Dell announces free SoundBaster Audigy Advanced MB upgrade for Vista

Doug Peeler, a Dell Audio Engineer has posted on Direct2Dell.com ..."Later this month, we plan to offer this software to customers via download for free." Keep in mind, he means it'll be free for Dell customers who purchased it previously with Windows XP.

The software Doug's referring to, is a Windows Vista version of the "SoundBlaster Audigy Advanced HD Audio *Software Edition*" also known as "Audigy Advanced MB".

It's not an audio driver. It's a suite of tools for enhancing and working with the audio on your Windows XP loaded notebook or PC. In this case, it's intended to be installed on certain model Dell notebooks and PC's that have certain Sigmatel (a company recently purchased by IDT) audio chips, also called codecs.

Note: If you are a Windows XP user, there is also a separate DRIVER also named "SoundBlaster Audigy Advanced HD Audio" that has to be installed A) after the Sigmatel audio driver, and B) before the XP version of the software suite of the same name.

If you'd like more info, and to see the original post by Doug, you can check it out here: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/04/05/10661.aspx

And let him know how much we appreciate the info and work Doug has put into getting this done.

Info Update on Dells Sound Blaster Audigy (invitation) Advanced MB "upgrade"

This post is for all the Dell customers with Windows XP and Sigmatel STAC 9200 audio who have:

• Upgraded to or will be upgrading to Windows Vista
• Purchased Dells integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD audio *Software Edition*
• Downloaded the Sound Blaster Audigy Invitation from Dell for Windows XP
• Need "stereo mixer" (aka: What You Hear) in Windows XP with their Sigmatel 9200 audio

Note: I do not know if this applies to other Sigmatel audio codecs (chips). I am however going to look in to it.

This week, Dell made a couple of announcements which I'll boil down here:

#1) Dell customers who are Windows XP users with Sigmatel STAC 9200 codecs (chips), will find that a future Sigmatel driver update from Dell, will enable "Stereo Mixer" functionality in Windows XP. This will not require the Audigy upgrade. Dells own community forum liaison "Rollie" made the initial announcement in the Dell Community Forums. However, there is not yet a definitive date when this long expected functionality will be made available. If you absolutely require this functionality now,

#2) Lionel Menchaca from the Dell blog Direct2Dell.com has announced that there will be a Windows Vista version of the Sound Blaster Audigy MB software which is also known as the "Creative Audigy Invitation" or the "integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD audio - Software Edition." As I understand it so far, this version is currently being provided for free to only customers who meet specific requirements. This post by Lionel explains more: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/02/28/7088.aspx

Now, for Windows XP users who cannot wait for the new driver mentioned above, there are a few posts in the Dell Community Forums that may provide a "try at your own rick" solution. Many people are finding it useful until a Dell sanctioned solution is made available. Here is a link to the primary post in the thread concerning this issue: http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_audio&message.id=30151 and a few key terms to further search the forum for more info and solutions would be: monitoring, stereo mix, audio ini

I'll update further details as I research and confirm them.

Dell Support came through this week...

This is copy of feedback I posted on Dell's Blog at www.direct2dell.com. Here's a link to the original post: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/01/23/5124.aspx#comments

"Congratulations on the recognition you're receiving for the ongoing improvement in customer/technical support. I'd like to relate a mostly positive experience my wife had with Dell technical Support this past Sunday.

On Sunday night, my wife had the opportunity to take advantage of the Complete Care warranty she has on her Inspiron E1505 notebook. All that was required, was a replacement keyboard, which yours truly would install for her. No need to ship the notebook anywhere, no need to send a Dell technician. Lucky her, I'm sufficiently qualified to handle the task.
So my wife chose to use the online web-based Dell Support chat.

Initially, it looked like she was about to have another horror story to tell. The technical service reps records weren't accurately reflecting her Complete Care warranty status. Whooops. But, the technician did a little more digging, and while the warranty was valid, my wife was asked to check back the next day, so the record could be updated accurately.

The next day, she tried again, and with little fuss, the new keyboard was shipped. Today, my wife is happily tapping away on her notebook.

The End.

I brought this story up because just a year ago, from experience, I believe she would have had to go through a series of headaches to get the account record updated. And from there convince a support rep to ship a keyboard, and not insist the whole notebook gets shipped back to Dell.
So, I see the improvements occuring, and I welcome the continued efforts Dell is making to improve their quality of service.

