Dell reverses it’s position on offering Windows XP
April 21st, 2007 Posted in Blog Post, NewsPC World reports
Dell bowed to pressure from customers and dumped its Vista-only policy for consumer PCs by adding Windows XP as operating option on half-a-dozen machines.
Dell now offers Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional on two Dimension desktops — the E520 and E521 — and four Inspiron laptops, the 1405, 1705, 1505 and 1501.
According to the article, feedback received via their Ideas in Action page prompted Dell to rescind their Vista-only policy on new computer sales.
On Thursday, Lionel Menchaca, Dell’s manager of digital media noted the reversal in another blog entry. “After Tom West’s post that said Dell would offer Windows XP on systems for small business customers, many Direct2Dell readers have commented or sent e-mails asking us to bring back Windows XP for home users as well. Today, we’re doing that.”
This change in policy is currently only being offered to US customers so international customers may want to chime in as well.
Seems like 2007 is the “Year of the Customer” at Dell, first Linux gets added to the line-up and now XP gets reinstated. I think this will only go so far. Don’t get used to pushing around a multi-billion dollar corporation, folks. Sooner or later Dell will have to make decisions which will upset customers and no amount of squeaking will get you greased.
2 Responses to “Dell reverses it’s position on offering Windows XP”
By JohnP@Dell on Apr 24, 2007
Hi John,
Thanks for spreading the word about Dell offering consumers an OS choice. You’re right, of course, that we can’t say yes to every customer idea submitted to our new feedback site ( www.dellideastorm.com ) but we are listening, evaluating and taking action on as many as we can, as quickly as we can. Safe to say this Web 2.0 initiative is quickly becoming permanently ingrained into the way we do business.
By John on Apr 24, 2007
Thanks for commenting. I think it’s great that Dell is offering more choices to it’s customers. I may have come across cynical (now that I’ve read the post again) but I’m actually glad that Dell is listening to it’s customers but I also am a realist and know that a company like Dell has to keep their stockholders happy too. It’s a fine line that has to be walked.