Dell Unveils New Mike Ming Masterpieces on Studio Laptops

Enhancing personal expression and style, Dell today launches five bold and contemporary Special Art Edition designs for the Dell Studio 15 and 17 laptops, exclusively created by urban artist Mike Ming. Building off of the inaugural Ming art work for the Inspiron 1525 laptop, Dell extends its offering with new designs that showcase Ming’s fluid organic style.

• Abstract Art Provides New Level Of Personalization For On-The-Go Technology
• Five Exclusive Urban Designs Now Available Worldwide On Studio 15 And Studio 17 Laptops

New unique designs for the Dell Studio 15 and 17 laptops include “Red Swirl,” “Seaweed,” “Sunburst,” in addition to the previously released “Bunch O Surfers” and “Sea Sky.” Each piece of artwork is brought to life through Dell’s revolutionary manufacturing technique, enabling every vibrant color and individual brushstroke to be permanently “tattooed” on the laptop’s cover.

The Special Art Edition Dell Studio laptops are available for order today, starting at US$799.
Dell’s Studio 15 and 17 laptops are highly personalized products that combine aesthetics and technology into a fresh approach for hi-def mobile lifestyles. These laptops combine sleek designs, striking visual color elements and personalization options with features such as standard built-in webcam, capacitive touch media control buttons, slot load drives, and optional mercury-free LED displays, backlit keyboards and built-in mobile broadband.

Brooklyn-based artist Mike Ming (born Michael Miyahira) blends popular culture, motion and emotion to communicate his visual world. According to Ming, "The technology behind creating Dell's Art House series of laptops allows me to share my visual creations with people who are inspired by art and who want to express their own individually unique sense of style."

“It’s exciting and fun discovering new artists around the world who can create emotional ties, uniqueness and personalization with individuals’ personal technology,” said Michael Tatelman, vice president of global consumer sales and marketing at Dell. “The Special Art Edition designs reflect our customers’ desires to add another level of individuality to everyday life.”

Dell Takes Business Laptops to New Latitudes

Inspired by close collaboration with nearly 4,000 IT professionals and end users, Dell today announced a completely new line of Latitude and Dell Precision laptops, ranging from the lightest ultra-portable in the company’s history to the most powerful mobile workstation.

• Sets Business-Class Benchmarks for Weight, Design and Durability
• Breakthrough Battery Life: Up to 19 Hours on a Single Charge
• Previews Dell Latitude ON technology: Access to E-mail in Seconds
• Halogen-Reduced System

The new Latitude systems provide breakthrough battery life, brilliant new design and style - including a choice of five colors.

“Since 1995, we’ve shipped more business laptops worldwide than anyone,” said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell. “This, and our 5 million plus conversations a day with customers, gives us real insight into the needs of the digital nomad. Today we’re translating that insight into breakthrough productivity, portability and design. The new Latitudes are breathtaking.”

Dell’s re-engineered Latitude lineup answers a wide range of user profiles:

• Ultra-Portable - Dell Latitude E4200 is a 12.1-inch laptop that starts at 2.2 pounds, making it the lightest commercial notebook in the company’s history. The 13.3-inch Latitude E4300 has a starting weight of 3.3 pounds1. Designed for road warriors and executives who demand maximum performance and light weight, the systems will be available in the coming weeks.
• Mainstream – The Dell Latitude E6400 and E6500, available today, are 14.1- and 15.4-inch laptops that start at $1,139 and $1,169, respectively. The systems are ideal desktop replacements for high-performance users.
• Essential – The Latitude E5400, a 14.1-inch notebook, starts at $839, and the E5500, a 15.4-inch notebook starts at $869. Available today, the systems include everyday features at a cost-effective price.
• Semi-Rugged – The Latitude E6400 ATG is a 14.1-inch semi-rugged laptop that starts at $2,399 and will be available next week. It is built and tested to meet Military 810F standards for dust, vibration and humidity.
• Desk-Based - From new port replicators to full docking solutions that fit any usage scenario with smaller footprints and streamlined cabling, users can “hot undock.”

Personalize Your Latitude

Dell will offer colors for the first time on Latitude laptops. In addition to Mica-Brushed Metal, the Latitude E4200, E4300, E6400 and E6500 will be available in Regatta Blue, Regal Red and Quartz Pink (E4200 only) in the coming weeks. The E5400 and E5500 are available in Matte Black.

