Let Home customers know it's OK to buy from the Business section and vice versa.

Advertising and Marketing, Sales Strategies, Small Business submitted by jmxz May 7

From a conversation with Dell's robert_p, under a different Idea it seems that "Home" customers are welcome to buy from Dell's "Small & Medium Business" section, and Dell's "small and/or medium business" customers are welcome to buy from Dell's "Home & Home Office" section.

This is very useful since often computers in the "Small Business" section may be more appropriate for home use (the Latitude's light weight and reliability make it a great college computer); and often computers in the "Home" section may be more appropriate for office use (where the better graphics options in Home are valuable for graphical visualization). It's also useful because an identically-spec'd system may be cheaper the Home Section one week, and then be cheaper in the Small Business section the next.

I think many Dell Business and Home customers are missing out on the best deals and failing to find machines that meet their needs because the home user's are afraid of falsely claiming to be a business and because the business customers are afraid of falsely claiming to by buying systems for personal use.

So a few ideas:

1. Assuming robert_p's right in saying Home Customers are welcome to buy from Small Business - add links to the Home product pages saying "If you don't see what you need here, check out Dell's Small Business section. You're welcome to buy those for Home use too".
2. Assuming robert_p's right in saying Small Business are welcome to buy from the Home section - add links to the Small Business product pages saying "If you don't see what you need here, check out Dell's Home section. You're welcome to buy those for Business Use too".
3. Extrapolating - if it's also OK for Home an Small Biz customers to buy from Dell's "Large Business" and "Government, Education, Healthcare & Life Sciences" section, add those links too.
4. Make a price comparison engine that compares the prices of an identically spec'd system from each of Dell's sections so I don't have to manually dig through all of your painful to navigate website sections to compare Home vs Small Business myself. Comment »

Sell AC adapters at retail stores

Advertising and Marketing, Laptop Power submitted by undead999 May 7

Since Dell is selling computers at retail outlets offer ac adapters for laptops at best buy, staples and anywhere you sell laptops. Also offer ac adapters at your kiosks.

AC adapter usually fail without warning, waiting days or weeks for a replacement AC adapter is not always an option for many users. Generic adapters dont always work on Dells, in addition many are underpowered espicially for 17 inch models Comment »

Dell Small Business vs Dell Home

Advertising and Marketing submitted by jamesmoroni1 May 2

The split between Dell Small Business and Dell Home has been an endless source of confusion and frustration for price-sensitive customers. I don't see the need for the two separate divisions. I've purchased computers from both, and keeping track of where I bought which machine is very frustrating. It also makes it harder to be sure you're getting the best price.

Dell SB and Dell Home should go away -- it should be just Dell.com. There could be special options for people who want to purchase several machines at once, but there's no need to have separate storefronts -- the needs of small businesses and home users are very similar. 22 Comments »

Does Dell have? A "What can I do with my Dell?" web link?

Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site, Desktops and Laptops submitted by phubert May 7

The suggestion is that, if Dell isn't already doing this, to have a link off each system description page titled:

"What can I DO with my Dell?"

This could also be a standalone section with different lists of functions for home, home office, SMB, Education, etc. Meaning, depending on the area you select, you would find different 'possibilities' and system options, configurations and accessories explored.

This is LIKE a 'solutions' approach but would be educational (to customers) as well.

It would tie-in well with Dell's new premium services program(s).

Of course a separate path "Dell Solutions" would serve a similar purpose, but from another perspective.

BOTH could be most useful to customers.

As I have said before, ORDER PAGES should have pop-ups highlighting specific features...

ONE example:

When ordering a KVM switch, a pop-up that asks "Have you looked at the supported SCREEN RESOLUTION?" and offered alternatives would have saved OUR site a very annoying (and unresolvable) mistake!! Comment »

MARKET linux PCs for real, and Open Office, for real

Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by chopdoc May 7

I actually laughed when I read some Dell staffers' comments along the lines of "my research shows the customers want Windows".

Of course the research shows that, of course Dell isn't selling many Linux PCs. Probably the leading topic on Idea Storm has been Linux and Open Source. But that is because Dell attracts mostly "techies" here...not customers.

If you want to sell something, you need to advertise and market it. Microsoft has had a decades long campaign to get into the position they are in. The common consumer thinks Microsoft IS their computer.

Dell has moved forward, but not much, and they have limited and burried the Open Source option and resisted every step of the way. That is a fact, regardless of the lip service Dell gives here.

