power my notebook to recharge my phone. I could just connect the usb cable to the dell ac adapter - how lean that would be !
170
Dell: On Servers offer the option of no Video Card/Video Chip.
Environment, Servers and Storage, Enterprise submitted by jorge
10/28/07
Dell most servers never have a head on them (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc...) so they really don't need a video card. Dell needs to implement a full serial (USB these days) interface to interact with the headless server without the need of a video card. This would save power and reduce heat, first making it more Green and second Simplify IT! Yet another two for one from yours truely, well with the help of jmxz who pointed out this key feature!
So once again for those who missed it, Green because Dell would not have to add yet another power eating chip and its toxic materials from build to recycle of that chip. Then it would Simplify IT because in server rooms where most of the time a server never has a monitor, keyboard, mouse (head) attached to it, it would allow IT to just connect it via the USB or NIC (network card) to access it when there is a need to interact with the server at the console that is headless. Most servers have the availability of a serial port which is currently being migrated away from world wide to USB so Dell needs to make the serial port functionality fully work on USB, I know there's a serial to USB port cable but really who want to find that in a pinch? No one, and it would only complicate IT so make it standard on USB.
30
Preloaded corporate image
Servers and Storage, Small Business, Enterprise submitted by jmuzic1
02/19/07
When I worked as a lowly help desk lackey, I always dreaded the usual provisioning of a new computer for an employee. I always thought it would be a great idea if Dell would allow customers (mostly corporate customers in this case) upload a system image to the Dell website which would be used in provisioning new systems under specific buying accounts. Instead of loading the hard drive full of stuff that will just be erased by the company, allow Dell to provision the hard drive with a customer-supplied base image that would allow a computer to immediately be placed on a new employee's desk after being unwrapped.
198
notebook addon !
Monitors and Displays, Servers and Storage, Laptops submitted by r.pelzer
10/28/07
Hi,
As a techie i'm walking around with my notebook to all kinds of server. Sometimes you want to look at a server, but there is no monitor availible.
Would there be a way to connect a notebook to the vga connector of the server and view the output on the notebook screen?
I would buy a new notebook for that option !
Cheers.
Rogier
250
PCIe Flash Drive for OS
New Product Ideas, Laptops submitted by coachcg
11/14/07
This would be great to get in new Dell laptops:
SanDisk revealed Vaulter, a 8GB or 16GB flash drive that can hold your entire OS, designed to sit on the PCIe port inside a laptop. In Windows, this creates a separate letter drive, which speeds the heck out of your computer, without taking the place of your 2.5" SATA-connected HDD. It's not a Santa Rosa "Robson" thing either—it's a real drive, not some caching assistant. (In case you're wondering, Mac support is coming.) Performance acceleration comes from "pre-controlling the distribution of storage data between itself and the hard drive." The fact that it's on the PCIe port means that both storage devices can work in parallel. Now, the bad news: SanDisk is only offering it to OEM partners at first. We won't be able to buy them a la carte for a little while.
Even better if we can get them for upgrades to current laptop models.
600
1/2U blade servers
Servers and Storage submitted by digitalexit
03/12/07
Small businesses may need clustering and load-balancing, just like the big boys, and they may want to stack their machines on a rack in a ISP. With today's CPUs' processing power and SATA speed and RAID support, they shouldn't be forced to choose between a Xeon or Operton rack-mount, or a Core 2 Duo or Athlon tower.
Split the 4 drive 1U rack-mount right in the middle, you can get yourself two identical servers to fit in 1U. Each server would have 2 hot-swappable 3.5" or 2.5" SATA drives mirrored (RAID1), and a slim DVD drive in the front, a mini-ITX motherboard with a single Core 2 Duo or Athlon processor and 4 memory slots and 2 gigabit Eithernet ports in the middle, and a power supply in the back. No frills, no thrills, 2 servers together should cost less than PowerEdge 860 (the cheapest Dell 1U server), perfect for small businesses that leases rack spaces from ISPs.
70
 track my votes
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