Comments on: Michael Dell Talks Up Services, Windows 7 — But Trashes Netbooks

By: Joe Pellar

Joe Pellar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:50:22 +0000

Unless Mr. Dell wakes up to the fact that the company that was known for excellent tech service, now has the most abysmal service in the industry, just read all the blogs Mr. Dell, Dell will continue its downward trend. I for one am ready to disconnect from Dell, due to the totally unresponsive, unknowledgable, tech support in the business. The tech people in India follow a written script, and have no real knowledge of computor problems if its not written out in the form of "questions and answers on their screen of repair "Q & A's. I am in need of a new computer, but will not order one from Dell until they can demonstrate that they are capable of fixing the one I now own. Anyone have a better experience with H.P. ????

By: ControlAltTV » Blog Archive » Windows 7 Will Throw Down, But Not Just Yet

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:51:42 +0000

[...] comments fall in line with recent lofty predictions from Dell founder Michael Dell about Windows 7 driving the PC market forward. But is that, in fact, [...]

By: Windows 7 Will Throw Down, But Not Just Yet

Windows 7 Will Throw Down, But Not Just Yet — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:06:01 +0000

[...] comments fall in line with recent lofty predictions from Dell founder Michael Dell about Windows 7 driving the PC market forward. But is that, in fact, [...]

By: gman

gman — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:49:14 +0000

I think you are one of those people who don’t think outside the box. You are in a comfort zone, and can’t be bothered to move beyond that. Age has something to do with it usually. You miss the point and the new portable concept. That’s fair enough. Ignorance is bliss. When you’ve gone light, and realized what light is, then you wouldn’t be going back to what you had. I think we need to think about the evolution of computers. Do that. What has happened to computers? Smaller. Lighter. More powerful. I think you missed out on the smaller and lighter part. People who say, geez, you could just pay another $100 for a laptop, don’t get it. I have no idea what you’re argument would be when the ION netbooks arrive. I’m sure at one point you thought your Sony walkman, yes the tape playing kind, was a really cool device. Go ahead, take it out in public. You might have funny looks from people who are a bit more current. The car bike analogy? Puzzling. I guess I would suggest, have a more younger approach to thinking. You’re stuck in your car behind 100 other cars. You see the bike riding past you to their destination. Yes, you’re still stuck with all the other cars. I guess at least you’re dry.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:45:48 +0000

Nobody to comment on Windows 7? (the real issue)

Michael told us that:
“if you get the latest processor technology and Office 2010 with it, you will love your PC again. It’s a dramatic improvement”

Sure, a $3,500 PC (with again a new Windows license) is cool -for the vendor. But where is the advantage for users to pay (again) for something that sucks (far) more electricity than Ventura Publisher on GEM/DR DOS -which was available, ahem, 20 years ago to do a better job than MS-Word 2010?

Why are we told that we need (to pay for) a Cray computer to type-in a letter?

Are we all that stupid?

By: Top Posts « WordPress.com

Top Posts « WordPress.com — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:17:34 +0000

[...] Michael Dell Talks Up Services, Windows 7 — But Trashes Netbooks “The technology industry is always going through transition, and there are some big changes going on now,” [...] [...]

By: Dave Winer

Dave Winer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:28:40 +0000

It’s like the difference between a car and a bike.

You get wet when you’re riding a bike. Why would anyone want to ride when you can stay dry in a car?

Or why would anyone want to ski when you could take a bus?

Dave

By: gman

gman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:25:35 +0000

People are over reacting to his comments about netbooks. The slowness issue shows a bit of ignorance on his part, but that’s okay. I think he’s missing the point. Give people their 3 lb portable computer and then give them back their 5 or 6 pound computer and see how much they enjoy taking it out. Once you go light, you can’t go back. His real point is that netbooks are not a replacement for a home computer. That I agree. They are not. Laptops and notebooks are those machines for the home. It’s just a new reality for people and some are having difficulty coming to grips with what was, and what now is portable.

By: Mackenzie

Mackenzie — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:44:21 +0000

I think whether a netbook is slow or not depends on if you’re using the “small laptop” definition of netbook or Microsoft’s very specific definition that requires slow components to still qualify as a netbook to get XP on it. Remember, you can only still sell XP if it’s on a netbook, and a netbook can only be within a certain range of specs. Linux-based netbooks have no such hardware restrictions though.

