May, 2007

In February when Dell launched IdeaStorm as forum for customers to contribute ideas for product offerings, we received overwhelming feedback that customers wanted Linux on desktops and notebooks. As part of an overall effort to update our Linux program, today we are announcing a partnership with Canonical to offer Ubuntu on select consumer desktop and notebook products. Update: These systems will be available in the coming weeks to customers in the United States. Update #2: 5-15: This blog...

There's been some chatter about a Latitude Tablet PC coming from Dell. Check out what Jeff Clarke has to say. Update: 12/10— I just posted new details about the Latitude XT here. More information coming tomorrow. Update: 12/11— Glenn just published his post —it features an almost 10-minute vlog discussing the capacitive touch capability and the concept of freestyle computing. Format: flv Duration: 0:58

It’s finally here. Later today, Dell will offer U.S customers three different systems with Ubuntu 7.04 installed: the XPS 410n and Dimension E520n desktops and the Inspiron E1505n notebook. These systems are now available at www.dell.com/open today. Starting price for the E520n desktop and the E1505n notebook is $599; the XPS 410n starts at $899 $849. Note from Lionel: My apologies, but I had included an incorrect starting price for the XPS 410n. It will be $849. Hardware support will come from...

Before we announce the availability of Ubuntu 7.04 on select Dell client systems, I'd like to give an overview of what customers can expect from our initial Ubuntu offering. Availabile Software and Hardware The default software from the Ubuntu media will be installed on the system, including kernel and applications. The peripheral options offered with Ubuntu will be a subset of what is offered with other operating systems. We're offering the hardware options on each system that have the...

Today, Microsoft and Novell announced that Dell is the first major systems provider to join a collaboration between the two companies. One purpose of the collaboration is to promote interoperability between Windows Server and SUSE Linux Enterprise . Another is to provide intellectual property assurance to customers. Under the agreement, Dell will purchase SUSE Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft and will establish a services and marketing program to help exisiting Linux customers...

Today we launched three notebooks in our Latitude corporate notebook line . The Latitude D630 and D830 are based on Intel’s new Santa Rosa (Centrino Pro) chipset . Beyond improved performance and battery life, these notebooks feature other enhancements like: Hardware-level data encryption Optional Solid State Disks offer improved reliability and reduced boot times vs. traditional mechanical hard drives. Optional Turbo Memory cache card = A flash-based cache solution that helps improve application...

In his interview with CRN , Michael said we would be retail outlets in U.S. and major countries around the world over the next several quarters. Working with Wal-Mart to sell Dimension E521 desktops in 3,000 stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico is a small first step. Customers will have the option to purchase a Dimension E521 desktop without a monitor or an E521 with a 19-inch flat panel. Systems will be available beginning June 10. Dell will provide support for these systems. Why...

I'm sure many of you out there already saw the Engadget story last week. Today, we're officially taking orders for the 720 H2C here in the United States. Customers in Europe will be able to order soon. I know that a lot of you were waiting for details of our next-generation motherboard, and this is it. The 720 H2C utilizes the same motherboard we will ship in the XPS 720. In other words, it's the one that XPS 700 users can soon upgrade to for free , and the one XPS 710 customers can purchase...

Bill B. just posted this on the Vista Dell Community Forum page and I wanted to get this on the blog as well. Thanks to all for posting regarding the status of Vista Upgrade orders. Apologize for the frustration that many of you have experienced. I wanted to make some more information available. As of April 30, we have shipped approximately 80% of the upgrades. We expect the bulk of the remaining orders to ship by May 15, and all scheduled orders to be shipped should be completed by the end...

Several Direct2Dell and Dell Community Forum readers have asked us for an update on how the XPS 700 exchange program is progressing. My apologies for the delay in communication. We'll work to provide more regular updates both here and on this thread in the forum beginning next week. Update, 8/13: The link for the XPS 700 Exchange Program is now live: www.XPSUpgradeProgramDell.com Since Neil first announced the program in March, we've been working to prepare for executing against this...

Update, 8/13: The link for the XPS 700 Exchange Program is now live: www.XPSUpgradeProgramDell.com For those of you who have already completed the XPS 700 Motherboard Exchange survey , thank you—we definitely appreciate your feedback. Lots of you have been asking when we will begin the Exchange Program . I can't tell you the timeframe just yet. What I can say is soon we will offer a way for customers to register for this program. I'll share more details on the registration process when we...

Since we launched Direct2Dell last year , one of the common questions I get from folks who want to talk to me is this: “Did Dell start this blog because of Jeff Jarvis ?” I get that question even more since we sat down over drinks for a chat with the man himself. The real answer is that he was part of the reason, but more importantly, he was a sign of a bigger problem for Dell. Jeff’s situation was an indicator that our customer service for home users in the United States needed to improve drastically...

