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!!!!
19540
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.
28000
Ubuntu/Vista Laptop w/embedded webcam
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Laptops submitted by eode
07/04/07
I don't know if Dell's doing the embedded webcam thing yet, but if they are, it's not available for the Ubuntu laptops (that I've seen). It's a great feature for *any* laptop, whatever the OS. ..but I definitely want both Ubuntu and webcam on my laptop, and system76 provides those -- but I also want to support Dell and their move to support Ubuntu just as much!
..for now, this just delays my laptop purchase, in hopes that Dell's going to put out a laptop with an embedded webcam + Ubuntu..
p.s.. ..if this were a congressional bill, it would also include: Ubuntu Stickers Stickers Don't Leave Sticky Goo Charitable Reuse of Old Computers
..however, since this is not a congressional bill and doesn't include subsections that are potentially completely unrelated to the main heading, the above three articles are instead merely referenced and advocated here. :-)
840
ubuntu on my computer: open source for education
Education, Linux submitted by raymako
03/23/07 **UNDER REVIEW**
I am a french teacher working in the south of France .The school's computers are Dell and Nec computers. Like most of my colleagues, I am using "opensource" (free) softwares, and specially Ubuntu for 2 years. It works perfectly and the pupils who tried Ubuntu like it very much. I hope it will be possible to buy a Dell computer without Windows very soon and I hope that all the Dell computers of my school will use Ubuntu. Not only because Ubuntu is free (even if it's not insignificant in a french school...) , but because working with Ubuntu forces you to understand and to think how and why you are using your (Dell) computer. I know that I'm speaking and writing english language like a spanish cow, so I'm sorry. I just want to finish my message with this: please be the first big computer manufacturer offering Ubuntu or Windows (which is very performant, but not the only one and specially at school) .
7100
Ubuntu PCs need more video card options
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by nkmhutirv
06/13/07
Dell desktops and notebooks preloaded with Ubuntu should have more video cards to choose from!
I do not know how Nvidia 7300LE compares to other video cards, but I do not belive TurboCache is suitable even for the most casual gaming.TurboCache's memory sharing technology is just not suitable. Yes, I do play 3d accelerated games from time to time on Ubuntu! You could offer some Nvidia 7600, 7800 or some other medium range video card. Nothing fancy, just something to allow some 3d effects.
Even Dell PCs preloaded with FreeDos have 2 video cards to choose from:
128MB ATI Radeon X1300 [Included in Price]
256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro [add $50 or $2/month1]
With Ubuntu PCs you have to choose between a range of just one video card:
correction: you have 2 options:
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 [Included in Price]
256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache [add $50 or $2/month1]
But what's the difference between them? I want to play games 1-2 years old. I do not belive this will be posible with this kind of cards.
You could say Dell does not address gamers, but Dell's Windows based PCs have a lot more advanced video cards: "Stunning 3D graphics performance with the latest single and dual graphics cards in the market available". Unfortunately such advanced graphics is available only to Vista users, not even XP buyers!
Have you seen the noise (fuzz, amazement) 3d effects in Ubuntu have generated? You see, Ubuntu users appreciate 3d acceleration in Linux. Don't restrict them to just integrated graphics and TurboCache!
2700
No Extra Software Option
Software submitted by ootleman
02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
Would love the ability to have a clean Vista install. No AOL software, no earthlink software, no google software - just a clean, original OS.
 Check out jeremy_f's update on our current software options.
120744
Explain why you made Windows cheaper than Ubuntu again for the same hardware
Linux submitted by jmxz
07/07/07
Dell, you labeled the idea "Implemented: Ubuntu Dell is $50 Less Than Windows Dell" as "Implemented" http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/66879/Implemented_Ubuntu_Dell_is_50_Les...< a couple days later you made the Windows machine $275 cheaper than the equivalent Ubuntu machines.
Quoting jsgarvin in the comments on this idea: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/68294/Same_discounts_available_on_Ubunt... Just did my own 1420 vs 1420N comparison. The Windows machine comes with a free upgrade to 2GB Memory and 160GB Drive, which each cost more on the Ubuntu machine. Apparently, it's harder to install memory and hard drives on Linux??? Hmmm.. no, not that I recall. Anyway, with all the same options selected between the two machines, the Ubuntu Tax apparently is now running $275. Just wait, it' won't be long before Dell pulls all the Ubuntu machines off the shelf and claims (again) that there's no market for Linux on home machines. Gee, wiz. I wonder why that is. Now I know Ubuntu's a better OS; but c'mon - even I wouldn't pay a $275 premium for Ubuntu over Windows. Or are you trying to kill the Ubuntu sales - and if so, just come out and say that?
1360
Linux Printing Solutions
Linux, Printers and Ink, Service and Support submitted by jfelisky
02/21/07
I have a Dell 3100cn laser printer, which was a nice purchase until I dropped Windows XP and moved to OpenSuSE on my home computer.
I've tried a lot of different message boards looking for a way to keep that printer, but I'm so frustrated with Dell's lack of Linux support that I have to consider HP, since the LaserJet family is more broadly supported.