Open Source, particularly Linux distros can SAVE the customers money. I've crunched the numbers myself, I've calculated the TCO. Stability, reliability, cost.....how and why can Dell continue to avoid the reality of these issues by saying "our research indicates the customers want Windows"?

Give Open Source the marketing exposure it deserves and that the customer deserves. Dell made their name building custom ordered computers. They were known as "the best" in many regards. Then they lost their way. I was optimistic when Mr. Dell returned, but apparently he lost his way as well.

Market the Open Source options for what they really are and do it across the product line. Tell the customers what it really is and don't make it seem like some sort of off-beat secondary option...it simply isn't that anymore unless you continue to make it that.

Check your reaserch, your customers want value....lower prices....reliability..... The answer to that is Linux no matter how you slice it. So SELL it....for real.

Dell could really make a name for themselves again. 12 Comments »

Stop Advertising Windows Vista On Your Linux Pages

Advertising and Marketing, Dell, Dell Community, Dell Web Site, Linux, Service and Support submitted by aikiwolfie Yesterday

A while ago I noticed the Latitude XT promotional demo video in the Linux section of the Dell community page. And questioned it's relevance then. In the open source page on Dell.com Dell is still trying to steer open source users back to Windows.

The Latitude XT is a Microsoft Windows only product and is not offered with Ubuntu or any other form of Linux so far as i know. In fact the demo video shows the Latitude XT running Windows Vista. Please stop badgering open source users and stop hounding them with this Windows Vista nonsense. We've already decided we're not interested. 4 Comments »

Create a blog describing some features of future products.

Advertising and Marketing, Dell Web Site, Sales Strategies submitted by ccpljat Apr 27

I think you should have a page where you describe some of the product ideas that are soon to be available so that people can see where you are going and what your plans are. You wouldn't have to put full details out, but just some bait. This would probably help your sales. Also, some pre-release pictures of products would be nice. You may already have something like this in place. If you do, then you are ahead of me. 2 Comments »

Build a Foam Character Contest!

Advertising and Marketing submitted by claudiaj Apr 29

The old saying that kids like the box and packaging better than the actual gift still holds true.

Our new Dell computer came with the usual foam packaging, which makes a great Foam Guy! My suggestion is to have Dell host an online contest where Dell customers use the foam packaging from their new Dell computer to build an interesting character, like we did (see below), and upload a picture to post to a website. Then invite the public to view the website and vote for their favorite, where winner(s) would get some small prize like accessories for their new computer.
The website would bring in new possible customers, you could have advertising, and even some messages about "green>" and recycling of this packaging that was used (Green being very popular right now....)

Here is a picture of our Foam Guy!

4 Comments »

CPU price reductions

Advertising and Marketing submitted by laxboy10 Apr 21

Intel just reduced CPU prices, the site should be updated with the newer lower prices.

http://www.hothardware.com/News/Intel_Levies_Heavy_CPU_Price_Reductions_/ 2 Comments »

TV Commercial for New Ubuntu PCs

Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by josmar52789 05/03/07

Dell should produce a new commercial for the Ubuntu PCs. It could tell the consumers of America why Dell has chosen to pre-install Linux on mainstream computers and hopefully promote the advantages of this new endeavor. Plus, it's likely that Dell's Linux initiative would be much more successful. 113 Comments »

ubuntu pc's communication

Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by siger Apr 12

why don't you communicate more about ubuntu pc's ?for instance why arent't there ads in newspapers for ubuntu 's pc's 7 Comments »

Require Publicly available Specifications for your components

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Advertising and Marketing submitted by jd 02/19/07

With the influence you have on the component suppliers, why not require them to provide specifications for the devices to the public? Network cards, video cards, RAID controllers all should have the programming specifications available. The Linux and *BSD groups will flock to the hardware platforms that have documented programming interfaces. It will cost you nothing to implement. Intel, TI and Broadcom, are you willing to lose business? 3 Comments »

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.





35 Comments »

Customer Ratings for Each Dell Website

Advertising and Marketing submitted by joyscant1980 Apr 11

I live in Barbados and when I decided to buy a laptop I went straight to Dell. But my problem is that I cannot find any customers ratings on the Barbados website and had to go the US website to see the customers ratings. I do not think that is right because it does not tell me what the customers from my area feel about the product.

