11/19, 5:25pm
Dell hurt by Acer, corporate fears
Dell today posted disappointing results for its latest quarter ended in October. The company saw its year-over-year revenue drop 15 percent to about $12.9 billion and its net income drop even further, falling 54 percent to $337 million. Both decreases were blamed on poor results both in the public sector and in its staple home PC business, where its shipments were up about 17 percent compared to a year earlier but its revenue was down 10 percent, an indication that many buyers were opting for less expensive PCs.
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11/19, 3:00pm
Dell Studio 17 Touch appears
Dell today quietly slipped the Studio 17 Touch into its lineup as its first touchscreen notebook. The 17-inch system adds multi-touch input and carries Dell's own suite of touch apps, such as its photo browser. Most of the design remains the same and is treated as a desktop replacement and media center hybrid with a 2.1-channel JBL speaker system and HDMI output.
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11/18, 6:20pm
Models offer color trim, two-sided printing, touch
Dell on Wednesday introduced six new inkjet all-in-one printers geared for home and business use. All of the models feature print speeds of up to 33 pages per minute in monochrome or 25 pages per minute in color. Monochrome copy speeds are claimed to reach 25 pages per minute, with color copies processed as fast as 21 pages per minute. All "w" variants feature integrated wireless connectivity, while an optional Bluetooth dongle can be connected to the USB Pictbridge port.
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11/18, 5:05pm
Intel suit contained mistakes, says ombudsman
The European Ombudsman has reprimanded European Union regulators on Wednesday for mistakes in its antitrust probe of Intel. In his report, ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros said the Commission failed to make a proper record of its meeting with Dell in relation to the Intel investigation. The note did not conclude whether or not the EU anti-trust body infringed Intel's rights of defense.
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11/17, 12:30pm
Adamo XPS ships Dec. 22, ready to order
Dell today at last began taking orders for the Adamo XPS teased over the past several months. The system comes in just one default configuration and color, arriving for $1,799 with a 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium. Contrary to earlier reports, the system will use just Intel's GMA 4500 graphics instead of NVIDIA hardware.
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11/17, 11:45am
Dell Minis to ship in bamboo packaging
Dell today boasted an industry first by becoming the first to ship its computers in bamboo packaging. The Mini 10 and 10v will have boxes made primarily of the more efficient material, which regrows much faster than the trees used for cardboard and is more easily renewable. As it takes as much stress as steel, it even provides more protection and replaces not just cardboard but also the foam normally used to cushion against an impact.
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11/17, 7:50am
Reliability study has Apple 4th place
A new study published by SquareTrade revealed that the smaller name brand notebook manufacturers are usually more reliable than their larger rivals. Of the top nine, ASUS has the lowest tracked breakdown rate with fewer than 10 percent of its notebooks failing in the past two years. Toshiba, Sony and Apple also have better-than-average performance and are either just over or under the same figure.
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11/17, 7:20am
Dell Streak would have US carrier deal
Dell's Streak tablet will launch in the US with a carrier deal for 3G, Taiwan's Commercial Times newspaper said on Tuesday. The normally PC-focused builder is reportedly working "in cooperation" with AT&T to launch the mobile Internet device next year on its network. It may also not be the only model as local manufacturer Qisda is tapped for a "lineup" and not just the one device.
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11/16, 11:30am
ASUS may buy Toshiba group to move up
ASUS could push its way to near the top of notebook market share by buying out one of its largest competitors, company chairman Jonney Shih reportedly revealed today. He hopes for ASUS to reach the top three in notebook builders by 2011 and says the company has talked to Toshiba about buying its notebook business. Nothing has been finalized, and it remains unclear how close if at all the two may be to a deal.
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11/13, 8:15am
Dell Mini 3 confirmed for Brazil, China
Dell today formally entered the smartphone race by launching the Mini 3. The full-touchscreen phone depends on a customized version of Android and will have different features based on the region. While most details aren't available, the China Mobile version will be limited to EDGE data but use the government-supported OPhone interface and app store. Other countries should get localized 3G and should also have Wi-Fi as well.
