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Dell and MS XBOX Collaboration

Dell, Gaming submitted by sakeshotz 04/17/07

I would like to see Dell and MS XBOX collaboration in the gaming space. Microsoft has been able to tap a new audience with their gaming platform and this in many ways reinvents many consumers of their impressions of the Redmond company. Microsoft has turned the corner from being the global corporate monger into the cool next gen game producer. Dell can ride those coattails and make significant in roads by contributing to the XBOX success by creating and branding XBOX peripherals and PC-XBOX special collaborative software. Comment »

Update Vista Video Drivers More Often

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Dell Web Site submitted by rprouse 04/20/07

Dell video driver releases always lag well behind the release of drivers by the card manufacturers. Please try to update more often, especially with Vista drivers which are fairly buggy and unstable at the moment.

The video drivers for the NVIDIA GeoForce Go 7950 GTX on 32 bit Vista are crashing repeatedly. The drivers that you offer on the website are v.98.09, but NVIDIA is currently at v.101.41.

Please update your video drivers for Vista when NVIDIA releases new ones. My brand new XPS M1710 laptop crashes or freezes up daily and it is almost always the video drivers. This is not the experience I expected with a new laptop. 2 Comments »

Ergonomic Keyboard for Laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by lvincek 04/20/07

I would love to have an ergonomic keyboard on my laptop!

I have yet to see anyone else doing it. How being the first, Dell?!!! 1 Comment »

Disk layouts in new PCs

Operating Systems, Service and Support, Desktops and Laptops submitted by grippo 04/20/07

When buying a new PC with multiple internal disks. Provide an option to have these built as a mirror rather then a stripe, then, when one of these disk fails the PC will still be usable/bootable until you have had a chance to replace it, without having to reinstall the entire OS. 3 Comments »

System Security - Fingerprint Scanners

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by guardianxps 02/17/07 **ALREADY OFFERED**

I would like to see computers have some new technology added like Fingerprint scanners. Stolen computers are an issue and adding this will create a better level of security. The only downside I can see would be if one person sold the computer to another and didnt reset the scanner.

Still, I would like to see this and I am sure others would too.


“See Mike_B's and Vida_K's comments below”




33 Comments »

The ULTIMATE Laptop

Laptops submitted by codecurl 04/20/07

A year ago I bought a maximum spec Dell Inspiron 9400: I put as much as I possibly could into it - 17" TrueLife 1920x1200 display, 2GB RAM, fastest Core Duo at the time, fastest available hard drive, best video card option etc. etc. But it's not enough for me!

As a professional software engineer, this is what I really want (and no, I don't want a desktop):

- 20" TrueLife 2600x1620 display
- dual 160+ GB harddrives so I can do RAID stripe level 0
- 2 max speed Core Duo - so Quad Core
- 8 GB RAM
- max graphics
- a better keyboard than the Inspiron
- a slightly more rugged case
- easily upgradable ... its never fast enough

This has got to weigh in under 5.5 Kgs to be luggable on my back, and I know it would not be cheap, but it would be worth it. 4 Comments »

A Dell Linux Timeline - The Countdown Begins <strike>today</strike> in 1992.

Dell, Linux, Small Business submitted by jmxz 04/20/07

For those newer to Linux, here's a timeline of Dell's involvement with Linux.

The Idea for IdeaStorm is that Dell should support Linux as well as it had in the past (before the Mar 2002 event)

I consider this document a work-in-progress and any additions are welcome.
PLEASE Find more links and post them in the comments and I'll add them to the timeline.

