Have Firefox pre-installed as default browser

Software submitted by robinjfisher 02/19/07 **REVIEWED**

Does what it says on the tin! Most people only use IE because they aren't aware of other browsers - they think Internet Explorer is the Internet! What would really drive take up of alternative browsers is if Firefox was pre-installed as the default browser so that when people look for the "Internet" in Windows, they are using FF.
Firefox advocates at Dell have initiated discussions and driven action around exploring alternative internet browsers and experiences. As you can tell from our response to the Linux community, open source continues to be a part of our conversations about new products and services.





1196 Comments »

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





149 Comments »

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.
574 Comments »

Quit forcing McAfee subscriptions

Software, Laptops submitted by kyliemanders Jul 26

I bought a 15" Studio laptop and was unable to order WITHOUT the McAfee $79 per year four year subscription. The first thing I do is uninstall. I would prefer to use Windows Defender. 6 Comments »

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.


591 Comments »

Improve Dell's Linux repository; Support Ubuntu better.

Linux, Software submitted by gjc 2 days ago

Did you know that Dell has software repositories for Linux? It does. But they are only maintained by the community and only contain RPMs.

They are poorly documented and feel sloppy in general. I ran into problems while trying to use the firmware repository. I saw this message too much: "Couldn't find any package whose name or description matched..."

Dell should actively support this repository. It is a great idea! A well maintained software repository from Dell would be a real blessing to all of us Linux users with their computers.

It is not that hard to setup a standard Debian repository. Look at how Google or Wine have theirs setup. 4 Comments »

Open source your driver software development

Linux, Software submitted by matsubara Jul 25

I understand the full compatibility of Linux drivers are under way and that it is being carried out by a team in Dell. However, it seems that it is not leveraging the full power of mass collaboration. Turning these drivers into open source projects could accelerate this process and enable users to bring new ideas to the table (this could even give you ideas on how to evolve computer devices).

Of course, this strategy also brings risks that could be mitigated if only Dell personel were allowed to commit changes to latest driver version. Although that would be less democratic, in an open source of thinking, at least it would empower the community to help Dell build better software.

A second step would be to do the same with Windows drivers. I know there might be legal issues in this territory, but it is also a scenario that might change over the next few years (Microsoft is getting increasingly open-minded about this - not as fast as it could be, though).

Anyway, the bottom line of this idea is "Empower your users and leverage mass collaboration to your own benefit!" Comment »

Faster BIOS updates

Service and Support, Software, XPS products submitted by qwik Aug 9

In the XPS 730 you ship an EVA 790 motherboard but you can't install EVGA BIOS updates. You have to wait for Dell to qualify a BIOS then we can install it. For XPS gamers, we need those BIOS updates faster. It takes you months to get a BIOS out and by the time it comes out EVGA is a few iterations in front of you. The BIOS updates help stablize overclocking, etc. Release these faster. Comment »

No "Provided by Dell" in IE

Advertising and Marketing, Software submitted by adog317 Aug 5

We all know that we have a dell and no one will be able to see it for advertising, so please just leave it "Internet Explorer". 2 Comments »

Option whether you want software for every pc or 1 cd for all.

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Software submitted by tok_tok Aug 8

I would like to see an option where you can choose if you want every PC package with cd's, manuals and other stuff that you only need once or actually don't need. For example, when I order 5 pc's I only want one CD for every monitor, keyboard and PC. Or maybe no cd's at all. If I want to I can download the drivers from logitech or dell.com.

Dell is supposed to be a greener company so this could centainly be a step forward. Along with less wrap plastic. 1 Comment »

Pay Attention To Our Ideas!

IdeaStorm, Software submitted by aikiwolfie Jul 29

Using the new "Top Ideas" feature I tracked all the top rated ideas from the highest voted to 0 points. From page 1 to page 400. On every single page there were a healthy number of ideas relating to Linux, Ubuntu, OpenOffice.org, Firefox and free open source software in general.

The highest voted Linux/FOSS idea had 151870 points and the lowest had 9 points. I'm sure there are other with negative votes in the remaining 79 pages. But most of those ideas were about Microsoft products. Windows XP, Vista, Microsoft Works and Office. The remainder were hardware related, things Dell just can't do or non-idea threads.

Sure this must tell Dell something about the demand for free open source software on Dell PCs? The highest voted idea of all time here on IdeaStorm is Pre-Installed Linux | Ubuntu | Fedora | OpenSUSE | Multi-Boot with 151870 points. In fact the entire first page is all about Linux, FOSS and no trial ware. That theme continues all the way through IdeaStorm to page 400.