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11/12, 8:55am
Dell Zino HD uses AMD to undercut Apple
Dell this morning officially unveiled its most direct attempt at claiming the ultra-compact desktop space currently held by the Mac mini. Shown after multiple teases, the Inspiron Zino HD occupies roughly the same footprint as its Apple counterpart but uses AMD processors to keep the costs low while still supplying options its rival doesn't have. The micro PC is seen as a home theater PC and comes with native HDMI output as well as options of discrete Radeon HD 4330 graphics and a Blu-ray drive.
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11/11, 2:25pm
Apple makes rare inroads into Euro share
Acer and Apple are the two primary computer makers gaining share in Europe at a time when most are bleeding sales, Gartner revealed in a research note today. Acer extended its lead in the summer to 28.3 percent of the Western European market, or 4.73 million PCs, based primarily on its netbooks and full-size budget PCs. However, Apple was one of the few others to gain significant share and was one of the "biggest winners," along with Samsung, despite being outside of the top five in the region.
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11/10, 1:50pm
Dell ships fastest office color laser printer
Dell on Tuesday released three commercial workgroup printers meant for use by businesses. This includes the 5130cdn, which is being touted as the world’s fastest single function letter-size office color laser printer; the 7130cdn, Dell’s first LED color printer with tabloid-size printing capability; and the Dell 3330dn, a high-performance monochrome laser printer. The 5130cdn can print up to 47 single-sided pages and 37 double-sided, letter-sized pages per minute in either black and white or full color.
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11/06, 11:20am
Dell Android phone greenlit at FCC
Dell's Mini 3iX smartphone has edged closer to the US today with an FCC filing. While the phone itself isn't photographed, a label diagram confirms its identity as it identifies the handheld as a phone with UMTS-based 3G and Bluetooth.
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11/05, 1:00pm
Adamo XPS thinner, slower than Apple rival
Dell today officially launched the Adamo XPS, the highest-end version of its designer ultraportable. The system is championed as the thinnest notebook ever and measures just 0.39 inches at its thickest point. Dell accomplishes the feat by tucking most of the computer components into the display section and relying on a unique hinge that opens underneath and acts as a built-in prop . In spite of its slimness, the notebook still has a removable battery, two USB ports and DisplayPort output but also weighs slightly more than its MacBook Air rival at 3.2 pounds.
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11/03, 12:20pm
Consumer Reports marks electronics shops
Apple leads in brick-and-mortar retail stores but is no match for more universally oriented stores online, Consumer Reports says in its December issue (subscription needed for results). Of all major physical retailers, Apple scores the highest in a reader study. Although tied with Costco for an official 90-point score, it ranks highest through its perceived product quality, customer help and the ease of the buying process.
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11/03, 12:00am
Device similar to 3i launched in China
Dell's Android-based Mini 3iX has surfaced in Brazil with support for Wi-Fi and 3G UMTS/HSDPA on 850MHz, 1900MHz and 2100MHz bands, according to photos posted on the Brazilian site CelularCafe. The integration of 850MHz 3G components adds evidence to rumors suggesting Dell is planning to bring its Mini 3i smartphone design to the US market.
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11/02, 9:50am
Sprint's Dell Mini 10 with 3G
Sprint today confirmed a late rumor by launching a subsidized version of the Dell Mini 10. Its version has an internal EVDO Revision A modem for 3G access and should usually pull between 600Kbps and 1.4Mbps downloads in real-world conditions. It also appears to be the original Mini 10 reviewed here with a 1.33GHz Atom, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and Windows XP Home.
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10/29, 6:00pm
Apps on Win 7 PCs still slow vs Apple
A series of tests have revealed that even newer Windows 7 PCs are being bogged down by unnecessary software that makes them run much more slowly than Macs. Comparing factory versions of several notebooks versus clean models, PC Pro finds that Acer and Sony systems take about two whole minutes more to boot because of the "crapware," or third-party utilities and trial apps, preloaded out of the box. They also consume roughly 1GB more extra active RAM and also rob the system of as much as 2.4GB of space in Acer's case.
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10/29, 12:00pm
Sprint entering 3G netbooks with Dell
Sprint is on the verge of launching its own netbook deals with a model of its own, a source says today. The same insider that accurately leaked the provider's Any Mobile, Any Time plan now says a version of the Dell Mini 10 with built-in 3G data will sell through Sprint for $199 after factoring in a two-year data contract and a $100 up-front rebate. TechVi hears the system will ship November 1st and have the familiar 1.6GHz Atom, 1GB of RAM and 160GB hard drive of the Mini 10v.