“The new Latitude laptops and Dell Precision mobile workstations represent the largest client product development effort in the history of Dell,” said Jeff Clarke, senior vice president, Dell Product Group. “We’ve invested more than 1 million engineering hours and the result is a family of head-turning products that are as solid on the inside as on the outside, with features that enable better security, manageability and productivity.”

Incorporating a wide range of new technology, Dell’s new Latitudes feature:

• All-day computing on the E6400 with breakthrough battery life of up to 19 hours;
• Full-frame magnesium alloy construction and all-metal hinges;
• Sophisticated keyboard design;
• Ease of use with Dell ControlPoint, centralizing control of user settings for power management, connectivity configurations and security management in a single application;
• First business-class laptop with an intelligent backlit keyboard that automatically adjusts to ambient light levels;
• Exclusive ControlVault solution – intelligent security sub-processors with embedded non-volatile storage that centralizes and helps protect user credentials and security keys in a single hardened security “vault” away from the systems main drive;
• The E6500 is the only laptop with both a contact-less Smart Card reader and a fingerprint readers that complies with Federal Information Processing Standards; and,
• Simplified IT with compatible peripherals, adapters, docking and robust manageability features across the entire portfolio.

Access E-mail Instantly, Without Booting the OS

The company also previewed Dell Latitude ON, a new technology that will enable near-instant access to e-mail, calendar, attachments, contacts and the Web without booting into the system’s main operating system (OS). Expected in the coming months on the Latitude E4200 and E4300, Dell Latitude ON uses a dedicated low-voltage sub-processor and OS that can enable multi-day battery life.

Revolutionizing Mobile Workstation Performance

Dell, the world’s No. 1 workstation supplier, also unveiled a new line of ISV-certified Dell Precision mobile workstations targeted at performance-oriented customers in the engineering, media, entertainment and biosciences industries. Available today, the details include:

• Dell Precision M4400 – Starting at $1,569, the 15.4-inch mobile workstation features leading-edge graphics and supports up to 8 GB of RAM.
• Dell Precision M2400 – Weighing 4.77 pounds, the company’s lightest mobile workstation is a 14.1-inch system that starts at $1,449.
• The company also introduced a 17-inch mobile workstation concept that revolutionizes mobile performance. Housed in an orange, anodized aluminum chassis, it supports up to 16 GB of RAM, a 1 GB graphics card, upcoming quad-core processors and up to a terabyte of storage on two drives. This doubles the amount of memory and processor cores, and triples the storage available on Lenovo and HP mobile workstations today.

Green on the Go

The new Latitude mainstream and ultra-portable laptops, as well as Dell Precision mobile workstations, are available with Energy Star 4.0-compliant configurations and meet EPEAT “Gold” rated configurations. The Latitude E4200 is Dell’s first notebook offering a motherboard containing halogen-free laminates, as well as halogen-free chassis plastics and fan housings. The ultra-portable laptop also ships in packaging that is up to 99-percent recyclable by weight.

Mobility Services

All of the new products are also available with Dell’s ProSupport Mobility Services, a suite of modular services that help companies protect assets and data. To protect confidential company information, Dell can also automate data encryption on all laptops and centrally manage company-defined security policies in a way that is transparent to the end-user. Dell’s Desktop Manager service allows IT to track dispersed systems, distribute software, manage patches and enforce IT policies.

New Community for Digital Nomads

Coinciding with the introduction of Dell’s new laptops, the company launched a new community site called Digital Nomads. It is designed for individuals who are not defined by the four walls in their office or home, but by a desire to always be connected for work and play no matter their location. Community members can come together to read about other digital nomads and share ideas, tips, tricks and best practices.

Dell to Use Twitter for Global Mobility Event

Dell will answer questions from reporters and customers in real-time online during a global news conference Tuesday unveiling the company’s new generation of mobility products.

Users of Twitter, a free social networking and micro-blogging service, will be able to ask questions about Dell’s new products and the company will “tweet” the answers. Tweets are text-based posts up to 140 characters in length.

Dell is among the first major companies to offer reporters and customers the opportunity to ask questions on Twitter during a live news conference. The company will provide live updates online from the event in San Francisco, and from media events in London and New Delhi, India.