So when we ask for more Linux support and better FOSS support please don't fob us off with the old "supply and demand" excuse. There is plenty of demand amongst the Dell consumer base to warrant treating Ubuntu as an equal to Windows.

1. Please put Ubuntu in the OS list and let people make a proper informed choice.



2. Please let people deselect pre-installed software they do not want. Including the OS.



3. Allow people to buy bare hardware.



4. Give us a choice of web browser, e-mail client and office productivity software beyond Microsoft!

Stop adding DELL Customized Software

Service and Support, Software submitted by sirebral Aug 12

Dell Tech support spent a good long time (a couple hours I think) with me as we tried to find certain features of the DELL installed material.

ALL IS LOST???

Either stop spending work hours to customize my experience or provide those customized additions on backup CDs.

I had to download the Dell Dock, which no longer contained the Studio Hybrid specific icons, and I also lost a nice collection of wallpapers.

I paid for those, why can't I have them back? 1 Comment »

Dell should create a new tool for the next twebinar

Advertising and Marketing, Software, Simplify IT submitted by jervis961 Aug 14

Dell recently held a twebinar when they announced the new Latitude and Precision line up. People were able to view the event live via a video feed and ask questions on twitter simultaneously. While the new experience was great there is room for improvement. Post users had Twitter open in one window, the video stream in another and then the slides from the presentation would pop up in a third window. Dell should develop a new tool to bring it all together. The tool would have the video in one corner, your twitter account on the side and small versions of the slides than can be opened into a larger version if needed. I think this would help expand the experience for the next such event. 5 Comments »

Provide the choice of whether to have software and driver CDs shipped with equipment

Service and Support, Software submitted by bbrereton Aug 6

When ordering equipment from Dell, the consumer should be given the choice of whether they need the accompanying driver or software CDs, and manuals. I currently have multiple copies of Roxio, Cyperlink Power DVD, Dell Monitor, etc. I also get a Dell Computer and Monitor product guide with each machine. This is such a waste of paper and money. If Dell is striving to go "green" this would be one way of making a difference. In addition, I would like to ship Dell any unused CDs so they can re-deploy them, but according to my Dell representative there currently is no procedure in place to do so. 3 Comments »

Include a totally free ANTIVIRUS

Software submitted by estebanhillcoat Jul 26

Include only a totally free antivirus solution like AVG, AVAST, AVIRA & etc.

Avoid all types of trialware software and remember that customers pay for YOUR HARDWARE not to watch COMMERCIALS. 16 Comments »

Dell Dock available for download

Dell Web Site, Software, Laptops submitted by junior Jul 5

for the new product line Studio, there is a release of the Dell Dock, Dell should make this Dock for download on their website for users of Windows XP and Vista. like this:

Dell.com > having a tab saying Dell Dock, new page opens, Dell Dock for Windows XP, Windows Vista tabs......opening Windows Vista tab......two option tabs saying

Windows Vista Tab

Windows Vista 32/64 bit OS
Windows Vista 32/64 bit SP1 OS

Windows XP tab

Windows XP 32/64 bit SP1/SP2 OS
Windows XP 32/64 bit SP3 bit OS
Windows XP 32/64 bit OS

Thats what I think. 6 Comments »

IdeaStorm should be using Webstorm software

IdeaStorm, Software submitted by jervis961 Jul 30 **REVIEWED**

is a idea platform from Brightidea.com that like the current software used here allows a user to: post ideas, vote on ideas, and comment on ideas. The major difference is that Webstorm software has much better user features that we have been asking for since this site launched.

Wouldn't you like to be able to change your vote on an idea or even remove your vote altogether? How about editing tools when you are posting an idea? User profiles where you can post your credentials? Send a private message to another user?

Check out this site that uses the software and see what we are missing out on. http://tinyurl.com/6xrnt5



Please see vida_k's comment
39 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 »

No DRM

Software submitted by fgarpe 02/26/07

Don't put DRM hardware or software in any

http://defectivebydesign.org/
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesti%C3%B3n_de_derechos_digitales
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Rights_Management 8 Comments »

Open Source Bundle Option for MS PC's

Advertising and Marketing, Software submitted by arhere Jul 16

The world of open source software is growing in popularity with Firefox and Open Office software. Offer an option for the most popular Open Source applications to be installed on a new machine for a small fee.

Open source software is free, but DELL can charge a small fee for the configuration and support of the software loaded. The fee will help justify the idea which will appeal to the open source community and customers looking for a complete application package at a lower system price.

Some examples of popular open source applications, see web sites like these...
http://www.opensourcewindows.org

For the open source fans getting ready to (-10) this idea remember, DELL is a business that wants to make money. For an idea to be implemented, it has to be appealing to both business and customer.

-AR 7 Comments »