Dell, Inc.

Dell, Inc. {{nasdaq|DELL}}, a company based in Round Rock, Texas, manufactures and markets computer-hardware (mostly Intel/Microsoft Windows-based workstations and portables). The marketplace perhaps associates Dell Computer most with the personal computers it designs, manufactures and sells for home and office use, but Dell also operates in the enterprise computing market with servers, data storage devices, network switches and computer cluster lines. Personal digital assistants (PDAs), software and peripherals (including printers) round out Dell's product offerings.

Products and services

Branding

Dell markets its products under many model names, such as:

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• OptiPlex - office desktop systems
• Dimension - consumer desktop systems
• Latitude - commercially-focused laptops
• Inspiron - consumer laptops
• Precision - high-performance office desktop systems and laptops
• PowerEdge - larger corporate servers
• PowerConnect - Ethernet switches, hubs, and routers.
• PowerVault - storage-oriented hardware: tape arrays and disk arrays
• XPS - gaming gear
• Axim - PDAs utilizing Microsoft's Windows Mobile

The corporation markets certain brand names to different consumer segments. It typically sells the OptiPlex, Latitude, and Precision names to medium-sized and large business customers, where the company's advertising emphasizes long life-cycles, reliability and serviceability. The Dimension, Inspiron, and XPS brands have an orientation towards consumers, students, and small home office environments, emphasizing value, performance and expandability.

Related Topics:
Consumer segments - Business - Life-cycle - Small home office

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Dell recently re-introduced the Dell XPS brand to target the lucrative gaming market. Dell XPS desktop systems use silver (rather than the black cases found on newer Dell PCs).

Related Topics:
Dell XPS - Gaming

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Software and operating systems

Dell computers are available with the following software options:

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• Microsoft Windows XP
• without pre-installed software Dimension n Series Desktops http://www.tgdaily.com/2005/10/04/dell_offers_/index.html http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/hardware/0,39042972,39273933,00.htm (any other system on request)
• Mandriva Linux (on request, Latitude series only, others by end of 2005)
• Red Hat or SUSE (servers only, others by end of 2005)

Dell sales personel has been instructed to deter customers from choosing a Windows-free configuration which means one may have to order it through a higher level sales person.

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When choosing the Microsoft Windows option, Dell bundles a large amount of software, including promotional software and spyware-like software. Dell's technical support team has supposedly received instructions not to support de-installation of the controversial software.

Related Topics:
Spyware - Technical support

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Dell openly supported offering Apple Computer's upcoming Intel version of its Mac OS X operating system, but to this point Apple has stated the OS will only run on Mac machines.

Related Topics:
Apple Computer - Intel - Mac OS X - Mac

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Non-computer products

Dell has expanded into non-computer products, including the Dell Digital Jukebox ("Dell DJ") (a portable digital audio player), USB keydrives, LCD televisions, Windows Mobile-powered PDAs, and printers.

Related Topics:
Dell Digital Jukebox - Digital audio player - USB keydrives - LCD televisions - Windows Mobile-powered PDAs

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Support

Dell outsources most of its technical support work to the Indian company Infosys, which also handles outsourced work from other multinationals.

Related Topics:
Outsources - India - Infosys - Multinationals

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Dell International Services functions as a support division of Dell.

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In 2004, in an effort to improve support, Dell opened a pilot-project of Dell-owned/operated technical support operating out of Edmonton, Alberta. Supporting both Dell and non-Dell hardware and software, this site has quickly begun taking over from outsourced call centers.

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Customers can reach the technical support department through the company's main United States contact number: (888) 560-8324.

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