Sounds great!  When is Dell going to update the webpages (Premier and public site)?  Is there any hope that we will see a quad core in the laptop line in the near future?

 -Craig

Craig: Can't talk about quad core at this point, but Premiere Pages Public and Federal Government sites will have these new notebooks will be happening soon. Several pages already include the new notebooks.
 

Bobby: Thanks for your comment. What I can say is we're not sitting still here. If you have to buy right away, then sorry we won't get your business this time around.
 

Latitude user: Here's what we said about the Latitude D430 in yesterday's press release. Bold emphasis is mine.

"The company said that it will offer the Latitude D430 ultra-mobile notebook and Dell Precision^TM  M4300 both based on the Intel processors in the coming weeks. In the fall, Dell plans to announce the launch of the Latitude D630c based on Intel's Centrino^TM  Pro technology."

Hello,

Wonderful to see improvement in battery life! 

Can you tell a bit about if and when you plan to introduce LED backlit displays? ( http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/62945/Use_LED_backlighting_for_LCD_and_Laptop_Screens ). I have a feeling that SSDs and LED backlight is a killer combination for business travelers.
 
Thanks
Anders
 

I dont see any new inspirons? When do we expect their release?

 thanks

I'd also like to know if there's an ETA for Inspirons with Santa Rosa platform? I don't like the Latitudes as long as they don't come with true life monitors (AND Intel processors).

I can't believe Dell is so behind. Lenovo (R61, T61), HP, even Gateway already offer new Santa Rosa laptops. The customer service at Dell (live chat) had no idea about ANY Santa Rosa laptops (not even the D630). Very disappointing. Like Bobby Kay, I was waiting for the Santa Rosa launch to buy a new laptop and now.......nothing happens. 

I believe that you guys at Dell don't sit still. However, it seems that you sat a lot more still than your competitors over the last few months. How else can you explain that they've launched their new lines while Dell hasn't. I like(d) Dell a lot and maybe that's why I'm so disappointed.

Dell embarassed itself by promoting the D630 and D830 yesterday - you click on the link and the product didn't exist.  You can locate incomplete product offerings at the medium business section, but as atlrob says it hasn't worked since Thursday.  I've decided to order two D830s loaded but am unable to do so.  I found that the D-Dock has a DVI port, solving my neurotic concern there.  Clearly, D630 and D830 are just new chips in the same old box.  Dell was not ready to introduce these new notebooks - if it is that apparent at the sales level....kinda scarey eh?

Finally, I got the links for the D630 to work. Can somebody tell me why they D630 is approx. $300 more than the Lenovo T61 (same configuration!)? Granted, Lenovo isn't necessarily IBM anymore but still, I thought that's a bit much. Like I said, I like Dell and I am happy with the Dells I have. So I'll probably end up buying the D630 anyway. However, I can't hide my disappointment considering the fact that the Santa Rosa launch was known for months and Dell should have been able to prepare.     

I'm really disappointed that there are no NVidia or ATI video options at launch.  With Vista it seems rather still to get an Intel GMA.

 I've also noticed the Turbo Memory Cache option vanished after no more than a day.

I'd really like to know how much RAM Vista can see on this Santa Rosa platform when I purchase 4gb?

I've been waiting since the beginning of year for the d830, but I need the video card and turbo memory.
 

Ubuntu please on these new Latitudes.

If these have Ubuntu as an option I'll buy one.
 

I was waiting eagerly to see Dell's Santa Rosa-based Latitude offerings since I really need a new laptop to replace my reliable but aging D600.  But now that I see the D630 specs I have to say I'm very disappointed!  The "Discrete Graphics" option being offered only on the older model D620?  How is that possible??  So all the new features of Santa Rosa but if we want a decent graphics card to run Aero we have to look elsewhere? I really dont understand why you'd do such a thing but for the first time ever I'm actually starting to look thinkpads.

I read somewhere last week (maybe Business Week or WSJ) that Dell was introducing new PC's in June.  Wanting to buy several notebooks (Home), can Dell say whether that report is accurate and, if so, what the status is?  Or were the articles referring to the new Latitudes which have already been introduced?