Dell Helps Customers Manage the Data Explosion with Microsoft SQL Server 2008

• Dell continues its long-standing work with Microsoft on the release to manufacture of Microsoft SQL Server 2008. SQL Server 2008 delivers a complete data platform that is designed to help customers maximize the benefit of the next generation of data-driven applications. Following a successful free beta offering of SQL Server 2008 earlier this year through Maximum ASP, a provider of infrastructure and hosting services for Microsoft solutions, Dell will soon be selling SQL Server 2008 as a worldwide OEM provider via Dell Software and Peripherals and select OEM channels. In addition, the free trial supported by Maximum ASP will remain available to customers for several more months to assist with the adoption and integration of SQL Server 2008.
• “As Microsoft’s largest partner for the last three years and counting, we have worked to help early stage adopters deploy SQL Server 2008 in their environments,” said Rick Becker, vice president, Dell Software & Solutions. “With the release to manufacture of SQL Server 2008 today, we look forward to providing an even broader range of customers with a robust platform for managing their data.”
• SQL Server 2008 delivers on Microsoft’s data platform vision and benefits Dell customers in four primary areas areas:
  — Redefining Pervasive Insight
  — Mission Critical Platforms for All
  — Dynamic Development for Data Management Solutions
  — Beyond Relational

“SQL Server 2008 is the best release yet of our mission-critical data platform for running enterprise applications, business intelligence and data warehousing” said Dan Neault, General Manager, SQL Server Marketing at Microsoft Corp. “For this release, we are delighted to have Dell’s proven hardware solutions available for our ever increasing community of mutual mission critical customers. These customers will reap great benefits from our enterprise-level scalability, reliability and performance with a simply outstanding value proposition.”

Dell Meets Carbon Neutral Goal Ahead of Schedule

Dell has met its carbon neutral goal ahead of schedule, achieving a major milestone in its commitment to be the ‘greenest’ technology company on the planet and fulfilling a pledge to operate efficiently, maximize investment in green power and responsibly offset remaining impacts.

• Green Energy Investment Covers 100 Percent of Global Electricity Use
• Partnership with Conservation International Preserving Madagascan Forest

“We’re driving ‘green’ into every aspect of our global business,” said Dell Chairman and CEO Michael Dell. “This includes setting new standards for energy efficiency and green power, delivering environmental and cost savings for customers and aligning key growth priorities with our focus on preserving our shared Earth. Every company can join Dell and the ReGeneration in this long-term commitment.”

Dell met its goal early by implementing an aggressive global energy-efficiency campaign and increasing purchases of green power, verified emission reductions and renewable energy certificates. Since 2004, the company’s annual investment in green electricity from utility providers, including wind, solar and methane-gas capture, has grown from 12 million kWh to 116 million kWh, an increase of nearly 870 percent. Earlier this year, the company announced that its global headquarters campus is powered by 100 percent green energy.

Dell today also announced that it is making additional investments in wind power in the U.S., China and India. Combined with green electricity purchases from utility providers, this equates to 645 million kWh and the avoidance of more than 400,000 metric tons of CO2e.

The company is already saving more than $3 million annually and avoiding nearly 20,000 tons of CO2 through facilities improvements and a global power-management initiative.

“I want to thank our employees for working so hard to make this possible,” said Mr. Dell. “As always, our work is only getting started and this has never been more true than our focus on green.”

Dell is also partnering with Conservation International on a habitat and forest preservation initiative in the Republic of Madagascar. The company will help protect more than 591,000 acres of tropical forestland threatened with destruction, preventing more than 500,000 tons of CO2 from going into the atmosphere over the next five years.

“We commend Dell on its climate leadership and for showing how well-designed forest protection projects can generate such compelling environmental and social benefits,” said Peter Seligmann, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Conservation International. “By reducing its own environmental footprint and protecting forests, Dell is addressing the major drivers of climate change – energy use and deforestation - while also delivering significant biodiversity and community benefits.”

Dell currently ranks ahead of HP, IBM and Apple in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership Fortune 500 registry and is working alongside utility and government partners to encourage greater supply of green energy.

"Dell's success in meeting its carbon neutral goal in less than a year is impressive and should serve as a model for other U.S. companies to follow," said Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres, a leading coalition of investors and environmental groups that worked closely with Dell on its climate change strategy. "The company's commitment to boost the energy efficiency of its operations and its green power purchases before focusing on carbon offsets is the right approach for achieving carbon neutrality."

