February 2007 - Posts

• Dynamic Product Pages on support.dell.com

  Wed. Feb. 28, 2007
  by Todd Penner, Director - Global eSupport

  A recently added feature to the Support.dell.com site, the Dynamic Product Pages function, is a key addition as we work to keep customers current and updated on your products. With these pages, we've really tried to centralize as much support information as possible and make it more intuitive to find what you need.

  From these pages, you have access to frequently asked support questions, issues and hot topics that we're hearing from customers along with the the specific responses/resolutions recommended by the Dell support team. The topics featured are unique to each product line and are dynamically driven and updated on the pages real-time based on the recurring issues that have high call rates.

  How do I get to this page? Click here, select a product and model name from the drop-down list (or enter a service tag).

  Recent enhancements include:

  • A streamlined layout designed to facilitate help you solve specific Technical Support or Customer Service issues. This redesign incorporates elements of focus group and usability testing
  • An advanced search box to make it easier to find information you're looking for
  • Left-hand navigation that highlights key tools and solution centers (Wireless, Security, Windows Vista, etc.)
  • Configuration details for your specific system at time of purchase (if you enter a service tag); From that same page, you can also see warranty information on the Service Contracts and Warranties tab

  How do I get to this page? In the US, click here, select a product and model name from the drop-down list (or enter a service tag).

  These dynamic product pages are also available in Canada and parts of Europe (France & Denmark), Latin America (Argentina & Brazil) and Asia Pacific (Malaysia & India). Targeted implementation for rest of the world is scheduled for mid-2007 timeframe.

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• Dell Vista Upgrade Kits Begin Shipping, SoundBlaster Audigy MB Software Update

  Wed. Feb. 28, 2007
  by Lionel Menchaca, Chief Blogger

  Direct2Dell readers like and George have reported that their Vista upgrade disks will be shipping soon. The Vista express upgrade kits started shipping this week and will ship in a first-in-first-out order. You will receive two DVDs: one for the Vista operating system itself, and The Dell Vista Upgrade Assistant DVD. The Upgrade Assistant DVD includes Vista drivers and applications. Most customers should receive their kits in the coming weeks. To check the status of your order, please visit http://www.dellvistaupgrade.com and click on Order Status at the top of the page.

  All customers who have registered for the upgrade will receive an e-mail notification when your upgrade kit ships. Your order will stay in Pending status until your order ships. I understand this continues to be a source of frustration for many customers, and want to apologize the delays.

  Know that some of you are still running into problems getting registered, including your service tag not being recognized, issues with your Certificate of Authenticity (COA) or updating shipping or credit card details on the site. If that is the case for you, please submit a comment explaining the issue and be sure to complete the e-mail field so that I can have Customer Care contact you directly.

  Again, sorry for frustration—we’ll work through these registration issues as quickly as we can.

  Sound Blaster Audigy MP MB Software Update

  Since last week, I have received some comments and e-mail complaints from readers asking about our Sound Blaster Audigy MB software that we sell as an option on Inspiron notebooks and some Dimension desktops. To clarify some issues raised, SoundBlaster Audigy Advanced MB is a software application from Creative Labs. It provides additional functionality to the integrated Sigmatel hardware and drivers that comes standard on our Inspiron and XPS notebooks and some Dimension desktops.

  Many of you have said that the SoundBlaster Audigy Advanced MB software will not work in Vista. That is correct—it’s true that the Sound Blaster Audigy HD software sold with systems originally loaded with XP is not compatible with Vista. Vista has a totally different driver architecture than XP, therefore the XP version of the Sound Blaster Audigy software is not compatible with Vista. Vista compatibility can only be achieved with a new version of the software and drivers. Two updates here:

  • Customers who are eligible for the Dell Windows Vista Upgrade will receive a copy of the Vista version of the SoundBlaster Audigy Advanced MB software. The software will be part of the Dell Vista Upgrade Assistant DVD.
  • We expect to begin shipping the Vista version of the SoundBlaster Audigy Advanced MB software to Inspiron and XPS notebook customers who opt for it beginning next week. We also expect to ship the Vista version of the software on Dimension desktops for customers who opt for it later in March.

  Know that the two points don’t address customers who aren’t eligible for the Windows Vista Upgrade or customers who purchased the Vista upgrade from retail. We’re looking into what options we can provide, and hope to have an update next week.

   Update, 4/30: Doug just posted this update on his blog entry. The Vista software for the Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD audio is now available for download. Click here to download.
  

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• Join the Green Grid

  Tue. Feb. 27, 2007
  by Rick Schuckle, Office of the CTO

  Yesterday, a new organization called The Green Grid announced the completion of the consortium’s formation and issued a call for members.  The Green Grid is a global consortium dedicated to developing and promoting energy efficiency for data centers and information services.  Yesterday,  we also announced the Board of Directors, which is comprised of members from AMD,  APC, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Rackable Systems, SprayCool , Sun Microsystems and VMware.  We’re proud to be among the founding members of the organization and I wanted to share this news in because we know how important the issue of energy-efficiency has become in the IT industry.

   

  Like all companies in the Green Grid consortium, Dell is committed to providing our customers energy-efficient products, and actively working with customers to help them design more efficient data centers.  In addition to our focus on energy efficiency, having our industry focused on a holistic solution that includes silicon, computing hardware, power and cooling, and software is key to enabling customers with an energy efficient solution.  I invite you to learn more about the efforts by visiting the updated website. In addition to finding details on how to join, you can also download PDF white papers on the Green Grid Opportunity,  Guidelines for Energy-Efficient Datacenters, and Green Grid Metrics: Describing Datacenter Power Efficiency. Here’s InformationWeek’s take on the news.  For more information on Dell's efforts in these areas, please visit dell.com/energy.

