Business Laptops

• Europe Vostro Keyboard Update

  Wed. May. 14, 2008
  by Bill Bivin, Laptop Liaison

  Since I blogged about the Europe Vostro keyboard issue, we’ve had several questions about system warranty similar to the comments from Damian Poland and Janet Moore on the blog. I wanted to take some time to answer some of those questions.

  You will not void your warranty if you choose to replace the keyboard yourself. If you do damage components in the replacement process, we will replace damaged parts according to the specifics of your warranty.

  Customers who choose to have the keyboard replaced by an on-site technician will have a longer wait than those who choose parts only, but we will work through service requests as quickly as we can.

  Direct2Dell reader Bryan wondered if his pending Vostro 1510 unit would ship with the updated keyboard. Yes, all orders will be shipped with the updated keyboard.

  Direct2Dell reader Matthew wondered if there was a BIOS update he could utilize before receiving the keyboard. Unfortunately, the short answer is no. I’ll work with the BIOS team and will post updated information when I have it.

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• Simplified Pricing for Vostro Laptops

  Fri. May. 09, 2008
  by Roel Canare, Vostro Notebook Pricing Manager

  When we launched Vostro last year, we wanted to help simplify IT for businesses without extensive IT staffs.  While simplifying the ownership and use of technology is a big part of our daily jobs on the Vostro team, part of simplifying IT is also about simplifying the purchase of Vostro systems.

  As we’ve gotten to know more about what our Vostro customers want, we’ve found out that the people buying Vostro are some of our busiest customers and one thing they want is more time.  We know that every minute they spend purchasing a new PC is a minute that can’t be spent on running their business.  Time spent hunting for the best deal or comparing prices within the Dell website could be put to better use, and customers have told us that our pricing can sometimes be confusing or frustrating.

  So this week, we launched new pricing for Vostro laptops in the US to address these issues.  Here’s what you can expect from Vostro laptops:

  • Consistent pricing within each model.  Interested in buying our new Vostro 1510?  Go online and click on any of the Vostro 1510 “Customize It” links.  Identically configured systems will be identically priced.  This consistent pricing applies to each Vostro laptop model that we sell, so you can spend less time comparing prices within each model, and more time choosing the hardware that’s right for you.
  • Lower prices for the hardware that you want most.  Instead of waiting for the right deal with the right hardware configuration, you can shop Vostro laptops and get great pricing every day.  The upgrade from 1GB to 2GB of memory is only $25, DVD burners are $15, dual core processors are available for $25, and you can double your hard drive from 80GB to 160GB for only $30.  No special deals or coupons are required to get these prices.

  We hope that these changes will help speed the purchase process, provide terrific value, and let our Vostro customers get back to business.  Let us know what you think, because we’re also looking to expand this pricing strategy to Vostro desktops.

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• Europe Vostro Keyboard Issue: What We're Doing

  Thu. May. 08, 2008
  by Bill Bivin, Laptop Liaison

  Thanks to Flickr user Jake Gordon for alerting us to a problem with our Vostro 1310 and 1510 keyboard layout. He's the one that influenced Engadget and other blogs like Wired to write about the issue. There is no way to say it... we made a mistake and want to apologize to affected customers.  I want to point out that this issue only affects some users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It should not be an issue for customers in any other region.

  The pictures below will explain the issue a little more clearly. Bottom line, Jake was right on with his observations: we chose to use a larger left-Shift key than the one that commonly ships on industry-standard keyboard layouts. The backslash key was placed in its normal spot, immediately right of the Shift key. The increased width of the Shift key pushes the whole row of keys one position to the right. This is not a workable layout for touch typists.

  Note: The original keyboard is on the left; the revised keyboard is on the right. Click on these images below for a larger version.

  

  The new layout moves the backslash key to the far right of the second row from the bottom, which pushes the rest of the letter keys on that row to their traditional positions. While this location differs from some layouts, the larger left Shift key is beginning to appear on more systems there.

  Here's what we're going to do: we plan to contact all affected customers, beginning today. All affected customers will receive an updated keyboard. They will have two options: we can send the keyboard and required BIOS update directly to them, or they can choose to have a field technician replace the keyboard onsite.

  Swapping the keyboards is a pretty simple process. Take a look at the field service manual for the Vostro 1310 and the Vostro 1510. Soon, we'll publish a video that walks folks through the process. Update: Here's the video:

  Format: flv Duration: 5:38

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  Customers who don't want to wait can contact Dell directly via e-mail: emea_ts_pfr@dell.com

  Please use the words Vostro Keyboard in the subject line. Here is the information we need from you in the e-mail:

  • Name
  • Daytime Phone Number
  • Order Number
  • Service Tag Number
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• Windows Vista Downgrade Service & XP End of Life

  Thu. May. 01, 2008
  by Jenni Doane, Global SMB Software Manager

  News is all over the internet these days on the impending end of Windows XP, which brings on the inevitable transition to Windows Vista, Microsoft’s newest OS. We’ve heard Small Businesses say they’re not ready to adopt Vista yet due to compatibility issues, uncertainty about Vista stability/ease of use, hardware requirements, etc. In fact, many of you have even signed the petition to give XP a stay of execution. We recognize that many businesses aren’t ready to make the transition yet and that supporting multiple OS’s can be demanding, especially for companies with limited IT resources. For those of you considering making the leap, I recommend this article from Brad Patten, a Small Business consultant and blogger. Brad lays out some important items to consider, the most important of which is verifying that any software or hardware that is key to running your business is Vista compatible. If compatibility is not an issue for you, then you may want to consider making the switch. The release of Service Pack 1 (SP1) has made Vista faster and more stable, and for laptop users, SP1 even offers improved battery life.