Strategies for a Low-Carbon Future

Dell announced its carbon neutral goal and a commitment to achieve that goal. Today’s announcement marks the achievement of that goal five months ahead of schedule.

The company is also setting a new industry standard by helping customers and suppliers achieve their own environmental goals. In June 2007, the company announced that it would require primary suppliers to report CO2 emissions data during quarterly business reviews. Dell was the first IT company to join the Carbon Disclosure Project’s Supply Chain Leadership Coalition to help suppliers with emissions reporting.

Earlier this year, Dell became the first major computer manufacturer to list an 80 PLUS Gold power supply for servers. Dell’s new 80 PLUS Gold power supply meets July 2009 Climate Savers targets for servers more than a year ahead of schedule, which require 92 percent minimum efficiency for the power supply unit at 50 percent of rated output. The company was also the first major computer manufacturer to list an 80 PLUS Silver-certified power supply for desktops. Last month, Dell launched its first “hybrid” PC.

Based on worldwide unit sales beginning in 2005 with power-management features enabled, Dell estimates that OptiPlex desktop systems alone have helped customers save more than $2.7 billion and avoid approximately 26 million tons of CO2.

In September 2007, Dell announced “Plant a Forest for Me,” a program enabling organizations worldwide to share best practices and, as partners, facilitate the planting of trees in sustainably managed reforestation projects. Partners include AMD, ABN AMRO, Ask.com, CGI, Staples, Salesforce.com, Targus and WellPoint.

All's well End's well 2009 Movie

It has been 16 years since the original All's Well End's Well was released in 1992 and the film's success was continued in the sequel, which was just as well received in 1997.

At a press conference today in a Tsuen Wan shopping mall, film-maker and star of the films Raymond Wong announced that a HK$4 billion investment will be put into making the 2009 version of the family comedy.

Raymond was joined by the film's executive producer Clifton Ko, director Vincent Kok and confirmed cast members Sandra Ng, Louis Koo and Ronald Cheng for the event. He revealed that the location shoot would take place in China's Qiandao Lake and there are two more female cast members that are yet to be confirmed. Raymond added that he would love for original cast members Sheila Chan and Teresa Mo will also take a cameo part in the new movie.

Asked whether or not Stephen Chow or Maggie Cheung will be appearing in the third instalment, Raymond said frankly that this would be rather difficult. He added that he felt very fortunate to have convinced Sandra to agree to this project, because it would not have gone ahead without her participation.

Sandra laughed that Raymond had put on a charm offensive when she went to his company to discuss the role, asking her if he was still good-looking enough. She smiled that one of her conditions for taking part was to have a male co-star that was at least as handsome as Louis, so she was very pleased to hear that she will be playing Louis' partner in the film.

Louis revealed that his character will be helping to tend to people's wounds and he will be appearing in a swimsuit, but the thought of it was making him nauseous. He said that he would have some intimate scenes with Sandra, but in line with the genre of the film, it will be comedic rather than sexual.

Ronald said that he has only ever worked with Louis in a short film, so he is looking forward to creating some new sparks with him in the film. Asked if he was worried about any awkwardness caused by rumours linking Louis to his ex-girlfriend Miriam Yeung, Ronald said that he does not allow these things to affect him.

Dell Strengthens Laser Printer Portfolio and Services

Dell announced three new color laser printer models and enhanced its printer services with a collection of ProSupport, installation, and recycling options. With more and different offerings, Dell plans to address broader audience needs with business-valued feature improvements. Dell anticipates doing the same with its monochrome laser printers later this year.

• New Products and Services Address Broader Customer Needs
• Energy Efficient Models Deliver Competitive Printing Performance, Low Total Cost of Printing and Outstanding Business Value

“We have enjoyed great sales success with Dell 1320c which was launched last year,” said Tim Peters, Vice President and General Manager for Dell Imaging, Displays, Software and Peripherals. “The introduction of new color laser printers and services helps us address the printing needs of more customers who are looking to Dell to deliver competitive printing performance, total cost of printing, value and services.”