6300
Support for Open Document Format
Operating Systems, Software submitted by lordshipmayhem
06/12/07
Dell should encourage support for Open Document Format: - provide a page listing the benefits of ODF over proprietary formats (OOXML and other Microsoft "standards") - Link to the home pages of applications that support ODF (OpenOffice.org, StarOffice, KOffice)
ODF is designed to be both platform and application agnostic: anyone who wants to write one, can create applications that allow you to use any ODF file, without losing file formatting. The objective is to allow any user to keep access to their data even if the maintainer of the application the data was saved in ends up going out of business or ending support for the application in question.
I don't know about you, but I have some files that were written in word processing software that no longer exists, in a couple of cases on platforms that don't exist outside of the hands of museums and collectors. Those files are at best extremely difficult if not utterly impossible to open now.
3700
Visible Link to IdeaStorm on main Dell site
Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site, IdeaStorm submitted by ipaw
07/01/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
IdeaStorm should have a visible link and explanation on the main Dell site as well as a Desktop shortcut on all new installations.
I've been a Dell customer since my XPS-500 back in the mid 90's and I only just found out about IdeaStorm through a PodCast.
If people know they can have a voice and make a difference, they'll use it.
Thanks
 This idea has been partially implemented, as our new home page now has a prominent link to "Dell Community" - within that page are links to IdeaStorm and our other community properties, including Dell Community Forums, Direct2Dell, StudioDell, etc. Thanks for the idea!!!
9280
Have Firefox pre-installed as default browser
Software submitted by robinjfisher
02/19/07 **REVIEWED**
Does what it says on the tin! Most people only use IE because they aren't aware of other browsers - they think Internet Explorer is the Internet! What would really drive take up of alternative browsers is if Firefox was pre-installed as the default browser so that when people look for the "Internet" in Windows, they are using FF. Firefox advocates at Dell have initiated discussions and driven action around exploring alternative internet browsers and experiences. As you can tell from our response to the Linux community, open source continues to be a part of our conversations about new products and services.
117993
Always include all software and driver reinstallation discs for free (or at least let us get the option to)... don't make us pay extra
Software submitted by winoffice
05/01/07 **IMPLEMENTED**
Always include ALL software AND driver reinstallation discs for FREE (or at let us get the option do get the for free if we want as follows)...don't make us pay extra in case that we have a disaster and need to reinstall from scratch...!
No Discs Included (Included In Price)
All Discs Included (this means everything -- all software discs -- OS/Security software/etc., and all driver discs -- this means Windows or Linux drivers or both, whatever applies -- add $0)
Other options (OS disc only, all software discs only, driver discs only, etc. -- add $0)
For some computers, Dell does not include the reinstallation discs. Even if Dell offers them, Dell charges extra for us to get them. In fact, the only time I seen reinstallation discs being offered without charge were for Dell XPS desktops with the flashy lights -- that is, the Dell XPS 600, 700, and 710 systems, for those ware the only systems to offer operating system options like "Microsoft Windows XP Media Center WITH REINSTALLATION CD".
Also, most of the time when software reinstallation discs are not included, driver reinstallation discs (such as XPS flashy lights, as well as printers and monitors) are not included either. Therefore, don't just include the software reinstallation discs -- include as well the Windows/Linux drivers for the hardware (depending on the OS purchased with the computer, if any, which in turn depends on the user's preferences).
Besides, Microsoft as well as ALL software companies include the discs when you get the software seperately, so why can't Dell do the same when the software is preinstalled...? Customers no longer have to pay extra for re-installation media.
21520
Pre-Installed OpenOffice | alternative to MS Works & MS Office
Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart
02/17/07
Provide OpenOffice.org for free pre-installation alongside Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office. OpenOffice.org is more capable than Microsoft Works, and a serious competitor to Microsoft Office, at a fraction of the cost (it's free!)
OpenOffice.org can open, create, edit and save Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
Provide as OPTIONS for pre-installation many other high-quality free software programs such as: - Firefox: web browser with popup and privacy controls; say goodbye to Internet Explorer infections! - Thunderbird: email program with free anti-spam and privacy controls - Pidgin: instant messaging all-in-one program for popup-free MSN, Yahoo, AOL and others &nsbp;[ed: GAIM was renamed Pidgin in April 2007 to settle the issue with AOL's trademark on AIM] - PDFCreator: creates Adobe PDF files from any program - Scribus, Inkscape & GIMP: desktop publishing, freehand drawing & powerful image editing - Audacity & VLC: multi-track audio editing & universal all-in-one media/video/movie/DVD player - Stellarium & Celestia: planetarium viewer & outer-space mapping, like Google Earth, but for our Solar System
Pre-installed quality free and open source software drastically lowers the cost of new PCs, and helps prevent software piracy. Cast your vote for Linux and other free software. Cast your vote for the Universal Education PC [ed: article removed/merged by dell_admin] utilizing free software.
CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Quality free and open source software is well behaved, and may be legally pre-installed on PCs, and legally shared with friends and family, sharing is encouraged! Cast your vote for consumer CHOICE and public transparency at Dell.
140499
Downloadable, PDF format, full technical specs for all systems
Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site submitted by benjesuit
06/12/07 **REVIEWED**
Before I buy, I would like to have the options of downloading the full technical specifications of the system. Not just the brief specifications. Place a link under "tech specs" tab that allows you to view or download the full specification PDF file for those of us who care about and understand such things. This way everyone is satisfied. We are looking to improve the specs pages by making them consistent across all product lines, provide more in-depth specifications and making them available in a printable format.
13730
 track my votes
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