Dell's support site is available at: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen (or just http://support.dell.com will do.)

---

A visit to Dell's support site reveals the following title:

The driver download process is as follows:

1. Click Drivers and Downloads
2. Enter service tag of system
3. Select OS, set various 'category filters'
4. Download your driver

The problems start at step 2.  Until very recently, Dell thought it would be amusing to hide the Dell Service Tag sticker on the back of the system.  It's also available on the front top or side of the machine on a sticker the size of a postage stamp.  The font used on this service tag ensures that anyone a day over 40 is unable to read it properly.  0 and O can be confused (if you don't know any better) and I and 1 can also be confused.  I know they don't use BOTH of these letters, but the people reading them don't; they assume its one and the website promptly spits an error, or returns a system they don't own.

Now that you've managed to return the 5-6 cryptic letters by stretching rather uncomfortably to the back, you click "OK" and are ready to start downloading drivers.  Only at this point, you're informed that you have a "Dell Inspiron 4000 Series" or "Dell Optiplex 745" or some such nonsense.  (I've blocked out my service tag here.)

"Use the category filters above to narrow your results" it instructs.  But I've already selected the appropriate information.  It's already filtered.  Why do I still have 50 items to choose from?  A scroll down the page reveals:

(This is just an example: There are LOTS of firmware upgrades for an Optiplex 745, apparantly.)

You see, when I ordered this system, I ordered an NEC-6550A slim 8x DVD+/-RW drive, and a Philips DROM6316 HH SATA DVDROM, and a Philips SCB5265 slim 24x combo drive, and a Philips SDR089 slim 8x DVD, and a Philips SDVD-8820 Slim 8x DVD+/-RW, and...  When you ordered YOUR system, you probably ordered an nVidia GeForce 6000 series, an ATI x1300, AND an Intel GMA graphics accelerator.  Modem?  You have 6 modems in your computer, you see.  All 6 Broadcom reference chipsets.  You have both an Intel NIC and a Broadcom gigabit NIC.

So here's the question: The website provides a link to view "original system configuration" (as shipped) - so why isn't the list of drivers available automatically sorted, based on the factory configuration of the system?

The problems continue.  I don't like using my browser's download facility; I prefer wget (Win32 style, naturally).  See that link on the right? "Download now"?
Here's a sample URL it returns: http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/downloads/en/downloads_splash?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~mode=popup&file=104072

That spits an HTTP 500 - Internal Server error when loaded without context.  Why not just link me to the FTP?  Why must you redirect me?

Did you know: The problem with this site is the lack of education for the user.  You see, this page is "too complicated" because users "aren't properly educated."  So let's put a help video on the side:

Couple this with some nice Javascript popup windows, some ugly Flash videos with examples on how to change your OS, and you've clearly solved the problem of poor functionality in your code.  Educate users to deal with your bad UIs.  Click here: http://i.dell.com/images/global/support/flash/tutorial/driver_and_download/final_tutorial.htm  I particularly like how the aspect ratio is maintained in the screenshots, maximizing readability.

This support site isn't so hot.