No more plastic wrap, please
Environment submitted by falbert
May 22
In the last shipment of computers I received I was shocked by the amount of plastic wrap used for items like power cords, USB cables, VGA/DVI cables. Do these items really need to be individually wrapped in a plastic bag. I can just imagine the tons of plastic used by Dell annually...
Something to think about
7950
Reverse Video
Servers and Storage, Laptops submitted by r.pelzer
10/26/07
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
560
Get rid of the powerbrick
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptop Power submitted by fcnc05
02/16/07
I have a Dell 17in notebook and I love it. Don't mind to carry around at all. But haveing to unplug, wind up all the cables and pack the power brick together really annoys me. So It would be very nice if dell make available for the large form factor laptop (at least the 17 and 20in) a power brick the same size of the battery, so I could replace it (an internal power supply). A retractable power cord inside would be a plus. Even better if had 1 or 2 batteries cells inside so it could give a 15minutes for emergencies. Why have 6 or 9 cells...it barely gives me one hour anyway....This kind of notebook really is a Desktop replacement, so why bother about batteries? Get rid of the power suplly and it would be MUCH better!
2532
Multi-OS selection via checkboxes
submitted by xivulon
11/29/07
What about having a checkbox for each operating system in order to allow users to select multiple choices? No checkbox = no OS, multiple checkboxes = Multiboot. The conflict resolution dialog notifes about conflicts between OS and other hardware choices.
Select My Operating Systems:
[ _ ] Free DOS (info) [$0]
[ x ] Ubuntu 7.10 (info) [$0]
[ _ ] Windows XP (info) [add $50]
[ x ] Windows Vista Basic (info) [add $50]
[ _ ] Windows Vista Home Premium (info) [add $100]
[ _ ] Windows Vista Ultimate (info) [$150]
[ _ ] Windows Vista Business (info) [$100]
Ubuntu, XP and all other operating systems should be made available on all machines unless there is a fundamental hardware issue that makes a particular OS unsuitable (an issue that cannot be resolved by selecting a different component). Each item should have an info button which opens a brief explanation, a fair comparison table of all operating systems should also be provided. Details such as bootloader choice in multiboot configuration and disk allocation algorithm are left to Dell engineers to have fun with.
Hopefully that will accomodate most requests relating to OS choice while keeping the interface simple and intuitive.
1350
Promote Windows Home Server Bigtime
Servers and Storage submitted by gcreese
02/17/07
Microsoft is coming out with Windows Home Server this year, which will allow households to backup and manage their house PCs from a single spot. At this point, a lot of households are in this situation (e.g., with two adults and a child, we have three laptops, a desktop, and three PDAs). Get out in front of the curve on this one (HP made its announcement at the CES Show), talk about it, promote the fact that you will offer it, and in the vein of the other "make the website easier to use" suggestions, explain how Windows Home Server is something to consider for a family going digital.
Also, offer a Windows Home Server discount to current customers who've ordered two or more PCs from Dell in the past five years. You have the data to run an effective, targeted marketing campaign. Use it!
1907
Sort comments in DESCENDING order - add NEXT/PREV page buttons
IdeaStorm submitted by phubert
07/25/07
IdeaStorm:
It has been suggested several times that IdeaStorm display comments in descending order.
In addition to this, however, let me suggest that a limited number of comments be displayed, reducing the time to LOAD (access from the server and SEND), and providing Prev - Next 'buttons' to navigate through the comments.
This should do two things: reduce the load on the server(s) and reduce the time to load at the user's browser for posts with many comments.
Combine this with the display in descending order and the overall user experience will be improved!
120
Offer Laptops with Built-in Sideshow Screens
Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by visiocloud
11/02/07
For those of you who do not know what sideshow is:
Side show is a program built into Vista that allows the user to display useful information on a secondary screen (usually much smaller) the technology is designed to be used on other device screens, such as a cell phone, PDA or music player, and also on little screens built into computers themselves
http://www.hardware.info/en-US/news/ym+ckZqZwpaa/ASUS_shows_first_notebook_wi...
