Dell’s Digital Nomads: Worth A Look?

Dell launched a bunch of new laptops this week — yada, yada, yada — with a bunch of new features. As part of the product launch, Dell also introduced a new online community called Digital Nomads. Generally speaking, Dell has had a lot of success launching social networks for customers and consumers. But this time around, The VAR Guy is a bit more skeptical of Dell’s efforts.

First, let’s give Dell some credit: The company’s IdeaStorm Web site remains a fantastic community where visitors vote on product ideas, technology concepts and potential Dell business priorities. Dell’s decision to offer Ubuntu Linux on selected desktops and laptops largely came from the IdeaStorm community. Sweet.

Now, along comes the Digital Nomads site. To Dell’s credit, the site deemphasizes Dell’s brand and tries to drive conversation with readers. But does the world really need yet another social network? The VAR Guy is burning out trying to keep up with his own blogging empire, plus social network sites like AfterZiffDavis, AfterCMP, LinkedIn and FaceBook.

According to Dell:

“Digital Nomads is a community site for individuals that work or play without regard for their physical location. It is a place where they can come together to read about other digital nomads, share ideas, tips and tricks, and best practices, and read the latest nomad-oriented news. Digital Nomads live a lifestyle where their laptop and other electronic devices create the center of their office and/or play-space. Digital Nomads is Powered By Dell.”

These days, the best online communities have highly niche content. Or, they serve readers who have some sort of underlying need to connect with one another. The Digital Nomads community may have served a niche a decade ago. But these days, isn’t everyone a digital nomad?

Notebooks and smart phones easily outsell desktop PCs these days. Work is now an activity (wow, that’s a painful reality) rather than a location or a destination. Digital Nomads, in short, are the norm. They are everywhere. And therefore, The VAR Guy doubts they need an online community.

Chances are, those nomads are already hanging out in Starbucks or an Apple Store.

Of course, Dell has a habit of proving The VAR Guy wrong…