Comments on: so what’s a crazy-ass cartoonist in alpine, texas going to do about dell, anyway?

By: olivier blanchard

olivier blanchard — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:49:40 +0000

When I was managing one of the big 3 US distributors’ Microsoft biz, your blue monster served as my department’s flag. (Literally.) It was by far the best conversation starter in our arsenal. It also set the tone of every conversation we had with customers and gave us a clear sense of purpose. I loved that thing.
“Change the world or go home.” It doesn’t get any better than that.

By: Darcy Moen

Darcy Moen — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:54:45 +0000

Hey Hugh, I just may end up using your cartoon of the day (today)(if you hold me to standards that you cannot meet yourself, you shall earn my disfavor). Pretty much sums up our environmental relationship with them to a T. Hope your conversations fare better.

By: Richardatdell

Richardatdell — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:48:09 +0000

Hi Hugh,
Enjoyed reading your thoughts and seeing how the journey for you and discussions we have had are starting to crystallize.
Here is an additional thought.…Dell’s direct business model has often been associated with manufacturing efficiencies and processes and/or “mass customization”.
Personally, I believe that the Dell’s direct model is about more than efficiencies and customization. Its also very much about Dell having direct connections/relationships with customers. This is often overlooked.
Even as we grow distribution through retail and channel relationships, grow in new markets, those direct connections between Dell and customers (including our channel partners and retailers as customers) underpins who we are and is part of what Dell is all about. That direct connection with customers contributed to the impetus for much our involvement with blogs, Ideastorm, Twitter…and so much more.
As you note we constantly seek to improve the customer service element, just as we can always improve our overall relationship/connection with customers. No relationship that I know of is perfect.
I think its the sign of a good business that always wants to get better…especially a young company like Dell. At 20+ years, the crucial thing for any person or company is do you continually learn; get better and grow.…as you mature.
Some additional thoughts to the points you raise. Ill likely have more tomorrow

By: KAPITEL

KAPITEL — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:46:25 +0000

What‘s the purpose idea?
It should be point 3.iii.
…trying to sell dull grey boxes to disinterested westerners or perhaps moving some exciting grey boxes to the marginalised — africa et al?
about time all business was conducted for the benefit of the many not the elite few.

By: Mike Krus

Mike Krus — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:46:39 +0000

With it’s stores & geniuses, Apple can provide a level a support that DELL cannot match, not at a personal level.

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:31:26 +0000

The fantastic years to come! We’ve not even scratched the surface yet

By: Joe Harris

Joe Harris — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:46:51 +0000

For what it’s worth I’d like to see Dell break down the barriers in the Windows world. Why do we have to have just one ‘official” Windows? I’d like to see a “Vista for Dell” or something that has a distinct look and feel, and that comes with a whole bunch of integrated, Dell specific apps.
MS are prevented from bundling much, but Dell could do this quite easily (and base it on open source . Microsoft need to get some momentum back and Dell is a huge OEM.
If they got even halfway to level of integration and “just works” that Apple has it would surely be a big win.

By: Joe Harris

Joe Harris — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:34:35 +0000

By: James Gross

James Gross — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:35:45 +0000

Hugh–
Great post about a company that is important to a lot of us. So great to have you working with them.
James

By: James Gross

James Gross — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:35:42 +0000

Hugh–
Great post about a company that is important to a lot of us. So great to have you working with them.
James

By: bonnieL

bonnieL — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:44:57 +0000

Hugh, you’re not crazy-assed — you’re colorful.
bonnieL

By: Tom Basham

Tom Basham — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:18:42 +0000

Interesting post Hugh, I enjoy hearing about your experiences at Dell, its funny how many seem to match life in other big companies. I guess everyone’s in the world changing game to some extent or another.
I thought your 7th point was a good one, that balance between business and personal computing is something that I see coming up more and more, and not many people are getting it right — it’s actually prompted me to post some thoughts of my own.

By: Ben Tremblay

Ben Tremblay — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:22:08 +0000

“Embrace it, or die.“
And with M$ it was “Something else, or die.“
“With me or against me” is mocked when it comes from Dubya, but rewarded in all its shapes otherwise, especially when it’s draped with yuppie babble about better world and patriotism.
NB: nobody said being corrupted makes a person stupid.

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:11:06 +0000

Hey Barbara,
Actually, my Dell Mini crashes a lot less than my MacBook, though to be fair, I hardly run anything on it, except Mozilla Firefox.
I hear what you’re saying; I’m more interested in how we can help make Dell a better company, rather than articulating what’s wrong with them.
The one thing I will say is, they DO listen, especially to bloggers. More than any company I’ve ever worked with.
Rick Julian, I agree. Blue Monsters don’t “create” anything new. At the very most, all they can do is shed light on what’s already there.
I can articulate passion with a Blue Monster, I cannot create it for them.

By: John Dodds

John Dodds — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:10:38 +0000

Illusionists thrill their audience all the time without necessarily being thrilled themselves. But many of them become notoriously jaded. The key is to find an audience you can thrill in a way that ultimately becomes thrilling to you.
Forget trying to thrill the unthrillable (the West Coast hipster crowd for example), it’s your capitalised phrase that resonated with me. Getting technology into the hands of those without it will unquestionably thrill them and the potential that act can unleash cannot fail to be thrilling to even the most jaded among us.