The screen itself can be as big or as small as Dell and the users here see fit, the general idea behind this being that the user can display whatever information on the screen that they want (ie. Music Player information, emails, messenger contacts, etc.) Even better, this information can show while the computer itself is off. (Dell here is a great opportunity to expand your built in media direct and make it something people actually want to use)
Obviously for people who would not like this feature or would never use it and would prefer not to pay for it, there should be an option perhaps even default to not have this screen, but still an option to have ti would be great.
Open to people's ideas and views on how big the screen should be and where it should go.
Serve the majority, not the Krisch... O_o ...better Jorge?
110
Single Update Packages for Client Products
Software submitted by fxmulder
12/16/07
I've today reinstalled VISTA on my inspiron PC. And then spent a good 30 minutes to install all different drivers, applications as listed on the relative support page.
Why can't you provide a single package a-la-service-pack that would upgarde everything on the PC ? Each time there is a new version of driveryou may update this package with a further release. Individual drivers may still be provided if people need them. I think that technology wise you have the capability as you do exact this on your enterprise products . So it's perhaps just that you have not hought about millions of consumers that have no understanding of the internals of a system
Make IT easy !
150
List Rejected Ideas
IdeaStorm submitted by jorge
05/17/07
Besides having "Ideas in Action" a category for "Rejected Ideas" so people don't continue to try and add rejected ideas. And the posters of those ideas don't get bent out of shape for losing their idea from the site, they can still see it in the "Rejected Idea" bin, it can hopefully drive them to produce better ideas or push them over the edge (good or bad, hopefully good). I guess keeping the history of the IdeaStorm alive. Just lock the comments or the mocking might get out of hand.
Starting Jul. 2nd  provided by florida web site design .
780
No OS Preloaded
Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies submitted by agreer
02/17/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
I have a XP Pro retail copy, will soon buy retail vista, I also like Linux: Make WINDOWS-FREE, and OS-Free an option for more than just expensive business lines.
Dell has systems available that do not have an OS pre-loaded called N-Series line. You can check them out at www.dell.com/nseries.
86220
IdeaStorm feature: Allow us to browse based on the Dell-assigned tags
IdeaStorm submitted by cosh
05/18/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
Dell assign "status tags" to some of the popular/notable ideas on this website, but they are tiny little things under the title of each idea, and there is no way to search or browse by them.
If we had a page on IdeaStorm so we could see ideas based on each status tag it will let everybody see what effect IdeaStorm is having, in addition to the few ideas mentioned under "Ideas in Action". It might also reduce the number of duplicates for very popular ideas, if people can see what Dell has already acknowledged.
The status tags being used at the moment are as follows:
- Acknowledged
- Already Offered
- Coming Soon
- Fixed
- Implemented
- In Progress
- Not Likely
- Not Now
- Under Review (formerly, Under Consideration)
- Partially Implemented
You can see a sample of how this works on my categorizer web site, here. Some of the information may be out of date, but it works for most purposes.
Status tag links have been launched.
1650
There should be an option of having no trialware on all computers
Software submitted by jervis961
08/23/07 **REVIEWED**
Here is a news article about trialware and how Dell feels that regular customers want it but small business ones do. Do they not look at the ideas here?
"Not interested in all of the trial software that clutters up new PCs? You're not alone: According to Dell's recent research in both focus groups and broader surveys, small-business users overwhelmingly view trialware as an irritant, not a benefit. That research has led Dell to axe the extras from its new Vostro line of small-business desktop PCs and laptops. Eliminating demo applications is a major step for Dell, which has caught flack for the quantity of trialware on its consumer PCs. (One frustrated customer went so far as to develop a "Decrapifier" utility. The company says that consumers who buy PCs for personal use do express interest in preloaded trial software, but that small-business users have different needs. By eliminating the trialware from Vostro machines, Dell says it has cut the system setup time in half. For now, Dell is the only major PC manufacturer to ship small-business systems without preinstalled trialware as a standard practice. (Some competitors, such as HP, allow customers to choose a no-trialware configuration.)"