New Models, More Product Categories

• Dell 2135cn Multifunction Color Laser Printer — The Dell 2135cn MFP is a new category entry primarily for Small Business and Small Office/Home Office with low-mid volume usage. With a print speed of up to 12 pages per minute (ppm) color and 16ppm monochrome and easy-to-use copying, scanning and faxing features, the Dell 2135cn MFP can replace multiple office devices and help businesses conserve resources, save energy and provide exceptional long-term value.
• Dell 2130cn Color Laser Printer — Coming soon, the Dell 2130cn is a new product category that fulfills the growing demand of small and medium size businesses looking for an affordable, high speed color printer solution for their everyday printing needs. With a high print speed of up to 16ppm color and up to 20ppm monochrome, customers can get razor-sharp color print-outs quickly without leaving the office. Optional accessories such as duplexer, 250-sheet paper drawer, network protocol adapter and wireless printer adapter are also available for more demanding printing environments.
• Dell 3130cn Color Laser Printer — Available later this month, the Dell 3130cn is a high- performance networked color laser printer designed for small and medium businesses and larger workgroups. With a print speed of up to 26ppm color and 31ppm monochrome and up to 70,000 pages maximum monthly duty cycle, the 3130cn provides superb, affordable color printing and features to address mid-to-high volume printing across virtually any networked environment.

Each printer comes with a standard one-year Limited Hardware Warranty, Advanced Exchange, or one-year Limited On-Site repair service following phone or online Remote Diagnosis. Optional Standard Service and ProSupport Service upgrades are also available.

High yield toner cartridges are offered for all three models. These toner cartridges not only reduce user-intervention required to replenish toners but also deliver outstanding printing cost per page that are as low as 1.4 cents for black-and-white and 9.4 cents for color on the Dell 3130cn. Total cost of ownership can be up to 22% lower than a competitive offering on Dell 2130cn.

Additionally, all three models include the ability to continue printing in black-and-white after a color toner has run out that can help reduce productivity downtime experienced by businesses.

Green, Easy-to-Manage

Dell’s complete lineup of color laser printers share state-of-the-art energy efficiency and management characteristics.

• ENERGY STAR Imaging Version 1.0 certified — The new color lasers are ENERGY STAR certified. On average, ENERGY STAR certified products are up to 25 percent more power efficient than non-ENERGY STAR models.
• Emulsion Aggregation Toners — These models can use less power during the fusing process and their chemically made toner can result in less CO2 emission during production than mechanically-made toners. The printer can warm up and print faster with vibrant image quality.
• Free Toner Recycling — Toner cartridges can be returned to Dell for recycling at no cost to the customer.
• Avoidance of Environmentally Sensitive Materials – New color lasers are compliant with various international standards for chemical use, including Chemical Registration, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances. Halogenated Flame Retardants are not used in external plastic mechanical parts.

New Services

• ProSupport Service Now Available for Printers — These services help reduce cost and complexity and increase the efficiency of printer environment with options designed for IT Administrators or End-Users. Customers also have the option of new Onsite Exchange, Onsite Diagnosis services, Fast-Track Dispatch programs and access to higher-level certified technicians.
• Printer Installation Services — Customers can choose installation services for large or small deployments. Dell also offers uninstall services to help customers with their end-to-end printer replacement cycle.
• Printer Takeback and Recycling — Customers can receive discounts on their new Dell printers when they return their used printers to Dell for recycling.

New Dell/EMC CX4 Family Delivers Unprecedented Flexibility in Enterprise Data Storage

Dell announced the fourth-generation Dell/EMC CX family of storage systems with multi-protocol flexibility and massive scalability, doubling the number of drives up to 960 in a single array. The Dell/EMC CX4 family offers four models that form the foundation of an enterprise storage architecture that is easy to deploy, manage and upgrade.

• UltraFlex I/O technology allows anytime customization of iSCSI and Fibre Channel ports
• Energy efficient solutions include virtual provisioning and flash drives

"Dell and EMC have successfully worked together for nearly eight years to make it easier for customers to simplify, scale and manage storage," said Michael Dell, Dell chairman and CEO. “Through our combined leadership we will continue to expand solutions to the datacenter, including servers, storage, virtualization, and a full range of services."