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• Latitude Notebooks Join Dell n-Series

  Fri. Feb. 23, 2007
  by Matt Domsch, Linux Technology Strategist

  Since we launched Dell IdeaStorm last week, Linux-related topics own three of the top four spots in terms of overall popularity. To see the progress made on some of the top ideas from the first week, take a look at the ideas in action tab.
  

  I wanted to share some details that bring us a bit closer to the third most popular idea thread, linux laptop—an idea that has earned almost 37,000 points as I'm writing. For the last several weeks, we’ve been working to bring Latitude notebooks to the n-Series lineup. n-Series are Dell products that ship with no operating system pre-installed. We now offer the Latitude D420, D520, D620 and D820.

  Dell's Latitude notebook line now joins our n-series Dimension and OptiPlex desktops and workstations is now available, complete with FreeDOS on CD in the box—ready for you to install the Linux distribution of your choice. As with other n-Series products, Dell hasn't tested any particular Linux distribution and doesn't offer software support for running Linux on these, so we encourage you to join our Linux mailing lists and to use the one of your chosen distribution for community-based support.

  For more information, visit the Dell Linux Engineering website.

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• Linux Options

  Fri. Feb. 23, 2007
  by Caroline Dietz, IdeaStorm Manager
  It’s exciting to see the IdeaStorm community’s interest in open source solutions like Linux and OpenOffice. Your feedback has been all about flexibility and we have seen a consistent request to provide platforms that allow people to install their operating system of choice. We are listening, and as a result, we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux, including our OptiPlex desktops, Latitude notebooks and Dell Precision workstations. This is another step towards ensuring that our customers have a good experience with Linux on our systems.

  As this community knows, there is no single customer preference for a distribution of Linux. In the last week, the IdeaStorm community suggested more than half a dozen distributions. We don't want to pick one distribution and alienate users with a preference for another. We want users to have the opportunity to help define the market for Linux on desktop and notebook systems. In addition to working with Novell, we are also working with other distributors and evaluating the possibility of additional certifications across our product line. We are continuing to investigate your other Linux-related ideas, so please continue to check here for updates.

  To read about the recent addition of Latitude notebooks to our n-series family, read Direct2Dell from one of Dell’s Linux solution architects, or visit www.dell.com/linux and www.dell.com/nseries.

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• No Extra Software Option

  Fri. Feb. 23, 2007
  by Caroline Dietz, IdeaStorm Manager
  Dell recognizes our customers’ desire to have unlimited control over the software on their PC. In fact, today XPS customers can opt-out of almost all preinstalled software. We will be expanding this effort in the coming months. In addition to focusing on the software installation process, Dell has also taken steps to make it easier for customers to remove software once they receive their PC. Today, customers can kick-off an un-install of almost any application by declining the EULA (End User Licensing Agreement) associated with software.

  Additionally, the consolidated desktop folders provide a link to add/remove programs to facilitate easy software removal. We plan on increasing the degree of customer control moving forward, allowing customers to more quickly select software they want to remove and facilitate simple un-installation. Thanks for your feedback and suggestions in this area.

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• Carbon Neutral

  Fri. Feb. 23, 2007
  by Caroline Dietz, IdeaStorm Manager
  We share your interest in minimizing the climate and environmental impact of the products we sell. In the next few weeks, we will make our Plant a Tree for Me program available to a much wider audience – the program enables customers to contribute to a tree planting program to offset the carbon associated with the production of electricity to run their system. Some early work you might be aware of includes our efforts to make our products as energy-efficient as possible, which can help cut emissions associated with power generation - you can read more at www.dell.com/energy.
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• Look What I Did On My Dell

  Fri. Feb. 23, 2007
  by Caroline Dietz, IdeaStorm Manager
  Concurrent with the Dell IdeaStorm launch we announced a YouTube-like video upload capability for the "Your Stories" segment of StudioDell. Your idea to stage contests also has merit and, StudioDell is probably one of the right venues to do this within Dell.com.
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• Blog In Different Languages

  Fri. Feb. 23, 2007
  by Caroline Dietz, IdeaStorm Manager
  We agree this is clearly a requirement. We're close to rolling out a blog in our second language and we’re working on our third. It's clear that blogs are becoming global communication tools. Expect more within the next month.
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• Dell Celebrates Black History Month with Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole

  Thu. Feb. 22, 2007
  by Lionel Menchaca, Chief Blogger

  “It’s in my hands and in your hands to make this nation of ours truly a living democracy.”

  Those words were just one of the many insights and inspirations shared by Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole during her visit to Central Texas earlier this week. Dell welcomed Dr. Cole to our headquarters in Round Rock, Texas in recognition of Black History Month.

  Dr. Cole is the president of Bennett College for Women and president emeritus for Spelman College—the only two historically black colleges serving women in the United States. She has been many things in her distinguished career: an anthropologist, a teacher, a college administrator, human rights advocate and author. It is a career that has spanned spans over three decades and inspired thousands.

  Most recently, she founded the Johnnetta B. Cole Diversity and Inclusion Institute. She serves on the boards of Coca-Cola Enterprises, of Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe and on the Board of Directors of Merck & Co., Inc. From 2004 to 2006, she was the first African American to serve as Chair of the Board of United Way of America and is on the board.

  In this video, Dr. Cole shares her thoughts on keys to success for women of color in corporate America, about skills young students need to compete in the 21^st century, and Black History Month.

  Format: flv Duration: 5:04

  Downloads WMV  MP4  OGG

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