NEW XPS Comment
Dimension products, XPS products submitted by kcobley
05/06/07
HI Iv'e been wondering a few things, in Australia Dell is now offering the Dimension 9200 (XPS400 in U.S.) which has the seriously underpowered 375W PSU with believe it or not the NVidia 8800 GTX 768mb card. All I repeat All manufacturers of this card specify a 500W unit. Are you serious Dell is this a special cut down Dell card or what?
With regard to new XPS models I couldn't give a toss on what the case looks like all that interests me it what is under the hood, keep the case cheap and invest in the guts! I would suggest 2 XPS models one for SLI with 800W PSU and NVidia 680i motherboard. The non-SLI model to feature 600W PSU and NVidia 650i ultra motherboard.
What Dell needs to do is bring it's motherboards up to scratch and offer suppot for DDR800 & DDR1066 and 2 LAN connectors. And if there is going to be a water cooled model also water cool the video cards with the same unit as all video card makers now have water cooled units!
140
Create a Separate Linux Area on the Front Page
Linux, Software submitted by rockettech
05/06/07
Create a separate category on the front page for Linux: Home/Home Office, Small/Medium Business, Education, Enterprise, Linux. One of the potential pitfalls I see for Dell offering Linux machines would be the uninformed user selecting a Linux machine. Picture this- It's Tax time, Joe Customer goes to Staples and purchases TurboTax and attempts to install it on his new Linux Dell. Nothing but problems ensue, so who does he blame? Himself?? Heck no. The backlash will be on Dell, Linux, and TurboTax. Emulators are not the answer in all cases.
I think Linux needs to be differentiated some way on the Dell site, to allow easy access to those who want it, and to obscure it from those that may be harmed by it.
820
No OS Installed (at a lower cost!)
Dell, Operating Systems submitted by fuscob
05/06/07
We understand that there is already an option to have no OS preloaded on the machine, but it doesn't save any money. A copy of XP Pro OEM costs $139 - the consumer should get that money back if they choose not to have Windows preloaded.
2970
More RAM!
Desktops and Laptops submitted by mwmtjm
01/30/07 **UNDER REVIEW**
Do away with 512MB of memory as a base option to buy consumer desktops and notebooks. With Vista running best on 1GB at a minimum, don't make customers have a basic experience with the new OS because Dell wants to be able to advertise at a lower price point. The success of Vista -- and subsequently for Dell -- will be largely in word of mouth. Take a long-term view and build the momentum one great customer experience at a time right now!
39942
Better Styling, More Choices on Video Cards and a Hybrid Video Design, and Definately less or NO pre-installed Software.
Sales Strategies, Software, Laptops submitted by kman79
02/16/07 **REVIEWED**
Dell probably does build one of the best performing notebooks that one could order, well at least you could make it to be one of the best performing notebooks, but they lack in style. Of course the priority of having the notebook is having good performance, but having a stylish exterior adds value and want for the notebook/laptop. The white and gray casing gets old, and needs updating. I like the simple yet stylish look of the M1210, the rest of the line should be updated. Maybe it's just me, but the rest of the XPS line of laptops need to be toned down, it just looks to kidish and has too many things going on with it. Design a better looking notebook with the current hardware performance you have available right now, and you can guarantee it will sell better. The design does not have to be complex, but anything is better than white and gray plastic exterior you currently use. Get ideas from Apple, Asus, Sony, Toshiba and even HP. Give the exterior look of the notebook some curves......maybe evem a glossy finish, and a little texture. People spend thousands of dollars on their Dell Notebooks, at least make them feel better by making the notebooks look like it's worth the money spent on them. Give the notebook some attitude, a personality and a soul and not just a piece of plastic with a keyboard and a screen.
