Dont eliminate XP just yet

Operating Systems submitted by javaprog07 02/17/07 **IMPLEMENTED**

Ok, well I know I may be chastised for bringing this up, but vista is still a young operating system with its own problems etc... I would like to see both Home and Business computers, especially notebooks have an XP Home and Pro option on top of Vista until it has at least been out for a year. For those seasoned users like me who just feel that you need to let a new OS mature before jumping right in. I am planning on buying a new notebook, and I would like to insure I wont have to format it on arrival just to have XP.
Check out the Idea in Action to find out more about Dell offering XP.




209 Comments »

Seperate BlueTooth Switch from Wi-Fi Switch

Broadband and Mobility, Laptop Power submitted by kknd1015 Aug 13

it can save more power if i can control bluetooth and wi-fi saperately, so that the bettary can last more time.
and as far as i know, wi-fi and bluetooth are both use 2.4GHz frequency, so it is better if we can turn off one of them when uer another, or we can avoid the interference. 6 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 »

Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware

Linux submitted by gergnz 02/19/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I don't care whether the OS is pre-installed or not, I want all the hardware to be totally supported in the Linux kernel without in mucking around. I currently have a Dell M1210 and I wish the modem would work, just in case I need it. The web cam would work, just in case I need it. At least the Intel wireless card is totally supported. Thanks Intel!!
Drivers are available for Linux to make some but not all hardware work. We continue to work with our partners to provide for better hardware support. See more specifics from john_h.




186 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 »

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 »

Put Ubuntu on the list of operating systems when building a PC!

Linux, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by samb0057 08/10/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Ubuntu is hidden in a dark corner of the website. I work in IT support, and I have a client who was having virus problems a little while ago. I fixed the problem by installing Ubuntu on their PC. Very recently they called me asking for advice on a new computer, I told them about your new offer providing Ubuntu pre-installed on PCs and they wanted to purchase, but could not find the section on your site (this person is a very basic user, doesn't know what open-source means, probably didn't even see the open source link). There is no way they would have found your Ubuntu section on their own.

I urge you to offer Ubuntu as a choice of OSes in the system configuration wizard, the only way to really sell Ubuntu is to offer Ubuntu as a primary option, rather than a hidden alternative. I personally am looking to buy a new laptop, and you guys have always been my number 1 PC manufacturer (I don't think I've ever bought a new retail PC except from you guys), but I feel that your Ubuntu offerings are lacking. If you offered Ubuntu on some of the great deals you offer on your home page, I would be willing to pay just as much as I would for a Windows Vista system and I probably would have already ordered.







157 Comments »

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 103 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 »

Give us cheap, 12-inch Netbook please

Laptops submitted by charliekaufman 5:33am

10-inch and 8.9-inch netbook market are so saturated. Why not give us 12-inch netbook?

I assume from the rumors that 12-inch Dell E Slim is not going to happen. 2 Comments »

Optical Toslink S/PDIF Connector

Laptops submitted by psx 5:01am

I was looking for an optical Toslink/SPDIF-Connector inside the audio jack like on most laptops from other companies. An SPDIF-IN would also be great. Comment »

Deselect any non-free Operating System

Operating Systems submitted by peterries 2:20am

Of course it is good to have Linux as an option, but I was very astonished when I configured two identical Inspiron 1525 - one based on an Ubuntu 1525, the other based on a regular Vista 1525. The Vista turned out to be 40€ cheaper than the Ubuntu 1525!?!

This and the inavalability of a NON Glare/TrueLife Display in the Ubuntu 1525 setup brought up my wish to deselect the operating system (or better the Microsoft operating system) in ANY configuration and so reduce the price by a least 40€ or 50€. 1 Comment »

Make larger 7200 rpm HDD available on XPS/Studio Line in UK/EU

XPS products submitted by pwl2706 2:17am

On the US site it is possible to configure an XPS M1330 with a 320 GB 7200 rpm HDD or an SSD of 128GB ...

These should be available as an upgrade option worldwide.

This is the main reason I have not purchased a new laptop yet (along with the rediculous pricing disparity between the US and EU sites)

Also, please stop overcharging UK customers (price is nearly double or more for some upgrades!) Comment »

MINI CALCULATOR ON THE BASE.

Monitors and Displays submitted by amaqsood Yesterday

Ok how about this idea. Of course everyone has a calculator on the phone, somewhere on the desk, and even in the computer, but admit it, its not that easy to use that calculator in the windows. I was thinking since we have so much space on the panel where the touchpad is, why not make a built-in mini calculator with the led screen. Its very much possible would be greatly appreciated by businessman who travel a lot, and you cannot open excel all the time for the formulas.

Let me know if you feel the same...... 2 Comments »

Specify the real name of the WifF components not the Dell name

Broadband and Mobility, Linux, Laptops submitted by bjrosen Aug 13

The wireless chip in the Studio 15 listed as a Dell 1397, that doesn't tell me anything. Dell doesn't make wireless chips.

I want Intel wireless in my next laptop so that I'm absolutely sure that it's Linux compatible. Just because you have a component in your Ubuntu laptops doesn't guarantee that it has native Linux support, you could have used Ndiswrapper + a WIndows driver which is not an acceptable solution.

Please don't obscure the components that you use. 4 Comments »

When you choose not to implement an idea, explain why

IdeaStorm submitted by winoffice Aug 14

Most of the time when I see "**REVIEWED**" or another tag that indicates refusal to implement, I just see one Dell comment that says "Dell has reviewed such and such idea" or "Dell is continuing to explore such and such"...and in another Dell comment I see "Changed status to **REVIEWED**.". Could we have some more details please, as to why you refuse to implement? 6 Comments »

Optical mice only please

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by falbert May 22

How come we can still get in 2008 mechanical mice. Come on guys, in 2008 there should be only optical mice available. Also please make it clear on the web site what people are purchasing. 26 Comments »

Ubuntu on Studio Notebooks

Linux, Laptops submitted by joshhendo Jul 3

The new Dell Studio laptops look great! Taking the best design features from many other Dell products, and put them all into one.

This laptop actually looks like it should run Linux (that is the first thing I thought when I saw it). I don't know why I say that, but it just does. So, why not give it ago? I don't have a Studio, though I suspect it shouldn't take too much to get Ubuntu working (may need one or two drivers written, but from my experience with Dell laptops and Ubuntu, most things work well).

This is one of the products I would particularly like to see Ubuntu as an option to be pre-inatlled on if Ubuntu can't be an option on all models. 13 Comments »

Stop Overcharging on Notebook RAM

Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by realskript 08/28/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Dell really... REALLY need to stop overcharging... and when i say overcharing... i mean atleast double what you would pay to pick up the ram yourself.
On XPS Notebooks... you are charging $500 for 4GB of ram... when you could easily go pick them up at your local computer shop for $250... and pocket the other half of the $500...

It would be nice if dell could save the customers as well as the company itself this hassle.. and start charging NORMAL prices for an upgrade in RAM.

thanks =D

PS..... PROMOTE THIS!!!!











88 Comments »

Backlit Keyboards

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by rarmasu 02/21/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

I find myself many, many times in dark or poorly lit environments having to guess the various keys - would be fantastic to have a backlit keyboard - with backlit individual keys as the best option.

I would actually pay extra for that convenience if the option was available.
This could be done for desktops or notebooks.


Check out Vida_K's comment below on the New Latitude.
301 Comments »