Give Dell a Piece of Your Mind

Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:05AM EST

See Comments (45)

Kudos to Dell for this intriguing new experiment: Dell IdeaStorm, asking consumers for ideas about what they want to see in Dell products, then throwing those comments open for voting by other Dell users (and potential customers).

The idea is simple: Using a very Digg-like interface, anyone can leave a comment about what they want from Dell ("Lime green laptops now!"), then people who agree with you can vote for your story by clicking the "promote" button. Give it a spin and you'll catch on quickly. You won't be able to comment unless you create an account, but anyone can read the ideas on display and even vote on them.

To date (and IdeaStorm just launched late last week) there are over 1,000 ideas on the site. Many are duplicates, but some interesting fodder has risen to the top through the voting system. In rough order, here's what Dell users want:

  • Linux (and other open source offerings), either as a standalone option or dual-booting with Windows.
  • Nothing. Dell is famous for its crapware-loaded machines. How about offering a "clean" installation? (In fairness, this is already an option on some Dell machines, but you may have to call to get it.)
  • More RAM. I have to agree that 512MB is pitiful for today's memory-hungry operating systems. Stepping the default up to 1GB makes sense in 2007.
  • Ending overseas tech support. You know why.
  • Webcams on laptops.
  • Go green. A call for environmentalism, which Dell has already shown a commitment to.
  • Quieter PCs. Frankly I'm impressed by how quiet current machines are, but I know there's always room for improvement.
  • Put microphones back on laptops. In the era of Skype, this is a no-brainer. I have a microphone port on my Dell laptop... but does Dell think I tote around a mic with me all the time for the occasional audio need? This is a 10 cent addition, max.

 

Like I said, fun stuff (and some great ideas), but it really opens the door for Dell to start listening to its customers in a major, unprecedented way. I'd love to see other companies follow suit, but for now, chalk up a point for Dell. Now let's see Dell follow through with some of these suggestions...

Comments on Give Dell a Piece of Your Mind

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  • 26 Posted by nanabrowder on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    Tech Support needs to come back to the USA. It's is so bad that I will never buy another Dell. NO way NO how. Being a native Texan I'd like to support a home grown company...BUT they have turned their back on the people of this country...turn about fair play?

  • 27 Posted by roogala2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    The System Restore in System Tools of Accessories stopped working unexplainable one day. I called Dell and was told that because my 3 year support had expired 3 months earlier it would cost $100 to walk me through the solution, or $199 for a 1 year support. This is outrageous.

  • 28 Posted by ladymaid88 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Dell pc and it wasnt even a year old when I had to take it in to have it fixed. The monitor was not even 2 years old when it quit working and I was told it would be cheaper to get another monitor than try and fix it, and that was by people that delt with pc. For the price of their pc you would think they would make them last longer

  • 29 Posted by richardfreed@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    make processor upgrades easy. no info on what processors my board can handle. i have a 775 with 630 procesor can i upgrade to dual core? or core duo also when you by 1 gig upgrade donot use 256 memory this means i must scrap all memory to upgrade to 2 gig

  • 30 Posted by betclure on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    Dell techs take forever to solve your problems, hours.This week , I called and they could not resolve my problem and stated they would email me, but thus far, no emails , two days later. Have to really check around before buying or recommending another Dell. Please change support to US or Canada,

  • 31 Posted by stevennaiman888 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    sounds like a good idea for Dell. I am currently debating whether or not to go with Dell or Gateway. Yet even though Gateway support is in the US they also get bad reveiws for customer service.

  • 32 Posted by mattatfulldraw_8pt on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    IT'S SIMPLE (BILL GATES + MICHAEL DELL = BILLDING DELLSRUTION!!!! NEVER AGAIN!!!

  • 33 Posted by maximomoor39 on Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Dell has got to be one of the worst for anything, when you have to call and you will if you own a Dell, just give up. Their products are not worth anything. They lie and apply false and misleading advertising, when you get down to it, you cannot purchase opne of their products for the advertised price. Your best bet is to go to a chain store and get a pc that will actually work. Customer service in Austin, TX, what a joke they are. I wasted a great deal of time, energy, not to mention money on their laptop and boy do I regret it. I feel that they shouldnt be in business. They dont give you much in the way of software and battery life, puhlease, 3 hours max and them the battery is compltely dead. Oh well, if I can save someone money I have done my job. I would not recommend a Dell to anyone regardless of price, its just not worth it.

  • 34 Posted by robertwlovesr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Vista Driver Problems I recently installed the new Vista operating system which has known problems with video & audio conflicts which in my case, I didn't find out until after I had purchased and installed the upgrade. Dell knew about these problems yet continued to release this version anyway without alot of help on how to resolve the issues. I have had to work them out without any help from Dell. After reading the comments regarding Dell Customer Service, it seems that any help from them would only compound the frustration. I wound up rolling back the driver for the audio to a previous driver which resulted in sound although not sure if it's the best yet. As far as video goes, I still have problems with my Inspiron 1501 screen that flickers if left unattended for any length of time that approaches screensaver or hibernation and have found that the only way to avoid this is to completely shut down even if I want to return to resume an open project awhile later.