It does not have to be for each Caribbean country but at least from the Caribbean countries. 1 Comment »

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. 42 Comments »

Make it better known that you sell Solaris.

Advertising and Marketing, Dell, Operating Systems submitted by jmxz 11/13/07 **IN PROGRESS**

matt_d from Dell wrote this comment under another Idea

Dell does already sell Microsoft Windows versions, several Linux distributions, and yes, even Solaris to some customers.

Really? Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that Dell sells Linux workstations you can satisfy most any company's needs in the office/desktop/laptop space. The only reason we'd need to go to any other vendor is for some servers running Solaris (which Sun and IBM are both happy to sell us). At work the low end servers have Linux, but the high end ones are still Sun/Solaris/Oracle.

1. Let us know which Dell Models support Solaris. Apparently some of them do, since you say that you sell Solaris.
2. Get it into your advertising material that you sell not only Linux, but also Solaris, so our execs can see it and think of you when they're buying serious servers
3. Let us know how to buy one -- I can't find it anywhere on your site.

Making it known that you sell Solaris could go a long way from changing your brand image from "that discount commodity wintel vendor" to "someone serious who can meet all IT needs".

Seriously -- while Dell counts for most of our servers (counted by number of servers) Dell probably isn't most of our server-budget because right now we only consider Dell for low-end, cheap servers. If our execs knew you had Solaris on your highest-end servers; that'd be an opportunity in a segment we don't even consider Dell for today. 46 Comments »

Idea: Ubuntu progress produces good PR - it's likea free Dell ad in every linux article

Advertising and Marketing, Linux, Simplify IT submitted by jmxz Jan 31

Practically every article about large Linux deployments is a free Dell ad. Note this article about the French police moving 70000(!) Desktops from Windows to Ubuntu.

French police deal blow to Microsoft

The gendarmerie's 70,000 desktops currently use Microsoft's Windows XP operating system. But these will progressively change over to the Linux system distributed by Ubuntu, explained Colonel Nicolas Geraud, deputy director of the gendarmerie's IT department.
...
He also added that "the Linux interface is ahead of other operating systems currently on the market for professional use."

Vista, for example, Microsoft's latest operating system, is being spurned by consumers who cite "concerns about its cost, resource requirements, and incompatibility with their existing applications," according to InformationWeek.com.

Geraud explained that the move to an open source operating system was logical after the police switched in 2005 to open sourcing for its office applications and in 2006 for its Internet browsers and its email.
...

Dell, for example, this week started offering Ubuntu Linux 7.10 on its XPS 1330 laptops in France, Germany, Spain and Britain, while US customers will be able to order the machines within the next week or so, according to the company's website.

While I see your competitors are running banner ads on that site - you're getting better mentions for free.

The follow on Idea is to continue making good Ubuntu progress because it has a lot of interest in the press these days. 4 Comments »

Dell; PROMOTE Linux and OSS in Education

Advertising and Marketing, Education, Linux submitted by phubert 09/24/07

*
Learning Linux and _using_ OSS in education at all levels (primary, middle school, secondary, college and university, trades) will provide BETTER, FOUNDATIONAL education than the proprietary alternatives (Windows and Apple OS).
*
In addition this will result in significant cost savings for schools.
*
My original idea was _merged_ with one that did _not_ address these points! 23 Comments »

Advertise Graphics RAM correctly

Advertising and Marketing submitted by joffe100 04/20/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

When we say we want to buy a 512Mb graphics card we really do want a 512Mb graphics card - not 512Mb with 256mb physical memory with 256mb shared! This is really BAD and misleading advertising - you do not see other RAM memory being sold 1Gb (512Mb physical, 512Mb shared!)

Should read: 512Mb physical memory and it actually be 512Mb physical memory

NOT: 512Mb** and then some tiny asterixed disclaimer on a linked page that points out that the 512Mb is some funky combination of 3Mb physical and the rest being pulled from virtual memory - this kills many graphic intense apps and games...

suprised no-one has sued over this? Not sure many buyers are even aware....





64 Comments »

Remove: "Dell recommends Windows Vista™..." from any publication

Advertising and Marketing submitted by tho.meier 02/21/07

It would be nice to see advertising without any Micro$oft, from Dell. I think there is enough advertising for MS from MS it self.

Somthing linke: "Dell supports muli-OS" would look good! Od: "Dell gives you the real choice" 61 Comments »