Dell’s Vostro and Security Issues
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Walt Mossberg, one of the technology writers for The Wall Street Journal, has an interesting review of Dell’s Vostro machine. Here are two statements from the Mossberg review:
“…Now, Dell is making another interesting move to better address the market. It has introduced a new sub-brand of computers intended for perhaps the most poorly served segment of computer buyers: Really small businesses with 25 employees or less that have no full-time IT departments.
The new Dell line for these very small businesses is called Vostro…”
Later, in that same review, Walt Mossberg notes:
“…there were some surprising omissions on the Vostro that I tested. There was no security software, not even the usual 90-day subscription. Dell notes that you can opt to get the 90-day subscription free of charge and buy a 15-month security package for $79. It figures that many small businesses might already have access to security software. But because this is a necessity, installing it after the fact could be a hassle.”
link: Little to Praise About Dell’s Computer for Small Business
Isn’t this a recipe for security disasters? This Dell line is intended for businesses with little or no technical support. However, there is no security software. Does Dell expect that these small companies would have the computer expertise, besides whatever business they are operating, to place the necessary security on the machine? It seems as though that is a huge assumption. In the ‘plug and play age’, many of these small enterprises will be focused on running their business. If the expectation is that the machine has basic security protection, then that would be a mistaken assumption - and possible formula for a future security calamity. Perhaps Dell includes a warning precaution with the Vostro…
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/
Tags: dell, security, vostro, review, walt mossberg
4 Comments
ellay
August 26th, 2007
at 7:51pm
Oh, please. Dell listened to what this market segment wanted and my voice was among them. Right now we need the option to go with Vista or stay with XP - Dell said okay.
Right now we need the option to have antivirus or install our own - Dell said okay.
Adobe Acrobat or none - Dell said okay.
Extra bundled software or none or pick and choose - Dell said okay.
If anyone walks through the configuration process on the Dell site, you will quickly see that Dell has done a great job here and has not in the least downplayed the need for protection. On the contrary, we are no longer made to suffer a trial subscription of anything we don’t want.
Perhaps a walk through the Dell buying process might be an enlightening experience for the writer.
P.S. I have no particular Dell bias and don’t own a Vostro … yet.
KevinNYC
September 25th, 2007
at 12:30am
Yeah, Walter Mossberg’s review is pretty dumb. People have been asking for optional antivirus for years, especially after suffering through preinstalled versions of Norton Antivirus that often caused problems on removal because Norton often didn’t do a full uninstall.
winston lawrence
October 13th, 2007
at 8:54am
I agree with the other comments. Dell did listen and providing an option to not infest the new computer with a lot of crapware is a great idea. Most of us, small business or no are NOT buying our first computer or using the internet for the first time. Whether we want to use one of the commercial packages or install one of the perfectly useable free alternatives the choice should be up to the consumer and thank you Dell for listening and count me in as a soon to be new Vostro 1700 series purchaser.
TheChairman
December 11th, 2007
at 12:21am
As a home/small biz operator AND having worked as an IT consultant, I’ll say this: the segment to which this model is targeted is probably more aware (of ‘risky online behavior’) than some low-level corporate droid clicking away in a cubicle somewhere in the bowels of MegaBiz Inc.
Who was more likely to open that ‘dancing baby’ email? Yep, the typical employee of a large company who just thinks: “IT will fix it for me. They quickly learn ‘IT’ will rescue them from their folly… with little consequence.
A small business is held to higher accountability and knows it’ll co$t TIME.
Furthermore, my recent observations regarding PayPal, Visa/MC, and other ‘big companies’ gives me little (if any) faith in corporate IT security!
I agree with a prior post, Dell has done a great job of making it a logical and simple task to configure a new system online, and offers several security options. You can get exactly what you want… or don’t want.