Also, I have always found that the support reps English skills have always been far better typed than spoken. While I prefer using the phone to get an issue addressed, Dell's online chat support has consistently been an easier method to communicate more complicated problems to support reps. But, I'm glad to hear that phone support is improving. Kudos.

Regards,

-WhatsUpDell"

Long Blog Posts

Some people have been contacting me via E-mail and otherwise to say, "Your posts are too long!" Jeremiah has intimated the same about comments I've left on his blog.

Simply put, this is a new blog I've created after a series of events occurred, that I wanted to speak out on, in a short time, in some detail, without spending a week breaking it up into 20 bloglets. Sort of like that sentence.

I'm also not overly concerned about getting my blog "out there." If the content is worth it, people will link. The point is for me to speak out. Good communication involves considering the receiver of your message, but the posts I've made so far aren't the focus of my blog overall.

Also, those who've contacted me about the length of my posts, read them all. They noted their opinions, and appreciation for my message(s). And, I get theirs.. summarize more.

So no worries. When I really want to communicate broadly, the message will be short, sweet, concise, and won't waste any ones time.


-Ryan/DL

Crapware Free PC = $60 more? Not Exactly. CES Roundtable with Michael Dell

During the roundtable discussion with Michael Dell at the Consumer Electronics Show, the conversation foreseeably turned towards crapware.

Briefly, crapware refers to unwanted programs that come pre-loaded on your computer or laptop. Many consumers would prefer they have a choice at time of purchase as to what actually comes loaded on their PC.

In quite a few blogs across the net, authors are referring to a $60 amount for the OEM removal of crapware. So, I wanted to explain where that $60 figure came from, as I'm the one who stated it in the first place. And, after reading this post, check out the video of the entire event that Jeremiah posted, so you get the full context.

Michael asked what he referred to as a controversial question. He inquired about how much extra we'd be willing to pay, to get a system free from crapware.

So I answered $60. Why? Because over the past few years, $60 is a rough estimate of what I know a great many non-technically inclined or busy people have paid someone else to "clean up" their new PC. Yes, this is very unscientifically based on personal experience.

So, it roughly equates to a breakdown of time verses rate of pay for the tech that does the work.

An experienced tech tends to charge $30 to $35 per hour for this type of work. It usually takes them less than 2 hours to complete, and they don't always format the hard drive. Some may not even reinstall a clean version of Windows. They may just uninstall what's unnecessary using a variety of utilities for the task, then get on with securing the system and configuring it. Usually though, they'll at least delete the Windows directory and reinstall the OS.

Less experienced techs, technically inclined college kids.. etc charge less per hour, but usually take longer to complete the work. (...Yes...Yes, I know some of you are very smart and get the work done quickly and better than the "pro's." You can put your head down again and go back to sleep now... shhh... that's good... you need your sleep...)

They often opt to completely format the hard drive. Then, reinstall the operating system, applications, and reconfigure the system to the customers needs. This usually runs them 4 to 6 hours, at a rate of $10 to $15 per hour, barring unforeseen problems.

These are estimates based on personal knowledge of what local techs in NYC charge, and their methods and levels of experience. Also, through interaction with people I encounter casually and through business, I learn what they pay said techs. This doesn't include electronics retail chain based services, which charge a great deal more for the same, and in my opinion often less competent work.

Now you know where the $60 figure came from.

I just wish inaccurate sensationalist reporters and bloggers would stop blowing this figure out of proportion. For example, Justin Mann's irresponsible post title, "Dell says $60 to remove free software." Dell never said that in the way the title infers, and Justin never clarifies this detail. Here goes another sensationalist pushing his own agenda without checking the facts.

The real story is that Michael Dell jokingly, said "SOLD!" when I mentioned $60 in answer to his question. It was with good humor, and not financial intent. Sure, I think his company would accept it in a heartbeat if they could, but he WAS joking at the amount. He was obviously well aware it's a sensitive issue. Bash Dell for what they actually do wrong, there's enough of that going on. Leave the fallacious hysterics out of it. You just make all bloggers look bad.

Remember, the more facts we provide, the better the chance they may actually fix the issues we're addressing.