Dell should also give customers more choices with the video cards. I wanted to get an M1210, but was dissapointed that it only had a Geforce Go 7400 as the only choice for video card. I was more than willig to spend the extra cash on a higher end video card. Also, if sony has not patented this design/idea, what about a Video Hybrid design where you have a choice between intel graphics while on battery, and purve Nvidia graphics when plugged in. I think the idea is genious and very useful. You can use intel graphics when your running on battery to save and extend battery life, and switch over to nvidia graphics for full-on graphics power when the notebook is plugged in.
More importantly, let it be the customer's choice on which programs and services they want installed on their ordered computer. I hate turning on my newly ordered computer and having all these unwanted software and services already installed. I hate having to spend the first minutes to hours after receiving my computer uninstalling programs or doing a clean OS install.
Over the past year we launched several laptops that were developed purely for the consumer. Check out all the details on mike_h's post.
7696
With Ubuntu installed models, offer a "Linux starter kit" to help transition from Windows.
submitted by benjesuit
05/03/07
As an option for the Ubuntu Linux preinstalled models, offer a starter kit to help former windows users make a somewhat seamless transfer away from windows and onto Linux.
This kit should contain:
1. Codeweaver's CROSSOVER LINUX which allows Ubuntu (as well as other Linux distros) to run popular Windows software.
2. List of currently compatible software that runs with Crossover Linux.
In addition, in all online and print ads, let this option be prominently displayed along with a brief but concise explanation of Crossover Linux's capabilities.
I believe that this will make the Ubuntu Linux models more attractive to the general public and make the transistion to Linux less of a "risk."
950
Fix the BIOS to enable HIBERNATE & SUSPEND
Linux, Service and Support submitted by cement_head
05/03/07
Three major priorities should be addressed for the adoption of Ubuntu 7.04:
1) The Hibernate and Suspend functions should work with the BINARY (accelerated) graphics drivers from nVIDIA and ATI. nVIDIA has better linux support - consider switching to nVIDIA cards on laptops. HIBERNATE and SUSPEND are essential for laptops and for widescale adoption within the business/corporate world. DELL laptops have been notrorious for poorly written BIOSes that only will hook into Micro$oft windows and M$ ACPI scripts - while this has not been an issue in the past due to the monolith of M$; it is now an issue whose time has come. This BIOS (DSDT tables) issue has to addressed at the level of DELL, not Ubuntu. Consider the FreeBIOS project.
2) Wireless cards should "simply work". Major culprit is Broadcom Cards. They are a pain to install; and usually require an extra step. Consider adopting a different manufacturer that supplies & supports an open source WiFi driver.
3) AMD processors. They are better. They are cheaper. They use less power. The Turion (64 bit) is especially well suited to Linux. AMD & nVIDIA would be a formidable combination. Consider dumping INTEL.
Less important, but annoying:
4) iTUNEs. This is REALLY annoying. Goes to the heart of DRM. But, the pragmatic reality of today's world is that many people already have an iPOD. Maybe you (Michael Dell) has enough pull to get Steve Jobs to get his people to compile/script iTUNES for Ubuntu.
Looking forward to seeing Feisty on DELLs.
- cement_head
3270
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
Notebook Shells Are Plastic - Offer Metal Casings Too
Laptops submitted by googideas
02/17/07
Notebooks get carried everywhere. Shouldn't Dell offer an aluminum or otherwise metal casing/construction as an option?
If I am going to drop two grand on a laptop, which I just did, I sure as heck want it as rugged as possible. I don't care about weight or additional cost. I want it to last.
Plastic is brittle. A dent in the metal is better than a crack in the plastic. It's also easier to recycle.
What do you think?
10056
Design & Form Factor
Desktops and Laptops submitted by logi
02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
This forum is a great idea to get Dell back to #1.
What I like to see is new and innovative styling across the board on notebooks and desktops. Dell's product line looks 5yrs old and needs a total refresh.
As you can see Apple Inc. is winning conumers hearts because Apple owners are actually proud of displaying them in the living rooms instead of hiding them. Get rid of that XPS desktop design that thing is so ugly.. and come up with something consumers would be proud of displying in their media rooms.