At the end of April, there was some buzz in the media and the blogosphere about Dell potentially moving beyond the direct model. Earlier this week, CRN's Ed Moltzen visited Dell, and during that time here, he sat down with Michael to find out what that means to Dell's business. Ed posted the Q&A with Michael on CRN.com . That interview covers a lot of ground. Michael mentions that Dell's business with solution providers is currently about $4 billion in North America. He provides perspective on...

Last week, Lionel blogged about my interview with Service Untitled . I wanted to take a few minutes to provide an update on our blog and IdeaStorm as well. As a global company, we continue to make investments in facilities, technology, and employees in the United States and around the world, so that we can be closer to our customers. As we grow our business, we will continue to expand our global contact center network with new locations to offer a broad range of technical support and other services...

On Earth Day , April 22, Dell and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) co-hosted a free computer recycling event for consumers in the Washington, D.C.-area. The event was supported by The National Recycling Coalition and TechTurn and resulted in the collection of more than 40 tons of unwanted desktops, notebooks, monitors, printers, mice and keyboards. Forty-five volunteers from Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia joined the Dell team in helping consumers recycle their IT equipment...

I recently created a new category called "What You Need To Know." Since it's important, thought I would take a few minutes to clarify its purpose. Many Direct2Dell readers like the fact that we use this blog to address product issues that potentially impact many of you. In the past, we've blogged about the battery recall , the XPS 700 Motherboard Exchange Program , the vertical line issue , and the notebook "tingle" sensation that some of you asked about. Some of these topics like the battery...

After a good long weekend with the family, I'm heading to Canada this week. My main reason for the trip is to attend the mesh 2007 conference . On Thursday afternoon, I’m looking forward to being part of a panel discussion called Building a Community — How and Why it Matters . Other folks on the panel Jordan Banks , managing director of eBay Canada and commandN co-host/community pro Will Pate . Microsoft's Mark Relph is the moderator for the discussion. While I’m here, I’ll also be taking part in...

Note from Lionel: The following is a post that appeared today on DellenDirecto, Dell's Spanish blog. I decided to include a translated version of Raymundo's post because I thought it offered some good perspective on one of our core global business strategies—building systems closer to our customers. Pictures of the factory can be found at this link . Update: 5/15: Gretel just published a new post about President Lula's visit to the factory. The post also contains a vlog from Terry Kahler, vice president...

Last week, Michael was on hand at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to donate items from Dell's past . One of those items was a PC's Limited computer from 1985 complete with invoice #100. That machine joined other pieces of PC history from the museum's vast collection that include ENIAC , an Altair , a TRS 80 Model 1 , a first-generation IBM PC , an Apple Lisa computer and an original Apple Macintosh . Beyond the machine from 1985, the donation included Michael's employee badge...

Some colleagues in Dell Australia alerted me that they are receiving calls from customers regarding a fake e-mail invoice purportedly coming from Dell UK. This e-mailseems to be very similar to one that I blogged about a couple of months ago . At this point, I can confirm that this fraudulant e-mail is not coming from Dell and that no customer has been charged for any item on the e-mail. Dell Australia posted information about the fake e-mail on the Dell Australia home page . They are currently...

We convened a Global Citizenship workshop today here in Shenzhen focused on workplace issues in our supply chain. The participation was great with 15 suppliers and more than 50 attendees including representatives from Dell’s WWP and Sustainability Teams. Jeremy Prepscius, Asia Director of Business for Social Responsibility, provided an inspiring keynote presentation on corporate social responsibility which set the stage for the remainder of the day. Earlier this year at Dell’s Supplier Conference...

Last week Kevin Kettler, Dell's CTO and Jay Parker, director of Dell PowerEdge servers were in San Francisco to talk to media and bloggers about something we call Project Hybrid. Some of you may have seen some coverage from outlets like eWeek , internetnews.com and Gearlog . Project Hybrid is about simplifying much of the complexity that IT managers face every day—IT infrastructure, power and space requirements, consolidation, software complexity and systems management. You'll hear more about this...

We’ve been focused on building more energy-efficient products. Today we announced that our OptiPlex 740 and 745 and corporate desktops meet Energy Star 4.0 requirements. Additionally, we expect to be one of the first PC companies to complete Energy Star 4.0 compliance across multiple desktop, notebook and workstation product lines ahead of the EPA’s July 2007 deadline. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program is a joint effort between the EPA and manufacturers to reduce...

Back in July 2006, we launched the English version of Direct2Dell. Its purpose hasn't changed—to inform and serve our customers. Back then, the primary reason we jumped into the blogosphere was that discussions were happening with or without us. Customers were talking about us, and much of the commentary wasn't positive—mainly due to declining levels of customer service for home users in the United States. In an effort to improve that, we started monitoring the feedback in the blogosphere about...

And while we’re updating you on our Linux program, here’s more! You suggested that we add Linux to the Dell Forums … and so we did that. You will now see a new and improved Dell Linux Forum, which has been given priority placement on the Dell Forums page. We’ll also begin promoting the Dell Linux Forum in the rotating banner at the top of the Dell Forums page. Visit the forum and interact with other customers. Ask questions, share experiences and learn. We look forward to...