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10/28, 9:25pm
Spending still modest compared to competitors
Apple's ad budget for its 2009 fiscal year surpassed $500 million for the first time, as noted in the company's Form 10-K filing with the SEC. Spending from 2008 was closer to $486 million, while the 2007 budget was approximately $467 million. According to Fortune, the Mac maker's marketing spending is still modest compared to the $1.4 billion spent by Microsoft or the $811 million dished out by Dell.
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10/28, 1:20pm
Microsoft Signature PCs arrive at retail
The Windows PCs at Microsoft's first retail stores are deliberately purged of the third-party apps they would normally carry, employees and eyewitnesses have confirmed. Product Advisor Jared Marino explains these systems, regardless of the brand, are considered Signature PCs and won't include any unnecessary third-party software. In exchange, they come preloaded with the normally optional Windows Live Essentials pack as well as extras like Bing 3D Maps, Security Essentials and the Zune client.
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10/27, 11:20am
Most PC firms making phones to flop
Of a recent wave of computer builders entering the smartphone space, only Apple is likely to have more than a small stake the market, Gartner research estimates today. The analyst group believes that "all" major PC firms will have signaled their intentions to build smartphones by the end of 2009 but that none of these will have more than two percent outside of the iPhone maker, even by 2012. Instead, most of the non-Apple growth will be left to traditional phone designers.
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10/27, 10:05am
Dell intros first multi-touch rugged tablet
After only a brief tease, Dell today formally unveiled the Latitude XT2 XFR. It's characterized as the first rugged convertible tablet to use capacitive multi-touch and is seen as ideal for use outdoors or at work where natural gestures, such as pinching to zoom into a map or flicking to scroll through a page, are more preferable to a pen. It nonetheless still works with a stylus and has a more outdoor-ready display that's more readily viewable in broad daylight.
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10/23, 2:55pm
Adamo XPS may still be slow
New rumored hardware details for the Adamo XPS suggest the system will be only a mild upgrade to the existing Adamo 13 that trades larger speed gains for its extra dimensions. The ultra-thin model should sit in between the two upgraded current models with ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processors between 1.4GHz and 1.9GHz versus the minimum 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo S in a challenger like the MacBook Air. The Engadget tips also claim the built-in solid-state storage will be less than for current Adamos with either a 128GB or 180GB solid-state drive.
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10/23, 12:40pm
Dell SX2210T brings multi-touch, webcam
After a leak and Japanese details earlier this week, Dell on Friday brought its SX2210T display to the US. It represents Dell's first dedicated multi-touch display and supports one- or two-finger input in operating systems that recognize them, particularly Windows 7. Regardless of platform, the 21.5-inch LCD is relatively high quality for a TN-based panel with an 83 percent color gamut and a 50,000:1 contrast ratio.
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10/23, 8:30am
Dell Latitude XT2 XFR surfaces with 3G
An FCC filing (PDF) from Novatel has revealed that Dell plans to apply its rugged XFR badge to a tablet PC for the first time. Titled the Latitude XT2 XFR, it would take the company's familiar 12-inch XT2 convertible tablet but harden the system for use outdoors or in more dangerous workplaces: the body would have extra shock-absorbing protection, particularly at the corners and the hinge. It would also have protected ports to guard against dust or water.
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10/22, 4:10pm
Dell shows off Adamo XPS in more detail
Dell as part of a low-key press gathering today showed its Adamo XPS in greater detail. Although most details are still secret, company representative Alex Gruzen has revealed that the system will use one of Intel's more powerful ultra-low voltage processors and not an Atom chip, as in the Sony VAIO X. Its 0.4-inch thick shell is also designed for the battery to be replaced, unlike either the MacBook Air or Dell's own Adamo 13.
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10/22, 1:15pm
Dell bring Inspiron 13z to Australia, Japan
Dell has brought its Inspiron 13z notebook to Australia and Japan, both with Windows 7. While basic specs differ slightly between the two offerings, buyers still get a 13.3-inch, 1366x768 resolution, LED-backlit screen and a choice of Intel's CULV processors.
