Windows 7, the latest operating system from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is expected to help jumpstart some IT spending. Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) also sees this happening. A new operating system often means a chance to upgrade from dated equipment that isn't worth upgrading, especially with favorable pricing for technology right now. Everything's coming together for a strong 2010 for the high-tech sector, so it's also worth watching Hewlett Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) and EMC (NYSE: EMC).
Dell, Inc. posts
FeedStars aligned for increase in IT spending
Can Dell be changed enough to be seen as innovative again?
Michael Dell of Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) has confirmed the launch of a Dell-branded smartphone sometime in 2010, one has to wonder this: why? Now that Dell has slipped to third place globally in terms of PC shipments, the computer direct selling pioneer now appears to be rather non-innovative, save for the Adamo paper-thin laptop PC that it keeps touting.Continue reading Can Dell be changed enough to be seen as innovative again?
Acer passes Dell to become world's second-largest PC maker
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) has perched precariously at the #2 spot among the world's largest PC manufacturers after larger rival Hewlett-Packard Corp. (NYSE: HPQ) passed it as the #1 several years ago.Continue reading Acer passes Dell to become world's second-largest PC maker
Dell promotes Salesforce.com, eager for a taste of consulting cash
Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) has a new champion: Dell (NASDAQ: DELL). The PC manufacturer is promoting the online sales force-enablement platform as a way to gain access to the hefty sums available in the technology services business. The deal would give Salesforce.com access to Dell's clients in the small and medium-sized business categories. Dell would sell Salesforce.com products and provide consulting services to help clients integrate the solution with their other enterprise applications. The dollars and cents of this union weren't disclosed.
Dell sees the margins of the services business and wants a piece of the action, particularly since the PC sector is low margin. Also, sales have been hit pretty hard as a result of the financial crisis. With PCs accounting for 60% of Dell's top-line, a bit of diversity isn't a bad idea. Currently, services account for only around 10% of Dell's sales.
Continue reading Dell promotes Salesforce.com, eager for a taste of consulting cash
Seven characteristics of the rich and famous: A blueprint to uber-wealth
A look at the lives of the Forbes 400 implies that the most important attribute is the ability to sift through ambiguity. Contradictions abound, meaning that shades of gray hold the answer to your burning desire for riches. Should you go to a great school? Well, yes ... but only if you're going for an MBA and plan to work for a major financial firm. But, you can still go to an Ivy League school if you're not studying finance but join Skull and Bones. Of course, dropping out of Harvard can be a great way to launch a career in the technology field.
It's tricky. There are no easy answers. But, the road to billions is littered with the corpses of aspiring magnates who thought it wouldn't be difficult. So, don't just read the seven attributes after the jump. Understand them. Read them twice. Then, your future financial situation will be assured.
Or, you can just do one of those chain e-mails and wish for wealth.
Continue reading Seven characteristics of the rich and famous: A blueprint to uber-wealth
Dell sees lower margins for July quarter; shares dive a bit
Even though Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is seeing a leveling off of slack demand for its computer products, the company also doesn't see any uptick in PC sales for its July quarter, according to the company. Dell will host its annual shareholder's meeting this Friday in Austin right outside its Round Rock, Tx. headquarters. Investors will most likely have plenty of questions about strategy at that time.Continue reading Dell sees lower margins for July quarter; shares dive a bit
Dell fights Taiwanese authorities over pricing mishaps
Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) recently faced something many e-tailers encounter in daily business: a pricing mishap on one of its web sites. In this case, it offered a large computer monitor for under $20 and a full-fledged $2,000 laptop for under $600. When customers started pouring in by the thousands to take advantage of the pricing errors, Dell simply canceled the orders, drawing outcry from Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission.
Continue reading Dell fights Taiwanese authorities over pricing mishaps
Dell wants to ramp up acquisitions to jumpstart growth
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL), which has been arguably pummeled in recent years by larger competitor Hewlett-Packard Corporation (NYSE: HPQ), is moving right along every quarter but definitely is not growing like HP is. The Round Rock, TX-based computer behemoth doesn't have the product and services portfolio HP has, and although it has launched into retailers in the last 18 months to great applause, it hasn't been enough. Dell is simply another brand of PC on the retail shelf. There is very little to no value proposition there. What to do?Continue reading Dell wants to ramp up acquisitions to jumpstart growth
Should Dell buy Acer to expand its PC sales?
