Dell to launch high-end PCs

K9 Carlos · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 7:00 am Post subject: Dell to launch high-end PCs

Atlanta Journal/Constitution wrote:

San Francisco � Now that it dominates most segments of the personal computer business, Dell Inc. wants to create a new one.

This fall, the world's biggest PC maker plans to introduce a "premium" brand of high-priced personal computers aimed at affluent buyers.

Dell Vice President Mike George said the new line will include high-powered, entertainment-focused home desktop and notebook computers likely to cost $1,200 to $3,500.

The current average price of a desktop PC was $859 at the end of 2004, technology research firm International Data Corp. said

The high-end Dell computers will come with a unique design, multimedia features for home entertainment, and what George called "white glove" service.

That might include preferred status on Dell's telephone or Internet-based customer service lines, or even service house calls.

George compared Dell's planned products to what Toyota did with its Lexus line. He declined to say what the new brand will be called but said it will be in addition to Dell's current Dimension and Inspiron desktop and notebook lines.

"It's our attempt to capitalize on this emerging idea of a mass luxury market," George said in a meeting with reporters here.

IDC analyst Roger Kay said the idea might have appeal.

"I question Dell's ability to bring out something distinctly different and positioned better than what they already have," Kay said. "But it's not making a poor gamble that some people's hubris will lead them to buy what they think is a premium PC.

"If you tell them it's [nicer] and it comes with a butler, you might just find they're willing to pay for it," Kay said.

The premium PC idea isn't new but now is limited mainly to niche players in the market.

Apple Computer Inc. customers are willing to pay extra for the company's unique designs, software and other features.

So are customers of Alienware, which specializes in high-performance, different-looking computers for video game enthusiasts and others.

With its new high-end computers, Dell � which also sells some of the cheapest computers available � will round out its offerings.

But more important, the Round Rock, Texas-based company hopes the premium line will give it a new source of potential profits in a business in which margins have become thin recently.

Also with an eye toward high-end customers, Dell officials said Thursday they plan to introduce at least three new digital television models this fall, complementing its current line of five televisions.

Tim Peters, Dell's vice president for printing and imaging, wouldn't give specifics, but said the new TVs would be bigger than the models Dell currently offers and would be priced lower than comparable models available today.

'It's going to be great for consumers," Peters said, noting that overall digital television prices are expected to decline by about 30 percent over the next four years, in part because of new factories starting up in Asia.

Dell already claims it sells TVs more cheaply than anyone else because it gets better prices on flat-screen glass that it also uses for computer monitors and because it sells directly over the Internet or telephone, avoiding retail markups of 30 percent or more.

As a result, according to George, Dell's 42-inch digital TV model sells for less than $3,000, compared with $4,000 or more for a comparable TV at a typical electronics retailer.

But while Dell may be able to undercut some competitors, relatively few consumers know the company for its televisions, George acknowledged.

To counter that and step up competition against market heavyweights such as Sony, Toshiba and JVC, Dell plans to launch a marketing campaign for TVs this fall in time for the holiday shopping season.

"That's our big focus," George said. "It's going to be TVs, TVs, TVs."

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-=|CT|=- K9 Carlos

SupaFly wrote:

barreling axe is like throwing a hot dog down a hallway these days

Quote:

I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was going to blame you.

2shoes · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:29 am Post subject:

i can see the call logs now

PC OWNER umm my device manager says i have a conflict in my raid host controller
DELL have you changed the batteries on that controller
PC OWNER theres a battery?
DELL well ya how else do you change the channel
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Sparrow wrote:

...if pirates stays on bf1942 i'd hate to see the community grow even smaller, but i know i'll always be around and i hope the rest of you will too!

Special Jimmy wrote:

This mod is rightfully ours, and fuck everyone that stands in our way.

fair winds and following seas, lil shoes 8/3/94-6/23/09

SupaFly · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:44 am Post subject:

lol shoes.... thats too close to true.....

but arent they talking about the XPS systems?? or is this even newer?
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Wang Chung · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:28 am Post subject:

Yerrrgh .. uhh.. I see plently of Dell equipment in that price range? This doesn't make much sense ... maybe they're gonna go above and beyond to oust Alienware or something like that?
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is now -=|CT|=- Frothy Mixture

ChrisT · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 3:14 pm Post subject:

Yea I think they are g2 do some "ALienware" type stuff, thats what he means, i reckon
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