• Feb 1992 · Linux runs fine (except for swapping) on a Dell 235D (25Mhz 386).
• Mar 1992 · Dell employees help vote for the creation of comp.os.linux
• Aug 1992 · Dell employees active on the Linux-Activists mailing lists.
• Oct 1994 · Dell employees help thier customers run Linux on Notebooks with a footnote that"In this isolated instance these are indeed the opinions of my employer"
• Jun 1995 · Dell tests Linux on Notebooks and notes to potential customers "OS/2 Warp is supported. Linux isn't officially supported but unofficially, it works fine. I've been using these machines for over a year... I'm on the notebook design team at Dell.".
• Mar 1998 · Ralph Nader sends a letter to Michael Dell requesting pre-installed Linux "after learning that Dell and other OEMs were reluctant to offer a Linux client PC on the grounds that it would harm the OEM's relationship with Microsoft."
• Feb 2000 · CNN reports "Red Hat Linux 6.1 is now available on the Dell Inspiron 7500.... The Linux-enabled laptops will cost no more than their Windows 98 counterparts, according to a spokesperson for Dell....With the availability of Linux on its laptops, Dell is leading the pack in the deployment of Linux, ...I think Dell has set themselves as the innovator here,...With their basic business model, they don't have to build 10,000 Linux machines and then worry about getting orders."
• Apr 2000 · Michael Dell says "I think Linux on the desktop has a fair shot over the next couple of years"
• Jun 2000 · Michael Dell responds to "if I log on to your Web site and order a laptop running Linux, will you ship it to me", Dell: "Absolutely. Not only can you order a laptop, but you can order at least one configuration of every single product we sell, and we would encourage you to. We are one of the leading providers of Linux-based systems, and I believe that's a rapidly growing part of the market."
• Aug 2000 · Michael Dell says "Dell is now the No. 2 provider of Linux-based systems worldwide and the first major manufacturer to offer Linux across its full product line"
• Aug 2000 · Michael Dell says "configurations of all Dell products are now designed, tested and certified for Linux. Our factories can now customize each system -- from PCs to servers -- with Linux. "
• Mar 2002 · Media reports that Microsoft killed Dell Linux.
• Jul 2002 · Dell's support channels still provide excellent support on pre-installed Linux Dell Notebooks.
• Jan 2003 · Michael Dell says "We continue to offer Linux on the desktop and there is nothing else to say,"
• Sep 2004 · Near impossible to buy a Dell Linux desktop (they apparently stopped pre-installing though the website suggested they did).
• Sep 2005 · Dell introduced a notebook with pre-installed Linux for the French market.
• Jan 2007 · Dell introduced a notebook with pre-installed Linux in China.
• Mar 2007 · Dell writes "Dell has heard you and we will expand our Linux support beyond our existing servers and Precision workstation line. Our first step in this effort is offering Linux pre-installed on select desktop and notebook systems. We will provide an update in the coming weeks that includes detailed information on which systems we will offer, our testing and certification efforts, and the Linux distribution(s) that will be available. The countdown begins today."

Yes, it's focused a bit heavily on notebooks now - because that's what I'm in the market for - but if your interest is in a different area, feel free to add more links in the comments. After I verify your link I'll add it to the main posting.

• [Feb1992] http://groups.google.com/group/alt.os.linux/browse_thread/thread/93c8a6cc186e...
• [Mar1992] http://groups.google.com/group/alt.os.linux/msg/044374eb8845069c?&hl=en&q=lin...
• [Aug1992] http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.linux/browse_thread/thread/c08e6aada33...
• [Oct1994] http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.laptops/browse_thread/thread/b2144e39...
• [Jun1995] http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.laptops/browse_thread/thread/f5186036...
• [Mar1998] http://ideastorm.com/article/show/66040
• [Feb2000] http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/02/03/linux.laptop.idg/index.html
• [Apr2000] http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2000_04_27_msd_st...
• [Jun2000] http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2000_06_08_msd_fu...
• [Aug2000] http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2000_08_15_msd_li...
• [Mar2002] http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/03/19/microsoft_killed_dell_linux_states/
• [Jul 2002] ]http://lists.us.dell.com/pipermail/linux-precision/2002-July/000022.html
• [Jan2003] http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/03/01/14/030114hndellinterview.html?...
• ]http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20040918105850387
• [Sep2005] http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/execs/20050928_consum...
• [Jan2007] http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/09/dell_linux_china/
• [Mar2007] http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/ideastorm/ideasinaction?c=us&l...

15 Comments »

Preinstall Linux

Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by marta 04/20/07

I want to have the option to buy a product with no SO or with a free SO installed. I don't want to pay for a Windows that I won't use.
So, offer that product and I will consider buying a Dell. 3 Comments »

Apples and Oranges

Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by tidalsurge 04/20/07

Given the demise of microsoft and all things vista, the upcoming reign of google apps, and the newfound popularity of macintosh computers with an much better operating system, why doesn't dell consider selling a dell-branded macintosh computer. it would essentially be an apple mac, with osX, but branded as a dell 'orange' or something like that. you need to think outside the box to survive in this market. offering linux is great but consumers really want osX even if they don't know it yet. 6 Comments »

Basic crunching machine

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by stephecr 04/20/07

I am a member of SETI@home from the university of California in Berkeley. We crunch workunits for the SETI project, and I use 6 various models of Dell computers in this.

I would like to be able to buy a modern dual/quad core Dell pc for this task. I only need the base unit, mouse & keyboard. Minimal graphics is required and no dvd rewriters or software etc. All I need is a base pc with a fast processor, and say 1gig of decent RAM.

There must be others out there that have a need for a pc of that sort of spec just do do scientific calculations without all the usual frills added on.

How about it Dell? Comment »

Make laptops with numpads !!

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by johell 02/28/07

Please make laptops with numpads !! 11 Comments »

No McAfee

Software submitted by doomlord52 02/19/07

I think everyone agrees here. No McAfee. i cant unistall my copy because it will take all my settings for the Microsoft firewall with it. That includes my outlook settings, internet, and just about every program. Why cant i say "no McAfee please"??? is it really that hard? use Norton.... 72 Comments »

Drop Vista altogether on 20th May

Operating Systems submitted by steveoc 04/20/07

http://www.mikealix.com/nj990524.htm< May - 1999

An ocean liner carrying over 1000 passengers, ominously named 'Vista', sunk to the bottom of the ocean on 20th May 1999 off the coast of Penang in Malaysia.