And just a thought. Does anyone really think Mr. Dell appreciates the timing of his question, let alone his own response, after the backlash of crapware blog topics that followed? I'm rather convinced he's long since gotten the message, we want the crapware gone, and we don't want to pay more to see it go.

Unfortunately, too many busy, lazy or technically disinclined people still add that $60 to their total cost of ownership, and would likely pay *some* amount up front to save themselves the time it takes to find a tech to do the work. Hell, many people pay $10 or more for the Windows CD, when they're already paying for the Windows license. But that's an issue for a different post.


-Ryan/DL

And now back to Dell...

A lot happened this past week, and a lot more is going on. I'm working on my next Dell specific post. It may not come until late Tuesday. If so, have a nice weekend and check back then.


Regards,


-Ryan/DL

Will the Professional Bloggers please chill out, please chill out, please chill out. . .?

Note: if you read the previous two posts of this blog, some of my comments below will make more sense. Also, this is a rant, pure and simple. A bunch of Professional Bloggers behaviour sickened me as a person, consumer, a reader of their blogs, and someone who blogs non-professionally. Not all of them behaved this way, but enough of them did to warrant this post. I encountered them after being invited by Dell to a roundtable meeting with other Dell customers, bloggers, and Michael Dell. And yes, I left some details intentionally vague. Also, not all of the Professional Bloggers I am talking about were the ones at Dells rountable. If you read this and don't think it applies to you, it likely doesn't. The last statement at the end of this post is very telling...

If you don't want to read the whole rant, here's the summation: I observed a number of well known Professional Bloggers behaving inconsiderately, for the purpose of sensationalism, to create news, be the news they create, then blog about eachother, in order to self-indulgently promote their medium, their industry, themselves, and their sites. Tabloid journalism has *nothing* on these guys, and I wouldn't blame corporate america from locking their doors to every other professional blogger after this. (Though I know they won't, sensationalism works.)

Does that mean what they do isn't valuable? No. Both consumers and corporations benefit from the sensationalistic hype, and information these bloggers relate to their readers. However, it's now evident to me, that many of these individuals have gone beyond having a voice, to being narccisistic PR tools. They overlook details that would benefit their readers and the public in general, but not the companies they've been granted exclusive access to. In the trade-off, I believe they've lost the qualities that made them great reporters, which maybe they never claimed to be or aspired towards being, but many people see them as none the less. Which leads directly to my point...

we shouldn't mistake bloggers for reporters. Journalistic integrity has been a joke for decades now, but the Professional Bloggers I observed this past week have taken integrity and human consideration and stomped on it in exchange for their capitalistic dreams. -> But hey, it's America and chasing your dream means stepping on everyone else, right? <-That's sarcasm

So, this week at CES, I felt as if I were a wide eyed, wanna-be actor, experiencing the reality of Hollywood's dark side for the first time. Except I am a blogger, if non-professionally,and the industry that has left me bewildered, offended, and disgusted, is that of the Professional Blogger.
I don't mean Corporate Bloggers who represent their company online. I also don't mean the enthusiastic guy or gal who still blogs to have a voice. I mean the self-indulgent, cliquish, and in my opinion... completely misguided Professional Bloggers. Sure there are exceptions, but I met fewer of those at CES this year than I did the self-interested scene whores. (Boy am I in for it now.)

So, why did I feel the need to spaz out over this and make myself a target? It's simple.. After meeting them, I hate myself now for having enjoyed their work for so long. Don't worry, I don't have the temperament to torture myself over it. So, I'll get over it after I have my say.

Now, to their credit, I didn't experience direct rudeness. But I did suddenly feel like I was back in HS, and standing next to some snobby clique of self-appointed elites. The reality though, as I saw it, was a group of snarky, flippant, self-indulgent, inconsiderate and irresponsible individuals milking a potential cash cow of a new industry. Some of them may still be decent people, some may still be decent bloggers, but the rest... are only interested in promoting their industry and their sites, to the exclusion of all else. Truth, facts, real news, and personal consideration fell by the wayside of promotionalism, sensationalism, and the behaviour of a horde of electronic tabloid gossip mongers.

And as I haven't named names, if you're taking offense by this point, then you know who you are. Don't assume I'm talking about you, but if the shoe fits.. I can think of some things you can do with it, other than wearing it, or kicking me with it.