  • 35 Posted by katmann61 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Customer service and Tech support should be in "CLEAR" english and in the USA, and noy out of the stated, a friend of mine, got a Dell for christmas, who is new at it, The Best buy Geek set up team was alright to set it up, but she didn't very much about how or what to do when they left, and a $125. per hr. is out of this world. and it took her 3 hr. an the phone to get the machine redone so she could usr and understand it, plus was talked in a $250.00 tech support plan. Support shousld be USA

  • 36 Posted by pr7174 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    WILL YOU MAKE A CRAP FREE COMPUTER ANT TIME SOON?

  • 37 Posted by daved249 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Dell's idea of "tech support" is the biggest load of crap I've ever experienced. Dell Corp. is one of, if not the most powerful computer corporation in the US, and probably the world. Everyone has a freakin' Dell. With that kind of power comes tremendous corporate responsibility, and that responsibility is to the people and economy of the United States, not some mahatma mohammed whatever overseas. The quantity of jobs that Dell takes away from Americans by outsourcing is enormous, and there are plenty of Americans that would gladly do them, and could do them competently with minimal training. It's not like tech support is that hard, anyway. Inexperienced technicians could easily solve problems like "how do I print?" or "which one is the 'any' key?," and I would venture to guess that 90% of Americans (the vast majority of Dell's customer base, by the way...) would rather talk to a not-as-experienced or not-as-knowledgeable American than some genius in Bombay. Wanna know why? Because they can understand them clearly! And, most computer users are functioning members of society, have called a corporate call center before, and know that if the first person can't solve their problem, a supervisor almost always can. Bring jobs back to Americans, Michael Dell. God forbid you might not be able to put premium in your private jet for a couple weeks, you greedy ----- ...

  • 38 Posted by f88twear on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    Im glad ive never had to call customer support. they didnt include all the memory i payed for though. they shorthed me about 15 GBs. those ----- s

  • 39 Posted by f88twear on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    ----- the industry, lets start our own company. whos with me!?!? haha

  • 40 Posted by cinevox_mail on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Uh-huh. Leaving suggestions would be worth the pain, if when adopted as part of a new product, would turn into any profit for their authors. Seems Mr. Alligator Arms works at Dell. And they're also untrustful when selling online, so many are the "fictional advantages", like replacing the CD combo by DVD recorder at no cost when purchasing a laptop. Bull----- , it comes standard, anyway. I quit getting myself a Dell, on account of that and plus. Anyway, I think they are great machines (also available in stores) but I started having second thoughts when talked to people who told me their tech support is lame, mostly overseas.

  • 41 Posted by cinevox_mail on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Kuddo! What an awful stack of negative viral marketing! Mr. Dell should take this seriously. When even the would-be purchaser like me thinks twice before settling with a Dell, mostly now, having I seen this heap of discontent and knowing that "I HATE DELL" typed in any search engine returns at least a good hundred thousand or so links (try yourself and , there some good ones and a bunch of newsletters) I'm glad I never owned a one... and probably never will. My laptop is some Chinese budget choice cross-dressed into a Brazilian brandname, cost under U$ 500 but it came w/everything & does work finest & troublefreesomely. Best machine I owned, surprisingly.

  • 42 Posted by yoljackson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've tried since February (it is now mid April) to order a replacement part for my Dell 1600n printer/scanner. I placed the first order - didn't hear back for a while, when I called Dell - my order had been cancelled with no notification to me. I placed another order,which has been back ordered at least four times - this order was then cancelled - with no notice to me. When I contacted Dell, they say I need to place another order because the item is out of stock. I've spoken to every "Support" person (I laugh as I say 'support)at Dell. I've repeatedly asked to speak to a manager who can resolve this issue, but get the same standard line of 'there is no one to talk to'. So, I still do not have the part for my machine and still have no help from Dell. After this case gets resolved, our company has made a commitment to NEVER purchase another Dell product again. I really do not believe that the Management at Dell really cares about losing customers.

  • 43 Posted by gregutsatke on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hey, heres an idea for all of you briliant bloggers out there; dont spend $500 on a computer and think that its going to be top of the line and last forever. You get what you pay for. Macs are great products, but theyre 45% more expensive for the same piece of equipment. A sudy was done by a US consulting firm a couple of months ago and it came to the conclusion that it would cost an additional 31% to have north american based tech support. Where do you think that 31% is going to be charged? Your new computer. Hope this is really what you want!? Also, stop going to XXX sites and pirating music and most of your problems will dissapear.......

  • 44 Posted by t-mata@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like the Tech-Support to be in the USA. Not in some other country. They are made here they should be serviced here and bring job's in the USA.

  • 45 Posted by chafallh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why can't I speak to a real person about a new system? I assume from all your advertizing, that I can't get windows xp anymore? Allan

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