By the way, I've been a Dell loyalist through its ordeals and accumulated and unnecessary mistakes over the last two years -- recognizing the basis in fact of most of the bad press and bad operations but also discounting much of the Dell bashing to gullibe media hype.

I called Dell sales today to ask this question about a new line -- The Dell sales rep. was totally ungracious and abrupt when I said I had a simple question.  "I don't know, you can either wait until next month and see or buy one now."  (That's super insightful and helpful.)   When I observed that it was a pretty simple yes or no answer that someone in Dell would know (it presumably not going to be a surprise sprung on the entire work force) she said "wait a minute" and without any other comment transferred me to a line that then disconnected.  Impressive sales help.  This is about 18 months into Dell's service crisis, and I'm a Dell supporter.  Are any lessons being learned there?

Incredible!

 

Thomas A.: I am sorry to hear your sales experience was not a good one. Obviously, that's not representative of the standard we set for the company.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and appreciate that you are a Dell fan. I've tried to be honest about the customer service challenges we continue to face. What I can say is that there are many people here working to improve on this front. That's a big reason why I do this job.

Regarding your question about new PCs in June... can't comment at this point. However, I will blog about new products here when I have new information to share. 

Bob Collins said:

Dell, watch out for competition from Apple Macbook. Your laptop offerings are outdated compared to MacBook. Same old boring design with a cheap look.
 

Where are the AMD versions? 

My company has been waiting close to a year now and you only launched 1 notebook with Turion processors??  We purchase notebooks from a competitor that are similar to your new D630, but with AMD.  I called my account rep to ask why he said they DO have one but don't put it on the website!!!  Why is this???

re: joseph

I buy $900K worth of dells per year, if i purchased mac books instead i could spend 150% of that and still have to purchase a windows license to run any corporate apps.

Same old boring design with a cheap look.

Sorry to say I have more important things to think about then weither or not my PC matches my Ipod and my bathroom fixtures.

I appreciate the invoations of the Mac community but it will be quite awhile before they compete with Dell on a corporate PC supplier level. 

The new Santa Rosa D630/D830 and Turion x2 D531 models have been available from the the Dell US website for quite some time.  However, these models are still not available yet on the Dell Canada website.  Any reasons for the apparent delay?

Why is Dell being so secretive about their new lines.  I'm a loyal Dell user.  Especially since I'm a Solution Provider / Reseller. 

Even my dedicated Dell business reps don't have any information on when the D430, tablet, etc are coming out or even specs.  Which is strange considering the D430 is suppose to be coming out very soon.

Here you go man!

http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/latit_d430?c=au&cs=aubsd1&l=en&s=bsd

Sorry, the webpage seems to be down now but the PDF is still up!

basically only differences:

1. slightly brighter screen

2. configured RAM now starts at 1GB
 

so the D430 is still only available with a max 1.2GHZ processor????? That's too bad

Yes, why did they even call it the D430.

They should have just left it as the D420. 

Could someone PLEASE tell me why it's taking 4 weeks to build and then ship a D630?!?!   We've ordered 8 identical D630's with a fairly common config - mostly the standard Dell config but with 2GB RAM, the better display and a few other minor things.  The order was placed July 26 and the ship date is estimated to be Aug 21!  :(  4 weeks?  I ordered a new XPS 410 for home and got it in 3 days for goodness sake.  Ok, maybe my home PC coming from TN had something to do with that speedy arrival and maybe the laptops being built in Malaysia (??? is that right) adds more time to the shipping part...but still, 4 weeks is entirely too long.  First I was told there was a 5 day wait on processors (Latitude D630, Intel Core 2 Duo T7100, 1.80GHz, 800MHz, 2ML2 Cache, Dual Core is what we ordered)...then when I called back a few days later, they said there is a wait on the displays (14.1 inch Wide Screen WXGA+ LCD for Latitude D631 is what we ordered). 