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10/22, 9:55am
Inspiron One 19 runs 2.93GHz chip, Win 7
Dell used the occasion of Windows 7's launch to unveil the first all-in-one desktop since Apple's new iMacs. Showing initially in Japan, the Inspiron One 19 returns to an easel-like design and is meant as a faster alternative to a notebook without taking up much additional space. The PC carries an 18.5-inch, 1366x768 display and uses desktop processors that scale up to a 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo.
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10/21, 8:30am
Dell Streak MID will support multi-touch
Dell's rumored media tablet has been confirmed today by a leak from Vietnamese source Tinhte. To be called the Streak, the device will be almost exclusively controlled by a 5-inch, 800x480 capacitive touchscreen and should not only use Android 2.0 but support multi-touch gestures, including pinch to zoom. It should have 3G onboard and will even support calls, though the size means this will be a secondary role.
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10/20, 6:30pm
Monitor offers same tech as many all-in-ones
Dell has introduced its first touchscreen monitor, the SX2210T. The device offers the same basic specs as the company's SX2210 product, with a 21.5-inch panel and 1920x1080 resolution, but adds support for touch control. The optical touch technology can be used with a finger or stylus, with +/- 2.5mm accuracy across most of the screen area.
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10/19, 5:20pm
Dell Adamo finally gets Core 2 Duo S
Dell has quietly upgraded the Adamo 13 to better compete against other ultra-thin notebooks like the MacBook Air. The high-end Desire model reviewed here has had its ultra-low voltage 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo replaced with a much faster 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo S like that found in Apple's faster notebook. It has also had its solid-state drive double in capacity to 256GB and Windows 7 replace Vista as the stock OS.
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10/16, 2:05pm
Dell sees mini 3i, other mobile platforms
Michael Dell today on Thursday said in a public talk on Thursday that the company plans to bring smartphones to the US. While unspecific on details, he claims that any devices that show will be "family members" of the mini 3i from China. At least one will be based on Android, but he stresses that other open platforms are candidates.
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10/14, 7:45pm
Two leaders nearly tied in US distribution numbers
Dell's computer shipments have continued a steep decline, as competitors including Acer, Toshiba and Apple have gained market share. The latest data from research firm Gartner appears to corroborate many points from an earlier report issued from IDC.
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10/14, 6:05pm
Michael Dell says own netbooks poor
Dell's namesake Michael Dell in a talk late Tuesday criticized both his own products and Microsoft. Despite his company offering multiple netbooks, including the Mini 10, the CEO largely dismissed the category and said a "fair amount" of buyers are unhappy with them for both their smaller screens and slow performance. Many existing notebook owners in particular often come back disappointed as they lose what they liked about their larger portables.
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10/14, 4:30pm
IDC Q3 2009 has Apple, Acer as winners
Apple has successfully recaptured its fourth place spot in US computer market share, according to early estimates from IDC. The Mac creator had slipped in spring but should now have bounced back to claim 9.4 percent of shipments, or about 1.64 million Macs. The number is a rapid 35.2 percent growth in what it had shipped one season earlier and is a rare example of a sharp year-over-year growth in the current climate, as it represents an 11.8 percent boost over Apple's share a year ago, in summer 2008.
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10/14, 3:20pm
Toshiba unveils Win 7 PCs with no clutter
Toshiba on Wednesday updated its notebooks with Windows 7 and a rare promise among Windows PC makers. The company promises that all of its systems running the new OS, including its touchscreen models, will go without any icons on the desktop except for the default Recycle Bin. System performance should get a boost as the PCs will run as little software in the background as possible, in many cases only running anti-virus tools.
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10/14, 2:15pm
Acer to pass Dell, near HP in 2010
Acer president Gianfranco Lanci at a press conference today predicted that his company would "finally pass" Dell for market share within six months. The company lead expects to have more overall share than Dell by the end of winter 2010 and credits it directly to better sales and the resulting financial health. Where Dell has seen falling profits, Acer expects its profit during the summer to have grown 14 percent compared to a year earlier, to about $106.8 million.
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10/14, 1:05pm
AT&T offers first full-sized notebook from Dell
AT&T on Wednesday struck a deal to provide 3G for a full-size notebook. Its version of the business-oriented 15.4-inch Dell Vostro 1520 notebook ships with an embedded 3G connection to AT&T's HSPA network for data access. Other than the link, buyers will also get around-the-clock hardware tech support.
