Dell Dock Software
Written by Simon Barker on July 9, 2008 · Filed under Review, Software, Tech
The Dell Dock is a new piece of software that is being installed on new Dell computer systems which provides a customisable navigational ‘shortcut bar’ to help tidy up your desktop and speed up your day-to-day tasks by making it easier to get to where you need to go on your Dell computer.
I had a bit of a play with the Dell Dock when I was at the Dell Studio Laptop launch a couple of weeks ago at a Silverstone Formula 1 testing day. I must say that it seemed very similar to the other ‘dock’ software that you can download and install yourself, not that it’s a bad thing if something works well.
Dell are obviously trying to enhance their customers’ experience of using their newly launched Dell Studio 15 and 17 ranges of laptops with this new feature which will likely be implemented onto other Dell models soon as well. Click the image below to see a more detailed view of the Dell Dock in action.
I think that it works well and is a worthy addition to your computer if you’re like me and your desktop has a tendency to get rather cluttered. Like anything I think if you’ve got a large monitor with plenty of desktop real-estate to make best use of this, it will only make this more useful to you as you can fit even more things onto the dock.
What do you think to desktop dock software? Do you use one? Would you remove it if you bought a new Dell computer with it installed?
Yeah… your right when you say it looks like every other piece of “dock” software on the market.
I think we’re going to be seeing more and more applications like this as developers and distribution company’s try to give the regular “average joe” users at home more bells and whistles.
Personally I would probably remove it in favor of something lighter weight, as I like to run as minimal as a system as possible. (I’m currently running debian linux with the fluxbox window manager…. whole running system around 112MB of used memory.)
All and all though… looks like a handy little piece of software. Nice article!!
Andos last blog post..Mircosoft in the Post Gates era.
how can I get the dell doc for my computer? No, it’s not a dell. But it’s not some other name brand, I built it. Show me some love, I am in the market for a new laptop…
@Kip – I’ve not tested this out yet myself (but have been meaning to as my desktop pc is one I built too), but I’ve heard that this is a good piece of software – http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/
I just purchased a new dellXPS 420. It came w/”the dock”. I don’t like it. Can I just “delete” it? Do I have to uninstall it? Is Dell trying to be a MAC? I like my shortcuts on my desktop… But I don’t need someone else’s shortcuts IN MY WAY.
@Carol – there is an option in the Dell Dock to not run the Dell Dock when your computer starts up (so you need never see it) or you can uninstall it from your computer’s Control Panel. I’d probably just stop it from running, then should you ever need it, it’s still there in future.
I like the dell dock option. I have a Dell laptop purchased in 2008, but it dod not come with this option. Can I add it????
Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
In answer to your question, yes you can indeed download and add it to your computer – I’ve just seen that there is now a Dell Dock website which has this toolbar available for download – hope this helps!
http://www.delldock.com/
Hi there,
I have Dell studio1537, and it came with Dell Dock installed on it.
The problem is, that when i start my Vista basic and the first thing i saw is Dell Dock error. I add shortcuts (Adobe masters CS4) and that’s all. So can you help me to solve this problem?
dell dock is effin sick im dl-ing it right now
Dear sir
Please send me solution for dell dock problem.
Dell Dock.. Don’t download it. To many problems…doesn’t want to work anymore and when I try to uninstall it… well it wont even do that! Tried to get help from dell support but that was a big waste of time. I liked it when it worked and then one day…poof! it doesn’t. Iv had win vista (Barf) and now updated to win seven (Barf X2). I hate to say this but Im seriously thinking about going back to win XP. or selling my pc and getting a mac. Thanks Microsoft you SUCK big time.
Dell Dock is a piece of garbage and it took me 90 minutes to uninstall it but it can be done. Easy path but the system will try to block you. Here it is:
If you want to remove the Dell Dock completely from your system, go to Start – Control Panel – Programs and Features. The entire application can be uninstalled from there.
…well, yeah, it’s a cool dock but, does anyone knows how to(if it’s even possible), to create subcategories?
…ok, I’m picky but, hey…
Stef
On my workplace computer, which I am using since one year, I have also this dock.
I thought it was a feature of Windows Vista, and I discovered that it is the DellDock only because I was disabling some unwanted services, I saw a process called DellDock and I checked in internet what it was.
I must say that in one year I have never used it, and I think it is time for me to disable it as well.
I can organise my tools by myself in the Windows Start button.