Click here to find out more! Dell needs a homerun with its fall line-up of consumer desktops and laptops

dell-1Dell is hoping to score a comeback with its latest line-up of consumer laptops and desktops for the fall selling season.

The Round Rock, Texas-based company is one of the first to unveil its new fall season computers, the first of a number of releases that are coming in time for the Oct. 22 launch of Microsoft’s new Windows 7 operating system. We can expect to see waves of new computers this season, which is a critical period for many computer makers, including Dell, that are counting on a big turning point in the recession.

If consumers go for these machines, then all will be well with the computer business. But if these designs fail to inspire consumption, there’ll be a lot of disappointment. Dell is counting on corporate consumers to start spending again in 2010, but it needs consumers to carry the burden of buying during the rest of this year.

Today, the company is launching new models in its Inspiron laptops (pictured above) and Studio XPS desktops. The Inspiron 14z uses several versions of Intel’s mainstream microprocessors and an Intel GS45 chip set with up to eight gigabytes of main memory. That’s pretty beefy hardware for a machine that will be touted for its energy efficiency. But the attention grabber will be its sleek look and one-inch height, since fashion is starting to matter more with PCs.

It uses the AMD Mobility Radeon HD4330 graphics chip and has built-in WiFi. The models come with a 14-inch high-definition dsiplay and a 6-cell Lithium Ion battery that can last more than eight hours under light usage. It weighs 4.4 pounds with a DVD drive and is one inch thick. The Inspiron 15z comes with a 15.6-inch display, weighs 5.1 pounds, and is similar in most other features. Both come in black or red. The keyboards are designed to let consumers make better use of the function keys.

Studio XPS 8000 Desktop with PeripheralsThe Studio XPS 8000 and 9000 desktop models (pictured) are the new top-of-the-line desktops for consumers. These machines carry the XPS label that was once targeted at gamers but now means Dell’s top model for computer enthusiasts. (The Alienware brand is now the sole Dell brand for gamers). These machines are focused on entertainment: they have the new Intel Core i5 processors, though you can upgrade to the new Intel Core i7 processors. They have the Intel P55 chip set, up to 16 gigabytes of main memory, a choice of AMD Radeon HD 4350 or Nvidia GeForce GTS240 graphics, and a choice of a standard DVD read-write drive or a Blu-ray drive. The machines have the Cyberlink MediaShow Espresso software for fast video conversion and an HDMI port that can connect to a variety of monitors. You can access a media card reader and universal serial bus ports the top front of the machines.

You can pay extra to get an Nvidia 3-D glasses bundle to give a 3-D effect for games and other apps, if you also have a Samsung 120-hertz 3-D display. Dell’s decision to include this as an option means the technology is getting more acceptance now, but I still think it has a long way to go. Dell’s computers are available in 43,000 locations now. That means the once direct-shipment-only company is no longer religious about its distribution model.

So far, Dell’s comeback from its foibles of a few years ago is going well. Last quarter, the company increased its unit shipments worldwide by 17 percent, though revenues were down 9 percent from a year ago. Dell has more models coming through the month of October. But these new models set the tone for its new design approach: sleek designs, good performance, energy efficiency and choice. We’ll see if consumers find it appealing enough.














source:venturebeat.com/2009/09/08/dell-launches-fall-line-up-of-desktops-and-laptops/