A large part of my point here is that when I saw these people "work" and then saw the resulting blog posts they produced, it made me sick to my stomach. They were too busy *being* the news, to report a great deal of valuable information that consumers, readers and most other people could have benefited from. So, am I going to report this news I believe they overlooked? Yes. With a few exceptions where taking my thoughts directly to the source will get the issue addressed far more expediently and benefit everyone by it. Then I'll report it once the problem has been resolved.

So I challenge the Professional Bloggers who have been busy challenging and ridiculing companies that don't otherwise compensate them for positive feedback. The challenge is to go back to when your tone of voice spoke volumes about improving industries other than your own. When you were a consumer crusader over issues you honestly thought were wrong, and not just sensationalistic. Go back over your notes, video and audio recordings and see where you can most benefit your readers in ways other than infotainment.

And I say this because... Professional Bloggers are now being let into government offices, courtrooms and other venues where traditional media outlets were the sole eyes, ears and voices of the public. Your integrity as a person, and a professional matters. You have access to the movers and shakers of the business world and entertainment outlets. Don't sell the rest of us out to get there.

Oh, and when you don't want to be overheard talking about other people, don't whisper at the volume of a low shout around the corner of a crowded hallway. It could have waited until you got back to the bloghaus, really.


End Rant.



-Ryan/DL

Dell Lied comes clean on WhatsUpDell?!

I believe I should share two issues some people may consider questionable about my blog, the Dell CES trip, and my commentary.

First off, the name I've been referring to this blog in my head, and now online has been "What's Up Dell?!" I realize after drafting my first post that I thought I had seen that title before. So, I went searching.. and crap.. I found it..

http://www.podtech.net/blog/blog/1526/dell-roundtable-video-is-up-do-you-think-michael-dell-will-blog-in-2007

in this post, a title suggestion for a video blog Michael Dell may or may not ever do was "What's up with Dell". Yes, I read that post earlier in the day, and now I'm not so sure if the authors suggestion influenced me, or if I had the title in my head from last night. I'm sure it was the latter, but coincidence sucks. And, maybe I heard it at the conference.

So, at this point I haven't changed it. Now, do I just go with the old mantra of "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery", or do I rip up the roots of my work on this blog and redo it? Or, do I extend myself to someone who may be insulted by my future posts? I'll post a link to here in the authors comments and see what his opinion is. I have some harsh words for a few of the "pro" bloggers that were at the roundtable with Michael Dell. So, I don't exactly want to start off being considered a plagiarist, intentionally or otherwise.

My second issue, is related to my trip to the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) via an invitation from Lionel Menchaca from direct2dell.com. I was chosen as a frequent responder to Dell's Blog posts. And don't assume all my posts are nice and favorable to Dell. Some are when it's deserved. The rest, well... I'm the guy that established the website titled "I Believe Dell Lied". Anyway, Dell flew in a small group of their customers/forum members/bloggers to attend a roundtable discussion with Michael Dell. And some people at the conference repeatedly inferred that we were being compensated with gifts, gadgets and computers to take home. It wasn't true. Here are the facts:

While I spent 5 days/nights in Las vegas, Dell did NOT pay for the entire trip. Both my wife and I were planning a vacation to Florida, for around the same time the invitation for myself alone was extended. So, I paid for the entire trip to Vegas out of pocket. I have not received compensation from Dell for the trip, but I will be reimbursed for some basic expenses, not the whole trip. See below for what they're covering.

Also note, I did not come back with a grab bag full of SWAG from Dell, or any other type of physical compensation other than a full belly from a group dinner, a Dell related social mixer, and a hand full of receipts I have to submit. I joined the Dell events to provide feedback, and that's what I did. You'll see it in the video link I post below.