By: Sebastian Rupley

Sebastian Rupley — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:24:53 +0000

@John, Glen, Sara, Pedro — I think the positives and negatives you raise about netbooks are perfect illustrations of the fact that, as is true with pointing devices (some people hate trackballs, some love them) people have highly varied reactions so portable computers, their keyboards, their form factors, etc. To me, the bottom line concerning net books is that they work well for many people, for certain tasks. I like them for writing on the go, but would never use one as my primary portable.
That’s why it was surprising to hear Dell put them down so flatly. He sells them, and people buy them and like them!

Best,
Sebastian

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:05:05 +0000

Glen, you underplay the effects of virtualization. Let me flip your cost assumptions on you,when you virtualize your hardware + software costs should be equilevant to your non-virtualized hardware + software costs. Where the savings come in are in the HVAC and electrical usage department, which are an under appreciated cost that most IT departments do not capture. Generally this cost goes under building maintenance, where is should be is part of the operating budget of IT. Thus IT can make a more accurate portrait of what adding a server for Sally in HR will really cost.

Plus, most of the virtualizations in the SMB market, all of sudden get a real disk solution versus files stored hap-hazardly across many different servers. Remember that in this market (SMB) GigE is cheap and the debate between fiber SANs and GigE SANs is over. GigE won. (Yes fiber is technically better, cost versus performance is just not there to justify fiber when GigE is 90 – 95% as effective). In a large corporate environs, the debate about a SAN fabric is a real one involving brocade switches, etc, etc. In the SMB environs, this is usually not the case. In SMB markets, it is usually a couple of small SAN boxes from Dell connected over broadband for disaster recovery deltas and that is the extent of the SAN fabric.

The other issue that this cascades into is backup planning and licenses. With storage now consolidated, you no longer have as many backup agents and licenses to consider.

When painting a broad brush of virtualization, it pays to look at the whole picture. Not just the servers and software.

By: John Doe

John Doe — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:50:28 +0000

I hate netbooks with a burning passion. The keyboards are tiny, the performance abysmal, and the oft-touted long battery life is virtually a non-issue, given that there are power outlets almost anywhere where one would bring the thing out. Who else can’t stand the click-click-clack of a loud in-class typist hunched over and taking up another half-space with their elbows on account of the tiny font? Besides that, they promote multitasking, which has been suggested to contribute to stress and progressive disorganized thinking.

No thanks, I’d rather spend $700 on an at-home gaming rig and devote time to doing homework instead of trying to use the scrap minutes throughout my day.

By: Glen

Glen — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:12:15 +0000

The attraction to the netbook (for me) was 9 hours of use on a single charge. Add to that I can carry it much easier than an actual laptop (which I do carry to work every day). For travel it is a godsend. I don’t have to worry about my big laptop bag getting crushed, it just goes under the seat and yeah I can pull it out and watch movies, work on docs, email and (with delta wifi in air) vpn into work and get some work done on a 4+ hour flight. Or just cruise the internet. The two things that sell netbooks – portable and battery life. It’s funny how Dell can downplay a netbook and brag about mobile phones with android…which is basically a wimax connected OS on a small portable computer…that is harder to type on and has a smaller screen than a netbook.

Virtualization has it’s place but there is a limited ROI on what you can get out of a server. How much is thier 1TB memory server + ESX and the licensing costs+storage+san fabric etc.

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:55:43 +0000

Netbooks are great. I don’t understand why people don’t understand. For $100-200 sure you could get a laptop or desktop, but what good are those when you want something like with 6-10+ hours of battery life?

The netbook market is the fastest growing market so it’s not just a fad.

I don’t know what you guys do on your netbooks but mine works fine and doesn’t get all laggy as many claim.

By: silner (silner) 's status on Thursday, 15-Oct-09 12:59:18 UTC - Identi.ca

silner (silner) 's status on Thursday, 15-Oct-09 12:59:18 UTC - Identi.ca — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:59:23 +0000

[...] http://gigaom.com/2009/10/13/michael-dell-talks-up-services-and-coming-upgrades-but-trashes-netbook... a few seconds ago from Gwibber [...]

By: Pedro

Pedro — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:41:41 +0000

a 13” or 14” laptop is still ultra-portable, ultra-light and ultra-fast. They fit on a small backpack and are light enough to carry around without perfomance (or health) limitations.
Netbooks are great for some users, but not for most. They dont replace a notebook. They are just what the name says, for net use.