Although Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is still the second-largest PC maker in the world, the company still seems to be working through a re-invention of itself after founder Michael Dell returned over two years ago. Larger competitor Hewlett-Packard Corp. (NYSE: HPQ) and a re-invigorated Acer have trampled on Dell's struggles to really turn itself around from a rather disastrous 2005 - 2006. So the question remains: what else can Dell do?Continue reading Should Dell buy Acer to expand its PC sales?
Wal-Mart and Dell team up to offer electronic health records to physicians
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) will hook up with PC maker Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) to enable physician offices across the U.S. to have electronic health record availability. It will also sell data information management systems to clinics and doctor's offices in cooperation with Dell. In other words, Wal-Mart may be planning to expand beyond traditional retail and into health care. Again.Continue reading Wal-Mart and Dell team up to offer electronic health records to physicians
Dell: we'll outsource every new product one at a time
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) indicated on Tuesday that it wold continue outsourcing what it could in relation to new product launches. As the company continues to try and save another billion in costs, Dell's CFO told an audience that "one new computer or server at a time" would be thrown to a manufacturing partner for production. What used to be Dell's bread-and-butter -- internal, made-to-order product manufacturing -- is slowly falling by the wayside.
Continue reading Dell: we'll outsource every new product one at a time
HPQ passes Dell as Intel's largest global customer
Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is no longer Intel Corp.'s (NASDAQ: INTC) largest worldwide customer. As of the end of 2008, competitor Hewlett-Packard Corp. (NYSE: HPQ) stole that crown away from Round Rock, Tx.-based Dell as the company continued hammering the competition in the retail PC business.Continue reading HPQ passes Dell as Intel's largest global customer
Dell set to introduce 0% financing to small businesses
Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is taking a page from the auto industry, as the computer maker has introduced 0% financing for its small business customers. The world's second-largest computer maker already has the promotion available for large business customers, but now anyone purchasing at least $25,000 worth of equipment can finance their Dell purchase with no finance charges.Continue reading Dell set to introduce 0% financing to small businesses
Dell hit by downgrade on PC market exposure fears
J.P. Morgan analyst
Why a downgrade now? Moskowitz indicated that 2009 will be a weak and turbulent year for the PC business, and Dell has almost every bit of its exposure in that area. From a market category perspective, the $700 laptop to the $10,000 corporate server -- and everything in between -- will get hit this year. Unlike competitor Hewlett-Packard Corporation (NYSE: HPQ), Dell does not have a division that can subsidize its PC business. Its only business is computers (of all kinds, of course). Moskowitz's ratings downgrade from neutral to underweight underscores this notion.
Continue reading Dell hit by downgrade on PC market exposure fears
Hewlett-Packard beats Dell in weekend sales at Best Buy
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) came in second to global PC sales leader Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) during the Black Friday shopping frenzy and the ensuing weekend, according to analyst firm Thomas Weisel Partners. The report, however, analyzed sales only at a single retailer, Best Buy Co. (NYSE: BBY).Thomas Weisel analyst Doug Reid indicated that holiday PC buyers were preferring Hewlett-Packard's PC five to one over Dell's PCs at the largest consumer electronics retailer in the U.S. While Reid's survey only looked at 35 stores, that's enough to generate a statistically legitmate finding. Reid went on to say that "Dell has significant work to do . . . the only negative comments in our survey with respect to brand were aimed at Dell, with survey respondents noting potential quality issues.''
Is Dell's retail strategy working as well as founder Michael Dell had hoped when he aggressively launched his retail strategy in the summer of 2007? Doubtful, and competitor HP has not stood still since that moment, and has actually increased its market share in retail with stylish designs, many configurations and aggressive pricing that keeps a large thumb on Dell's retail efforts. From looking at some of the top retailers this past three-day shopping holiday, HP's laptop offerings were certainly more numerous than Dell's. If that presence translates to more shelf space, then there you go.
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