Also I would like to see Dell create a sleak new design for a media center box so we can utilize vista home for the entertainment room and display it next to my audio and video units.
Thanks for listening Mr. Dell.
Hope_l talks about how passionate we are about design in this thread. To read more about how this idea is being put into action click here.
22996
Help create Open Source drivers - employ or hire a few developers
Linux, Operating Systems submitted by tingo
02/21/07
The Open Source market is growing - fast.
Dell should invest a small amount in this, in order to gain a huge market share and sales.
Employ or hire a few Open Source developers to create drivers for your products (for Open source operating systems).
Make sure that
- you support as many of the Open Source OS's as you can (Linux, *BSD, others)
- the drivers are completely open sourced (no binary blobs)
- that you take a long time view on this and support the drivers for as many years as you can
- you create open source drivers for ALL new products
- there are no strings attached to the use or further development of those drivers (ie. use an acceptable FOSS license)
This idea is completely free - the first company to use it wins.
6632
Pre-installed Linux must play commercial DVDs
Education, Linux submitted by jonmca
05/03/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
You probably know this, but a "show stopper" requirement for most consumers and many educators and business road warriers is having laptops and desktops that can play commmercial DVDs. I have a hunch that preinstalled Linux on Dell machines will be a terrific success if Dell Linux desktops and laptops have this capability. I've been told that http://www.videolan.org/ has one possible approach.
Having Linux playing commercial DVDs may also catapult Dell into the complex Digital Rights Management contoversy so it would be wise to get Dell's legal staff involved ASAP and also have this discussed this at the highest strategic management levels at Dell (if this is not already being done).
Check out the Ideas in Action post from Daniel Judd. And you can also check out this follow-up post from John Hull who leads our engineering efforts behind Linux on consumer systems.
4790
Solid State Drive as option in Notebooks
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by tablet205
03/28/07 **IMPLEMENTED**
Definition
A solid state drive is primarily a data storage device, for use in computing applications that traditionally use a hard disk drive.
A solid state drive is based on non-volatile memory instead of the spinning platter and mechanical-magnetic head found in a conventional hard disk drive. With no moving parts, a solid state drive eliminates seek time, latency and other electro-mechanical delays and failures associated with a conventional hard disk drive.
Advantages
* Faster startup - Since no spin-up required.
* Faster read time – In some cases, twice or more than that of the fastest hard drives.
* Low read and write latency (seek) time, hundreds of times faster than a mechanical disk.
* Faster boot and application launch time - Result of the faster read and especially seek time. But only if application already resides in flash and is more dependent on read speed than other issues, eg. OS bootup that detects devices will not be significantly sped up even with faster seeks & reads.
* Lower power consumption and heat production - no mechanical parts results in less power consumption.
* No noise - Lack of mechanical parts makes the SSD completely silent.
* Better mechanical reliability - Lack of mechanical parts results in less wear and tear. High level of ability to endure extreme shock, vibration and temperatures, which apply to laptops and other mobile devices, or when transported.
* Security - allowing a very quick "wipe" of all data stored.
* Deterministic performance - unlike mechanical hard drives, performance of SSDs is constant and deterministic across the entire storage. "Seek" time is constant, and performance does not deteriorate as the media fills up (See: Fragmentation).
* Lower weight and (depending upon type) size
* Faster than conventional disks on random I/O
Check out the Idea in Action on the SSD enhancements Dell is making.
7549
Backlit Keyboards
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by rarmasu
02/21/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
I find myself many, many times in dark or poorly lit environments having to guess the various keys - would be fantastic to have a backlit keyboard - with backlit individual keys as the best option.
I would actually pay extra for that convenience if the option was available.
This could be done for desktops or notebooks.
Check out Vida_K's comment below on the New Latitude.
24100
 track my votes
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