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10/13, 6:10pm
Intel marks best sequential growth ever
Intel today says it recorded one of the best fiscal quarters in its history and owed it almost exclusively to notebooks. The chip maker generated $9.4 billion in revenue during the summer, an eight percent drop from a year earlier but a sharp 17.5 percent jump from this spring. The surge is the best the company has seen in the past 30 years, Intel says.
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10/12, 5:45pm
New laptop design takes on Apple's MacBook Air
Dell on Monday offered two new product shots of its upcoming Adamo XPS" ultra-thin laptop. The highly stylized laptop, which was unveiled in early September, is thinner than the Apple's revolutionary MacBook Air--under 10mm thick. Although few details have been disclosed, the ultra-sleek laptop appears to rely on a unique, underside hinge to reach its dimensions.
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10/07, 4:20pm
Second leak has Dell Mini 3i fighting iPhone
Dell's US-oriented Android phone will land on the same carrier as the iPhone when it ships, a rumor asserted mid-Tuesday. Unidentified tips from those "familiar with the plans" claim the Mini 3i will be tied to AT&T and should reach the network in early 2010. Talks are reported by the WSJ as underway with other US carriers, though which networks are involved and the amount of progress in negotiations aren't clear.
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10/07, 12:30pm
Dell outs MLB and OPI notebook designs
Dell as part of its special event today upgraded its Design Studio edition notebooks with two design lineups. A Major League Baseball set gives most Inspiron, Mini and Studio notebooks a custom lid with artwork featuring a team logo. "Classic" versions put the logo in small form with a textured solid color; "Fan" versions have a large logo, while "Die-Hard" covers nearly the entire lid with logo-themed graphics.
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10/07, 12:05pm
Adamo XPS briefly teased in real world
Dell at a press gathering today briefly offered an in-person look at its Adamo XPS ultraportable. True to its teaser graphic, the system is overall thinner than the MacBook Air it's designed to compete against (0.4 inches maximum) and appears to rely on a unique, underside hinge to reach its dimensions. As with very early Adamo and Inspiron 11z teasers, the company didn't provide any specifications or release information.
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10/06, 10:45pm
Dell's smartphone may be upgraded for US
An apparent scoop suggests Dell has decided to bring its Mini 3i to the US after all, but not in its original form. A contact claims it's due in the "next few months" but that it will be an upgraded version of what was shown recently in China. Build quality should improve, but it would also upgrade from a 3-megapixel camera to a 5-megapixel model.
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10/06, 3:45pm
Study shows Mac users resistant to Win 7
Despite Microsoft's ambitions, only a small portion of the existing computer base is likely to jump ship for Windows 7, a new Retrevo study found today. About 12 percent of existing Windows users plan to upgrade their existing PCs to the new operating system, and 47 percent plan a "wait and see" approach before making their decisions. Mac users are also largely unswayed by the release with only three percent indicating they might change platforms.
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10/06, 10:05am
NPD positive on back-to-school PC sales
Back-to-school notebook sales were as strong as ever this year but skewed in favor of cheaper systems, the NPD Group said today in a new study. About $1.6 billion of the $7.6 billion spent between late July and mid-September went directly to notebooks, or about as much as was spent last year despite ongoing economic problems and rendering them "recession-proof." However, the revenue came at the expense of system prices: while more systems were sold, the average price of a school notebook fell from $804 last year to $624 this year.
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10/05, 6:35pm
Sony VAIO X may be ready in November
Sony's VAIO X ultralight could be ready next month and have a second notebook follow along if a rumor tonight proves true. The 1.5-pound notebook would ship in November, according to CrunchGear, and would be a direct replacement for the VAIO TT. A strategy of the sort implies it will use a low-voltage Core 2 Duo, which would support Sony's claims of extra-long battery life.
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10/05, 4:35pm
Dell Vista PCs to ship with Windows 7 for free
On Monday, Dell has began offering buyers the choice to hold off on receiving their desktop or notebook PCs until Windows 7 becomes available. The computer maker is not only offering a free upgrade to Windows 7 on any PC it sells with Windows Vista as part of its new Windows 7 Free and Easy program, but offering to perform the switchover itself. This means any PC sold will, at the buyer's request, ship to them with Windows 7 right on the new operating system's launch date of October 22nd or very soon thereafter.
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