I wondered how long it would take for B.L. Ochman to say something about Dell Ideastorm after Dell Hell - what she went through with her last laptop.

It took one week!  OK, here's what she said:

"…Basically, customers make suggestions about Dell products and the community moves the topic with the most points to the top of the page, a la Digg. The site claims that the community has contributed 1628 ideas and generated 2777 comments.

I don't know if that will make Dell's lousy service any better, but it shows they want to listen, and that's where recovery can begin.

I'm typing this on my iMac, which I have come to love. I am sooo happy to be rid of Dell and Microsoft. You see, it's true what they say: "Once you go Mac, you never go back."

Whenever I think of a Dell laptop - I remember her story.  I think the social networking, Digg like stuff is good - but like she says, there's "image" and then "substance".

We may buy "image" but we want "substance"; what's real. 

At the end of the day, less burning and dying laptops would help - plus the customer service could be better - but then, what do I know….I'd never buy a Dell and I've never owned one.