As I said, I do have arrangements with Dell, to recover the basic expenses that if I had gone alone, would have gotten me:

• To the airport - car service
• To Las Vegas - airfare for myself only, coach, cheap tickets, 1 layover. I booked them, then upgraded on my own dime when 1st class was available. Sadly, upgrades were only available on 1 of the flights, and to reflect that I wasn't abusing Dells offer to cover my tickets we did not book direct flights, so it was over an 11 hour trip from New York to Las Vegas due to connecting flights in Dallas. Thank heavens my wife doesn't mind flying.
• To the Las Vegas hotel (taxi)
• Two nights hotel (Monday/Tues) out of the 5 nights we stayed, because those were the two nights/days the invitation was extended for.
• Moderate breakfast/lunch allowance.
• Moderate dinner allowance for Tuesday night, as Dell provided dinner on Monday.
• Taxi fare to and from the convention center.
• A CES pass for myself only to access the Dell events (I didn't pay for this, it was provided at Monday nights dinner.) Which left time only for Dell events scheduled all day Tuesday, plus maybe 2-3 hours to wander around CES.
• Taxi fare back to the airport.
• My airfare home, not my wife's. (same as above)
• Taxi home.

Does that sound like a lot? It costs quite a few $$$$ to do it all, but if my wife and I hadn't turned it into a mini vacation, it would have simply been only me, a flight into Vegas Monday afternoon. Dinner, back to the hotel for sleep, morning Dell events, afternoon Dell events, evening Dell events, maybe catch a show or enjoy Vegas on my own dime for a few hours, then back to the hotel, sleep, catch flight back to New York. In other words, a short and cost effective business trip, to get feedback from a vocal customer.

Am I complaining about the money? Hell No. I appreciated the opportunity, and that is why I accepted and changed our travel plans. So, I'm only stating that some comments made at the convention were inaccurate about what Dell was doing "for" the attendees, such as myself. In all honesty, we were close to being second class, even third class citizens in the mix of events. But, I'll explain that in another post.

OK got it now? What I got from Dell was a chance to speak out in person. No free computers or gadgets. No frills or other opinion altering compensation. A nice casual dinner on Monday night, which I think we all enjoyed was about it. We were basically invited down to provide feedback, then flown back out again. Not to get loaded down with gifts in order to shut us up or change what we say about Dell. Which is the way it should be. The only downside was that we didn't have enough time with Michael to get into a relaxed, decent conversation. 45 minutes, along with a group of professional bloggers focused on their own agendas, that was all. And below is the link to the video shot by Jeremiah Owyang and hosted on PodTech where a group of professional bloggers, Dell customers and Dell forum members, get to address Michael Dell in person. I'm using links to this video, because I haven't yet received a copy of the footage that Dell arranged to shoot at the roundtable.

and yes, I can be heard, but not seen making pointed comments and asking a question or two as well. It looks like my side of the table wasn't visually recorded. Or, maybe I looked like crap and they're being nice by not showing it. Hell, I had about 90 minutes sleep ove 2 days.. Vegas baby...Vegas...

-Ryan/DL

Ryan from DellLied.googlepages.com explains...

Welcome to What's Up Dell?! The purpose of this blog is to address issues and share my thoughts that are unrelated, or new to the specific incident(s) that kicked off the I Believe Dell Lied website and blog. I was recently an invitee of Dell's to join a roundtable discussion with other Dell customers, bloggers, Michael Dell and Lionel Menchaca. It occured at CES and my first few posts here may be related to that event.

So, why a whole new blog? Well, primarily the other two sites provide information that a great many people have been E-mailing me to say they find valuable. It's going to take me some time that I don't have just yet, to work out how to consolidate that information without losing the elements that are helping people, and allowing them to easily find the site. Experience tells me that a wrong, even minor, change on a site can bury it in search engine results. Or, change its value to readers. Somehow I did something right, and for now I'll leave it that way. The purpose of the DellLied site was to inform people about a specific issue, and it does. So now, What's Up Dell?! is here to express my thoughts, on whatever else my interaction with Dell brings along.

Also, along with a number of other Dell customer and bloggers, I attended the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), to meet Michael Dell - CEO and Founder of Dell Inc., Lionel Menchaca - Digital Media Manager and lifeforce of Dells company blog Direct2Dell, as well as a number of other key Dell figures. And, of course... give them some feedback, in person, about my experiences with Dell, as a customer. I'm still absorbing the experience, and I'll post my reactions soon.

So, if you want to see what went on at the roundtable with Dell, check the next post on this blog.

And, I hope you find some value in what I have to say on WhatsUpDell?!, because I may very well piss a lot of people off with my directness. That isn't my intention, but I guess that's the risk of voicing ones opinion in a public space.


Regards,


-Ryan/DL