Pre-Installed Linux | Ubuntu | Fedora | OpenSUSE | Multi-Boot
Linux, Operating Systems - Multiboot, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart
02/16/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
Offer the 3 top free Linux versions for free pre-installation on all Dell PCs.
Quality free and open source software drastically lowers the cost of new PCs, and helps prevent software piracy. For example OpenOffice.org, the Microsoft Office alternative, can shave hundreds of dollars off the price of a new PC. Cast your vote for OpenOffice and other free software.
Offer easy multi-boot options with Windows Vista, Windows XP, or NO Windows (yes, Linux can entirely replace Windows!)
Offer trade-ins and Linux CDs for older model Dell PCs. Cast your vote for the mini Linux Dell PC and the Universal Education Dell PC, both utilizing free software.
Would you try Linux if it were this easy?
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.
Please take a look at www.dell.com/open for linux options on the Inspiron.
152550
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.
140599
End PC Payola | Pioneer a PC Builder Code of Conduct
Service and Support, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart
02/20/07
Dell's image was damaged by the $1bn Intel kickback scandal. Many in the computer industry believe that Microsoft's grip on Dell and other PC Builders is airtight due to secret deals and marketing kickbaks. Consumers appreciate lower prices on new Dell PCs thanks in part to bundled 3rd party software, however we are not permitted to choose the software that is pre-installed, and kickback deals are not transparent.
In the music recording and radio broadcasting industries, similar shady practices are called payola. Please, end PC payola, and give control back to your customers.
We encourage Dell to pioneer a voluntary PC Builder Code of Conduct, and regain the public trust.
CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise payola circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Transparency at Dell is necessary for true consumer choice. For example, transparency can be improved by providing the choice of pre-installing quality free and open source software (developed with near 100% transparency). Cast your vote to have the OPTION of buying a new Dell PC pre-installed with Linux and other free software like OpenOffice.org.
4627
The Dell Experience, Reloaded | on Linux & Windows
Operating Systems, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart
07/17/07 **IN PROGRESS**
Offer as an OPTION on all Dell PCs a well-chosen collection of add-on software, "Dell's best picks", including Dell visual themes and other software settings.
- Create a unique and distinguishable Dell look & feel (like Apple has done)
- Use advanced interface design with transparency, compositing, 3D effects, etc.
- Make it slick, polished, dead-easy to use and well integrated (e.g. make Vista look better than Microsoft has done)
- Make the Dell software pack look & feel similar on Linux, Windows XP and Vista
- Offer the Dell software pack on all new PCs, and for download for old Dell PCs and competitors' PCs
- Promote Dell software and services such as Online Backup & PC TuneUp
- Deliver updates for drivers and ALL other bundled software
- Include other rich online applications, with Firefox add-ons and themes
- Generate extra revenue with subscriptions, extended theme galleries, thematic tie-ins to movies, music, toys, and other consumer stuff (e.g. Spiderman™ theme by Dell™, etc.)
- Allow the user to easily revert to OS-default settings, and back again (with one click!)
- Allow the user to selectively choose to enable/disable each component (like Google Pack has done)
- Allow the user to select between profiles such as "Simple", "Family", "Power User", and "Custom"
- Set a high standard for any software to become part of the Dell software pack (e.g. components must be well-behaved and not popup-infested crapware)
- Make clear distinctions for each component whether it is open source, proprietary freeware, proprietary trialware, subscription-ware, etc.
- Make clear the impact on system resources for each component (e.g. startup items, estimated percentage of use of system resources such as memory, storage, CPU, network, etc.)
450
Help me consolidate my customer numbers on Dell.com.
Dell Web Site submitted by cosmichellion
11/29/07
I've made many purchases through dell and I have many customer numbers. It's nice that there is a feature that shows all the customer numbers and orders I've placed under Home, Home Office, SMB etc.
However, I keep wondering why the feature doesn't allow you to add customer numbers from certain other segments. When I wanted to add my new customer number and order for a recent purchase, I was given the following message...
"Only Home & Home Office, Small Business, Dell Refurbished and Dell Outlet customer numbers can be added using this feature. This customer number has not been added to your account."
If this feature doesn't do it, is there another I'm missing?
My newest purchase probably shows up under hi-ed or an EPP. It doesn't really matter, I just want to be able to keep track of all my orders in one place regardless of the segment. Can you make this happen?
320
Please notify your customers when items are backordered
Sales Strategies submitted by tbbaot
12/03/07
As a long time customer, I am frustrated that Dell can't make basic changes to the online shopping system. Most large online retailers post an accurate inventory status right on their pages.
I recently ordered a TV that said 'ships in 24 hours'. When I received my confirmation email, I could tell from the estimated shipping date that something was wrong. So I called and learned the TV is backordered. The same TV on your website still says 'ships in 24 hours' one week later. If other companies can have realtime stock and inventory reporting, so can Dell.
This TV is not manufactured by Dell so it has nothing to do with your just in time business model. Here's an idea when an item goes into backorder status, post it on your online store.
370
Allow for a hardware configurable notebook
Laptops submitted by sawjd
12/05/07
Create a note book that allows us to easily switch out hardware and i don't just mean ram or optical drives but something like that allows to switch out video cards and the ability to upgrade processor as long as the motherboard supports it. This would be akin to the HP blackbird but for the notebook
410
Give us the OPTION to sort ideas by score.