Dell/EMC CX4 storage arrays feature UltraFlex I/O, the latest in I/O technology that gives customers excellent flexibility and control. With UltraFlex I/O, the number of front-end and back-end ports and the network interconnect needed can be customized for an individual user’s needs, both now and in the future. Each of the four CX4 models can be configured with both 4-gigabit Fibre Channel (FC) and 1-gigabit iSCSI ports and, as new technologies emerge, new I/O modules can be added, such as 8-gigabit FC and 10-gigabit Ethernet.

“The Dell/EMC CX4 family is a further example of our commitment to provide leadership storage solutions,” said Darren Thomas, vice president and general manager of Dell Enterprise Storage. “Coupled with our recently announced storage consulting services, this is an important step in our mission to simplify IT for customers.”

New Models for Midrange to Large Enterprise Deployments

The Dell/EMC CX4 family gives customers the power to choose the SAN configuration they need today while providing a clear path to more capacity, performance and protocol options. The Dell/EMC CX4 family supports data-in-place upgrades from the previous two CX generations and from one CX4 model to another.

• The Dell/EMC CX4-120 offers enterprise-class features to help customers who require high capacity and modularity in a small, scalable footprint. It accommodates 120 FC or SATA disk drives, connections for to up to 128 highly available servers and six I/O slots – with two available for customized connectivity.
• The Dell/EMC CX4-240 and -480 offer the small footprint of the CX4-120 but support 240 drives and 480 drives plus 8 I/O slots and 10 I/O slots, respectively, with four available for customization. Both systems support FC and SATA drives with the CX4-480 also including flash drive capabilities.
• The Dell/EMC CX4-960 supports a mix of up to 960 FC, SATA or flash drives for the greatest performance and power efficiency. It supports connections for to up to 512 highly available servers and has 12 available I/O slots – with six available for customization. The CX4-960 can be configured in multiple tiers, from the high-performance flash drive tier to an archival tier employing 5,400 rpm 1-terabyte SATA drives for high capacity and more efficient power usage.

The CX4 family leverages Navisphere manager, the same intuitive management interface that has governed the CX storage family from its inception. Applications providing advanced data protection, replication and migration, and data path management and optimization available on CX3 arrays are also supported on CX4 arrays. These include SnapView , MirrorView A/S, SAN Copy , Replication Manager, PowerPath , Navisphere Analyzer, and Navisphere Quality of Service Manager.

Green Power and Cooling Features

Virtual provisioning, intelligent fan modulation technology and new disk drive options reduce power consumption in the CX4 arrays. All models will support virtual provisioning, which allows IT managers to optimize storage resources by automatically allocating capacity on an as-needed basis. Adaptive cooling – variable-speed fans that consume only the power required for optimal cooling – intelligently keep the array at the right temperature. Energy efficient one terabyte SATA drives that rotate at 5,400 rpm use 32 percent less power than standard 7,200 rpm drives. Additionally, the CX4-480 and CX4-960 models introduce high-performance flash drives that consume 98 percent less power than equally performing Fibre Channel drives.

Dell Solutions for Key Applications

Dell/EMC storage arrays are integrated into Dell’s solutions for key applications, offering tested and validated reference architectures to help solve customers’ messaging and database challenges. Solutions for Microsoft Exchange , Microsoft SQL Server , and Oracle Database are available. In addition, Dell’s complete product line addresses all aspects of data management and protection needs including services, switches, tape drives and media, and software.

Pricing and Availability

The Dell/EMC CX4 family replaces the Dell/EMC CX3 product line. As with all Dell storage products, the Dell/EMC CX4 family will be sold through all Dell sales channels worldwide, including Dell’s direct sales force and growing network of channel partners. The CX4 family is available immediately.

Look Beyond the Rack for Style this Fall – Dell’s New Studio and Inspiron Systems Redefine PC Design

Dell’s smallest, most personalized and most environmentally responsible consumer PC, the Studio Hybrid, launches today. The PC’s new unique shape and size, personalized with six optional, external jewel-toned color or bamboo sleeves, unleashes stylistic expression, inspiration and fun and looks great in any room.

• New Studio Hybrid PC: Ultra-Small, Colorfully Stylish, “Green”
• Puts the PC back on the desktop, or the countertop, or the bookshelf, or the entertainment center
• New Inspiron PCs include sub-$800 13-inch laptop

Dell also unveiled two new Inspiron PCs, including the Inspiron 13, a sleek and stylish sub $800 13-inch laptop perfect for students heading back to school, available starting next week at Wal-Mart. The Inspiron 518 desktop,is designed for everyday family multi-media activities, be it catching up on favorite TV shows via the Internet, playing online games, and storing and accessing music playlists and digital images.