Dell offers a broad amount of software choice and minimal software shipped. Read jeremy_f's post on the options we give our customers
24730
Easier way to OPT OUT of Dell selling my private information
Advertising and Marketing submitted by ninefoot3
10/17/07 **IN PROGRESS**
I rec'd a brochure yesterday saying Dell and DFS were going to share my private info with other 3rd party companies for marketing purposes. Well, it said that in about 5,000 words or so. At the end is a box stating that I may opt-out of this by calling the number listed or writing a letter (including certain info) and send it to the listed address.
I chose to use the phone method. After being shoved around to a few people, I finally got someone who could help me 'opt-out'. This involved 'opening a case' as if I had a technical issue with my account.
My IdeaStorm suggestion, hey Dell, make it easier for us to OPT-OUT of your attempts to make money off of my personal information. What's the matter? Didn't make enough money off of my patronage to Dell products and the interest rates charged? Getting an extra $1 for my name, address and age information going to help Michael Dell get a new boat? C'mon!
While I'm disturbed that Dell wanted to sell me out, I'm more disturbed that Dell made it difficult for us to opt-out. A simple URL would have been nice. I know, that would make more people opt-out and Dell would have less names to sell. It's like a mail-in-rebate or the lack of a cancel button in the account information at freecreditreport.com, you HAVE to call, and since that's a pain in the neck, most people will sloth themselves into something they don't really want.
4380
Make a calendar with all COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas
Advertising and Marketing, IdeaStorm submitted by krasmussen
09/22/07 **REVIEWED**
One of the biggest annoyances with IdeaStorm is that the horizon for an idea being implemented is very blurry, if at all existing. If you're lucky, you get "third quarter 2009", but mostly, there is no timeframe at all. This leads to the feeling that not much is being done, and exactly that feeling is what IdeaStorm should be eliminating.
Therefore, I propose that you make a list or calender with all the COMING SOON and IN PROGRESS ideas with timeframes for all of them. Just a "december 2008" would be nice, or better yet, "deadline 31st november 2008".
I don't know if this is connected with some goal management inside Dell, if it is, maybe you should work on improving that, too?
Today, the best way to know the progress of an idea is through Ideas in Action, our Weekly Update or Dell comments in the thread.
6840
LPT Ports!
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Printers and Ink submitted by peyre
02/26/07
It seems to me the switch to all-USB has gone a little farther than it should at this point. Dells now are coming with no PS/2, serial, or LPT (parallel) ports. Now I realize that serial devices aren't used much any more, PS/2 mice and keyboards are on their way out, and most printers now are USB-only.
But I know several people, myself included, who have older laserjet printers which are LPT-only. These things run forever at very low cost compared to your standard inkjet, and we have no desire to switch printers. Yes, USB-centronics cables are available, but there are often complications using them. Granted that a majority of people are fine with all-USB, there are still some who need/want the older connectors.
My suggestion is to make LPT ports an optional extra. Why not make it available for a slight extra cost, like the other upgrades available for the Dell machines. Come to think of it, making the PS/2 and/or serial ports available as extras wouldn't be a bad idea either.
20
Media Center
Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies submitted by applmgr
02/26/07
How about a Full HD, Gaming, Video Recorder (Media Center) system that can fit in with other Audio and Video equipment. This PC can be the center of the AV system, with BlueRay DVD, HD TV Tuner Card, have digital audio out and HDI Video Out. All this from the PC, that can connect to the Receiver of the AV system.
Make a XPS system in a form factor that fits in with other media equipment. Have both wireless and wired network connectivity options.
Buldel this new system with Dell Plasma/LCD/or HD projectors and speakers. Cool. Then we can play, surf the web, watch/record live TV in HD and leverage our Dell LCD/Plasma at once.
70
Media Center PC's - Living room form factor
XPS products submitted by sassanow
02/20/07
There are so few choices in the PC market for a living room form factor Media Center PC (especially from reputable manufacturers). Shouldn't be that hard to add an HDMI connection & an additional TV tuner (digital please) to an XPS system...
113
 track my votes
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