IdeaStorm submitted by winoffice
11/17/07
Dell already allows people to sort by category (i.e., Dell, IdeaStorm, Software, etc.), and by the person who submitted it (i.e., show only ideas submitted by a certain user), and cosh suggested sorting by Dell-assigned tags (i.e., **NOT NOW**, **IMPLEMENTED**, **UNDER REVIEW**, etc.)
However, the ideas with the higher scores go down the list as they become older, and thus become more and more hidden in the site and their top spots are taken by ideas with significantly smaller scores. Thus, some people will never see the top ideas unless the browse though tens if not hundreds of pages to get to the top ideas or throgh a link in an idea or a comment.
Therefore, I suggest that Dell allow us to sort by score like this:
Less than 0
0 to 100
100 to 250
250 to 500
500 to 750
750 to 1000
1000 to 2500
2500 to 5000
5000 to 7500
7500 to 10000
10000 to 25000
25000 to 50000
More than 50000
As jervis961 noticed in his idea concerning the halflife formula for calculating the position of an idea in the site, ideas get visible in the first few pages only for some time, and after that some might never see the idea again except by browsing for a long time or through a link in an idea or a comment. So I suggest that Dell allow us to sort by score to see the ideas with the highest scores (or ideas in any score range actually) easily.
670
Include cleaning and screen protection cloth with laptops
Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by jkeating
11/02/07
A nice dell branded cleaning cloth should be included with new laptops. This cloth would be used to clean the laptop sceens as well as lay on top of the keyboard when the laptop is closed to protect the screen from keyboard imprints. If a cloth is included it is far more likely that this cloth would be used to clean rather than some other cleaning device which may damage a user's screen.
1110
This text on your web site regarding "open source" is misleading, please consider changing it.
submitted by cosh
11/25/07
From www.dell.com/open:
This is the wrong impression to give, as it suggests that all open source software everywhere is somehow incompatible with Windows, whereas in reality many open source programs are ported to and available on Windows, such as Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, and OpenOffice, and some popular open source programs are dedicated entirely to it, for example Paint.NET (info).
A better and more accurate thing to say would be:
"The main thing to note is that when you choose an open source operating system like Ubuntu Linux®, you don't get a Windows® operating system."
or how about:
"The main thing to note is that when you purchase a Dell computer preinstalled with Ubuntu or FreeDOS, you don't get a Windows operating system" etc. etc.
Concise, clear, and accurate. If I remember correctly there's a similar message on the other language versions of the Dell web site, so it should be changed there too.
If you've a better suggestion post it in the comments.
740
Stop overcharging for replacement parts
Dell, Sales Strategies submitted by tleavit
11/30/07
We are passing the 3 year mark on some of the 200ish Dell laptops and PC's that we have purchased over the past 3 years. We are at the point that we need to get a hold of the Dell "spare parts" division (not our business rep) to get replacements. The price of these parts are outrageous and our business discounts for some reason do not apply. My example is a broken 17" LCD screen on a Dell Inspiron 9300 (we bought a few before switching to mainly Latitudes) that we bought 3 years ago. My quoted price was almost $400 for the thing (17” standard widescreen lower resolution model). This makes no sense, I can buy a cheap better laptop for that much (or a brand new 20+ LCD". This is status quote across the board for most parts. Once we asked for those little rubber feet on some of our laptops that wore off and were quote $20 for a set of 4. Wow. It’s not a good thing to be in the position of having PC's coming off war. and finding that Dell gouges the price. Solution: Realistic replacement prices.
900
Ubuntu on 12.1 or 13.3 inch laptops
Linux, Laptops submitted by miceagol
05/31/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**
Preload Ubuntu on your 12.1 (XPS M1210) or 13.3 inch (XPS M1330) laptops. As it is now, there's only one choice for a laptop, and that choice is not a light laptop. The 12.1 inch and 13.3 inch laptops are much better to carry around than heavy 15 inch++ laptops.
Check out the Idea in Action update.
10280
Linux Drivers for All Dell Devices
Linux, Monitors and Displays submitted by grifter
10/24/07 **REVIEWED**
If Dell truly wishes to promote their Ubuntu line of computers then they should make sure that all of their devices work properly with the OS. For instance, the SP2008WFP monitor, while it does display everything fine, does not have drives for Linux systems of any kind. This is most certainly a hamper for any Ubuntu users to want to buy a Dell peripheral.
Please see john_h and matt_d's comments
3640
Show the Buyer What Different Laptop Battery Sizes *Look* Like On the Laptop
Dell Web Site, Laptops, Laptop Power submitted by jasondunn
11/22/07
It's a really great thing that Dell offers buyers multiple choices when it comes to laptop batteries: there's usually a 4-cell, 6-cell, and 9-cell battery option. Dell always lists the watt hours information as well - great!
But what's ridiculous is that there are no images, illustrations, or written information about the exact sizes of the batteries: specifically, which batteries will stick out of the laptop (the "hump"). This is a really important thing to know, because when I'm buying a laptop I usually want to get the biggest battery possible, but one that doesn't stick out. I just ordered a Vostro laptop and was given the choice of three different batteries - yet no indication of which one(s) was actually flush with the laptop.
In general I find that the "More Information" link does a poor job of providing the customer with the information they need about the given accessory or feature option.
1260
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.
120794
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
 track my votes
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