[computers] Dell response? "we're thinking about it"

[trochee]

My post earlier this week about watching Dell get suggestions has generated a response from richardatdell, who has had an account since last december but has never posted an entry.

His response (I think it's fair to assume "Richard" is a he!) is pretty vague:

we are investigating many of the ideas in terms of implementation.
Hope you will check back later today or early next week as we start to respond to some of the ideas. Other suggestions will take some time before we can provide feedback as we look at the suggestions.

I don't think I'm being unfair to say that this response is pretty weak so far. Also, Dell's official response is nothing and the (somewhat strident) call to Dell to put up or shut up still stands.

[update:, 2007/02/23 3p PST: there's more on that thread from richardatdell and from me. What I'm saying here still stands.]

Dell has asked for what the public wants. If it is going to provide that: wonderful. If not: don't jerk us around.

And richardatdell: what makes me so special? Why aren't you commenting in the Ubuntu blog, where I found this story?

Comments

[eldan.livejournal.com]

Not only has richardatdell not posted an entry, but according to his userinfo the comment on your journal is the only one he's ever posted:

http://richardatdell.livejournal.com/profile?mode=full

Very odd.

I sort-of agree with your analysis of Dell's actions, but I'm still holding out some hope that they'll respond over time. Having worked for a ginormous computer company with a very set culture (HP, during the Compaq merger) I know how slowly they sometimes respond to ideas that eventually do get implemented. Let's just say that the steering is more like an oil tanker than a kayak....

[trochee.livejournal.com]

yeah, I noticed that too. Odd that the account's been there for almost 3 months and this was richardatdell's first comment.

Hence the questions with which I closed my post: what makes me special?

I hear you about the oil-tanker-v-kayak comparison, but a public announcement of an intent to change course would be more than "we promise we're thinking about it".

[drshorn.livejournal.com]

Dell's official response is pretty unresponsive, isn't it? Let me see:

On the question of Linux pre-installled: They are getting some computers 'certified' for use with Linux and we are welcome to buy their no-os computers to run linux on.

On the question of No Extra Software: They promise to make it easier to remove the crap we didn't want them to install.

Great, great responses. Not. Like I wrote you in e-mail Troch, they are beholden to Microsoft and the best they can offer is no-os PC's.

[trochee.livejournal.com]

yep. Hey, look. at least they have a response today.

And there's something there, that they're saying that they're trying to certify some of their computers as Linux-friendly.

But to be obvious about it: I can use the web to find out which Dell models are Linux-friendly already, thanks to the happy hacker community.

I also note that the possibility of offering pre-installed open-source applications beyond Linux -- well, that's completely glossed over. OpenOffice gets a namecheck, but no actual discussion, and Firefox instead of IE doesn't even get on the radar.

I agree: Dell is stuck in a bind with MS.

they charge more for <b>no</b> windows

[http://users.livejournal.com/_dkg_/]

What's even more offensive is that With Windows their low-end laptop costs $50 less than it does Without Windows.

Perhaps they're finally ready to acknowledge that Windows is such a frustrating trap that they need to pay people to use it?