  For those of you who still aren’t ready to make the leap, but think you might want to one day, Dell Small Business is now offering Vista Business and Vista Ultimate with Downgrade Service free on Latitude, Optiplex and Precision, and for a small fee on Vostro systems. With this service, we exercise your downgrade rights for you and factory-install XP Professional on your system while shipping you a CD for XP and a DVD for Vista. This way, you get the OS you’re comfortable with using now along with rights to upgrade to Vista when you’re ready, which offers investment protection for the future. When you’re ready to migrate to Vista, simply use the Vista DVD provided to run the install.

  This service is not available on Vista Home Basic (to XP Home) or Vista Home Premium (to Media Center Edition) due to Microsoft rules around the program; Microsoft does not offer downgrades to anything other than XP Professional. We will continue to offer this service after June 18 for as long as Microsoft supports the program. June 18 is the last day that Dell will sell XP without going through Downgrade Service, and the last day for XP Home in any form at Dell. We cannot ship XP systems outside of the downgrade program after June 30. Check out www.dell.com/dellhasanswers for more details on both the end of XP and the Windows Vista Downgrade Service.

  If you’re wondering how to select the Downgrade Service when you’re customizing your Dell system in the US, simply select the option titled Genuine Windows Vista Business Bonus or Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate Bonus. Click on the image below for a larger version:

  

  Do you have questions on the Downgrade Service from Dell? How about comments on the end of XP and the transition to Vista? Feel free to comment below.

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• New Vostro Laptops: A 13.3" and More

  Tue. Apr. 15, 2008
  by Lionel Menchaca, Chief Blogger

  Today, we're introducing two new Vostro laptops for customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Small Business customers in North and South America will be able to order on May 1, and customers from Asia Pacific and Japan will be able to place orders on May 5. The new laptops include the 13.3" Vostro 1310, and the 15.4" Vostro 1510. The re-designed 1710 will be coming later in May... more on that when the time comes.

   

  A common request from small business customers worldwide (like this idea from user ojisan on IdeaStorm) was for us to introduce a 13,3" Vostro notebook. The Vostro 1310 (pictured above) offers almost the same screen real estate as the larger Vostro 1400 notebook, but weighs almost 20% less. For the 1310, pricing starts at $749.

  

  The 1510 (shown in the picture above) offers a large display in a form factor that's a bit thinner and lighter than the Vostro 1500. Like the 1310, it also features a slot-load optical drive. Pricing for it starts at $599. 

  Similar to the very first Vostro systems we launched in July last year, these systems do not come with trialware, they do, however, come with a 30-day return policy and can also be ordered with Dell's DataSafe online backup, the Network Assistant or our PC Tune-Up services. It's pretty clear that small business customers want notebooks with perfomance and reliability and they want this technology for an affordable price. With both of these laptops, we really aimed to balance those needs. We've also introduced more robust security features—like integrated fingerprint readers, cable locks and Trusted Platform Module 1.2 support to help prevent unauthorized network access.

  David Ruth from the Vostro team covers both the 1310 and the 1510 Vostro laptops in more detail. You can also go to www.dell.com/newvostro for more information.

  Format: flv Duration: 7:18

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• Small Business Group Blog: What to Expect

  Tue. Apr. 15, 2008
  by Lionel Menchaca, Chief Blogger

  In an earlier post, I mentioned that we were set to introduce more group blogs-this Small Business group blog is one of them. If you are a small business owner (or work for one) it's clear that things move fast.  We've had a Small Business category on Direct2Dell that's kept things moving for a while now.  But the truth is that I wasn't able to spend the time necessary to keep up with things that matter to small business customers, and that's why we're launching this blog.

  For future reference, you can access the Small Business group blog at www.direct2dell.com/smallbusiness.

  You can also subscribe to the Small Business blog RSS feed if you know you're interested in keeping tabs on where we're heading in this space.

  We hope that the Small Business group blog arms you with the kind of information that can help you get your small business off the ground, keep pace with your customers and your competition,  and help you run your business more efficiently as well. But this blog isn't about Dell-it's about our small business customers and the issues that are important to you. We hope that you'll come here to talk about things that are important to you. We also want to hear your stories, your ideas on how we can make products and services that meet your growing businesses needs, and ways you think we need to improve.

  Enough from me on the topic. In this vlog, Frank Muehleman, VP& GM of Dell's Small and Medium Business group talks about the mobile trends that are impacting small business owners leading up to the introduction of our new Vostro laptops.

  Format: flv Duration: 6:07

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