Dell should honour the date of this tragic event by dropping that other 'titanic' disaster - Microsoft Vista - on 20th May 2007. 5 Comments »

Bring Back The Save Configuration Code

Dell Web Site, Service and Support submitted by csecu 04/20/07

The Dell website used to create an "E-Value Code" customers could use to save their custom system configurations for later purchase, or to e-mail to relatives, friends, etc, so they could just type it in and order a system you had configured for them. What happened to that?

Bring back the code! Comment »

Offer better LCD screens

Monitors and Displays, Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by rockprog 04/20/07

I wish Dell would offer better LCD screens on their laptops, with wide viewing angles and a crisp and bright display. Similar to the FlexView screens available on some Lenovo Thinkpad laptops using IPS technology.
Maybe an option for the Precision M90 and M65 ? 1 Comment »

Start selling computers directly in Israel to

Sales Strategies, Service and Support submitted by jonathanorlev 04/20/07

Hello Dell.

I live in Israel. In Israel, you do not sell your computers directly. In fact, you do not sell at all to the private sector (The Dimension models are not being sold at all).

The private, consumer sector buys a lot of computers (desktops). Almost every Israeli family owns a modern computer, many of them owns more than one. Bbut practically _all_ of them are not brand names.

Computer are being sold here only by small shops who by parts and install them by themselves.

I think that there is very good potential for you if you start selling in Israel.

I am not a business man. I am a private consumer, and I wish I could have bought a Dell Dimension desktop directly from Dell for a fair price instead the no name I have here, which is definitely not as good as a Dell (it's PSU was burned out within a week after buying it. Its container is crappy, it generates a lot of noise, etc').

I wanted to write about this subject a long time ago, but haven't do that because the answer I received from Dell in Israel (the local branch) caused me to believe you don't want to listen.

Now you have this IdeaStorm site, so I am writing. Another motivation was what was published here yesterday: HP is going to start selling to the consumer market.

I afraid that they know somethings Dell doesn't.

I can give you more highlights from an end user perspective. I have no financial or business interest here.

If someone from Dell is reading it, please contact me.

My email address:
JonathanOrlev_REMOVEME_@gmail.com

Thanks and I hope you are listening,

Jonathan

51 Comments »

Extra-Depth Laptop Shoulder Bag for the Working Person

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by mwcpayne 04/20/07

There remains a need in the market for an extra DEEP / THICK laptop bag (I think the term "width" has already been used for a wide screen).

The trend has been toward slim bags that hold the laptop, cord, and a few files. That may be fine for some, but many of us need - on a daily basis - the computer AND cords AND a couple inches of files AND a small textbook AND a few other electronics AND to eat for lunch.

Backpacks work, yesmaybe even something , but aren't exactly professional. The multi-bag option is available, of course, but again suffers from lack of professionalism and organization - and also uses up both carry-ons allowed when flying. Non-computer bags might work, but always at risk of harming the computer.

I suggest a practical, top loading, working shoulder bag with a) padded computer slot, b) handy side pocket for an organizer, pens, memory keys, etc., and c) an additional 3 or so inches over the regular dimensions to accomodate other papers.

Thanks. 10 Comments »

Systems that the customer can define

Sales Strategies, Software submitted by justjoe9074 04/20/07

I have many Dell computers. I always buy a Dell and I wouldn't think of buying any other type. However, right now my needs are for speed (ie 4GB+ RAM, Fast processor) not storage or other "add-ons". For example, I would like a bare bones machine with XP and alot of RAM/Processing power. I don't need the bundled software, I seldom use it. I use my own firewall software, I use my own video production software, I use my own photo editing software and I just end up removing most of the pre-installed software everytime I get a new Dell.

I wish Dell would offer a cost effective way for users to get pure power without having to pay for the stuff that I don't want (like the certain preintsalled software). I want bare bones raw power at a good price. XPS is too costly. Thanks! 4 Comments »

Make the casing white

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops and Laptops submitted by lysglimt 04/20/07

Make all Dell casings white.
The sun hsines into my office all day, my black Dell machines heat up in the sun and the fan runs like a madman.
The fan makes a noice, uses electircity, and stirs up the air.

Please just make the casings white. 8 Comments »

Double audio out and in plugs

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops and Laptops submitted by lysglimt 04/20/07

With ever Dell machine, include audio double jacks.
I have speakers AND headphones for Skype etc.
I bought a small double jack for USD 1.99 at BestBuy and now they are both plugged in at the same time. 2 Comments »