I'm hoping Dell comes out with some new laptop designs soon.  It is time to replace my 5+ year old Inspiron 8100 and Dell's current laptop offerings are just a little disappointing.  The same can be said for their software options.

 

With a 17" display unit, there is plenty of room for 10-key pad; it is not an option.

 

Bluetooth is an option but the mouse options are not Bluetooth, unless I read things wrong

 

MS Office 2007 Pro is only available with the most expensive units.

 

It is impossible to purchase a laptop without PCillian, Norton or McAfee pre-installed.  It would be nice to have the "none of the above" option so that customers can choose alternative products.

 

 

One of the OP questions is easy to answer (If Dell is going to come out with a new model) - Well of course they are.  The hard question is when.  We don't work for Dell so there is no way for use to know.

 

To Estero, that extra software that you complain about is a problem with me too.  But the fact that Dell gets a cut by putting them on the system kind of over rides our wants.

 

Part of the reason I posted my earlier message is with the hope that someone within Dell is monitoring this forum and the message will get back to someone who will take action.  There is no harm in trying!

 

Bay Wolf is correct; of course Dell will be coming out with new laptop models.  It is only a matter of time.  I had hoped the availability of new models would be timed to correspond with the release of Windows Vista, but it was not to be even though the "lead time" was sufficient to make this happen!

 

As to the issue of installing software on all computers whether or not the customer wants it, I understand the basic economics.  But, there is another issue that is sometimes overlooked; it gives Dell customers "one more reason" to shop elsewhere.

 

What ever happened to the Dell "business model" of building units to customer specifications?  Or, does that ONLY apply to hardware?

 

Is the income generated from the installation of the unwanted software on all units sufficient to offset any possible loss of sales or to cause customers to be unhappy?  I don't know!

 

A final issue with the installation of unwanted software.  Once it is installed, it is near impossible to remove all traces of it from your computer.  Even after it is uninstalled, there are many traces left deep within the bowels of the Registry.  This is one place where the inexperienced best stay away!