 So is the delay being caused by a parts shortage or what?  I've never had a bad experience like this with Dell in the past but this is trying my patience.  One of the laptops on order is for me - to replace my ancient C640. 

Is there anyone at Dell monitoring this forum and can maybe shed some light on this for me?  I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Jon
 

I'm in the same boat as Jon.  Ordered d630 July 20, and still waiting.  Estimated production date of August 20? 

Get your act together Dell, that's unacceptable. 
 

I have the same Issue and Have asked our dell rep to shed some light on this as I have had some on order now since the 19th of July. I am out for a total of 28 Latitude D630's and my Customers are getting upset that I can't deliver. If someone from Dell is Monitoring, Can I get an answer also.... If I hear anything from My rep tomorrow, I'll post it. Most were suppose to be shipped already according to the site.

I also have the same issue. D630 Ordered 13th July with an ETA of 1st Aug.
Was sent an auto update on 28th July with a Revised ETA 17th Aug.
I contacted my Account Manager Yesterday and was told that there is an LCD shortage.
Then another auto update with another Revised ETA 7th September.

Dell DON'T take orders for things you cannot deliver. If I had a choice I would be looking else where also!!!

D630 delays are impairing my ability to keep my small business IT clients happy. 

As I understand it, production problems with the D630s (video adapter shortage, I've been told) began with or preceded the model’s introduction four months ago.  This is the first time in four years in business that I have not been able to count on Dell computers to arrive about ten days after they’re ordered—which was traditionally one of Dell’s great advantages.  I had come to rely on the D600 series as a mainstay in providing IT equipment and services to my clients.

This and the Vostro message that tells my target customers they don't need a server, network or IT consultant has me wondering if it isn't time to find a new business partner.

My wait continues for my D630!!!!!
MY EDD was the 7th Sept.
This morning I have found online that I am still in pre-production and my EDD is now the 11th October.
This is now 3 months from the order date to the EDD. Well Done Dell!!

Nowever I have just emailed my Account Manager and she has replied that I am NOT in pre-production and

"It is In-Production at the factory and has been escalated"

"I can only apologise for the delay. It is affecting all our customers across the business and senior management are working on a solution"

Well this must mean pleanty of power meetings to work on a solution. The solution is simple.

Dell DON'T take orders for things you cannot deliver.

Re D630, ordered 7/30; ESD 9/5 - now changed to 9/12

Through DellChat and 800# calls, I was told today that the delay is b/c Dell cannot get GLASS for display.  Does this make sense?

Did not check Direct2Dell blogs until today unfortunately.  Maybe D630 will ship by...      Christmas?

Already one delay on my D-630. As a small business owner, I needed the hard delivery date and now I am in limbo. I would like to purchase another 8 D-630's but can't as they can't even deliver one let alone 8 more.  Thought these guys were tops bu guess I was wrong. ANyway, looking at HP and if Dell does not meet their new self imposed delivery date for my D-630, it is off to Best Buy for my order of 9 HP business laptops. My business can't wait so why should I.

It's up to you DELL!!! Get it done!

Been waiting for two months now for 2 D630's from Dell !

Have not received any communications from Dell regarding the delay to my order and only discovered the delay when it did not arrive on the delivery date originally predicted. EVERY call to dell support has resulted in the same reply "We are having a slight supply problem with the LCD screens, but your order will be processed as a high priority when we get them in. You will receive your order in 2 weeks time".

I have received this same reply 4 times now. !!   To have such a bad supply problem is one thing, but to continually lie to your customers and not honestly give the expected delivery date is simply bad service.

Dell:  Be honest about the 'actual' delivery dates for our D630's. Your reputation is already tarnished and if your don't improve you customer service now both private individuals and Companies are going to switch to your competitors. My commercial department already refer to this as the "Dell Fiasco".

I have heard complaints about the Latitide 630 screens.  Does the 630D have any improvement in the screen design?

Do you know if the next generation (presumably D640) will have eintegrated web cams? Any ideas on when it would be available?