“The design and craftsmanship of the Studio Hybrid alone are enough to cause you to do a double take,” Michael Tatelman, vice president, Dell global consumer sales and marketing. “Combine that with the performance of this little beauty and its environmentally smart DNA, and you’ve got something truly unique – something that you can make your own.”

Studio Style, Energy Efficient

As with Dell’s recently announced Studio laptops, the Studio Hybrid was designed to enhance personal expression and creative living. Dell’s smallest desktop PC, about the size of a collegiate dictionary, can fit just about anywhere. Depending on the location or decor, the Studio Hybrid can be set up in a vertical or horizontal orientation, and be personalized with a choice of seven optional, interchangeable external finishes or color sleeves: Bamboo, Emerald, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Slate, and Topaz.

With a starting price of $499, the petite Hybrid PC has the performance to take on the digitally enlightened user’s everyday activities like creating mash-ups, content for personal web pages, editing and uploading videos and digital photo albums. The Studio Hybrid is at home in the living room, fitting easily into entertainment centers, and connecting to HD TVs via a standard HDMI port. When paired with an optional wireless keyboard, people can easily flip back and forth from watching a favorite broadcast TV show or sporting event to checking online stats, sending email, looking at digital pictures, etc. on the TV. Customers can configure a Studio Hybrid with variety of optional technologies and peripherals to make it truly unique, like:

• Wi-Fi networking – allows people to place the PC anywhere that’s convenient for them.
• Wireless keyboard and mouse help ensure a clean desktop, counter top or coffee table.
• Blu-ray Disc drive for watching high-definition DVDs.
• TV tuner that enables users to watch, pause and record live TV.
• Multiple flat panel display options, like the Dell’s first 16:9 Full HD LCD monitor, the 24-inch S2409W

“Our goal was to design a desktop that fits in the office or in the living room, or anywhere space is at a premium,” said Michael Scheschuk, Dell desktop product marketing. “We’ve created a desktop PC category that combines style, performance and a high degree of energy efficiency.”

The Dell Studio Hybrid is about 80 percent smaller than the typical desktop minitower, and uses up to 70 percent less energy. In addition to being extremely energy efficient and Energy Star 4.0 compliant, the Studio Hybrid’s unique packaging was designed to be environmentally responsible:

• Reduced packing materials about 30 percent by weight as compared to typical tower desktops.
• Packing materials are also 95 percent recyclable.
• Reduced printed documentation 75 percent by weight on average as compared to typical tower desktops.
• System recycling kit is included.

Inspiron: Simple, Yet Smart PCs for the Family

Dell also expanded its Inspiron family with the addition of the Inspiron 518 desktop and Inspiron 13 laptop. Both systems deliver solid performance and smart style at a great value.
The Inspiron 13 laptop is a great choice for back to school shoppers looking for a small, light, highly efficient mobile PC. With a starting weight of just under 5 pounds, the Inspiron 13 combines a simple and clean design encased in glossy Pacific blue with black trim. Smart features include a 13-inch high definition display, capacitive touch media buttons, 8-in-1 media card reader and slot-load DVD drive. Optional features include built-in wireless networking, built-in webcam and Bluetooth connectivity. A special $699 configuration of the Inspiron 13 will be available at Wal-Mart in the U.S. starting Aug.

The Inspiron 518 desktop features a gloss-black exterior with chrome accents. Families will appreciate the top media tray with two easy-access USB ports for quick MP3 player syncing and cell-phone charging. It offers performance to meet the most typical family PC activities, like faster networking connections with Gigabit Ethernet, DX10 integrated graphics2 for casual gaming, optional 500GB hard drive for storing digital images and music libraries, and optional quad core processors. The Inspiron 518 starts at $349,(monitor not included).

Finishing Touches:

Dell offers a variety of service application and software programs that help ensure consumers’ PCs stay up and running and easy to use, including:

• Dell Support Center: Centrally located, easy-to-use application providing personalized support resources with quick links to service, support and system information resources
• PC TuneUp: An easy-to-set-up smart tool that helps manage regular maintenance of a consumer’s PC. Designed to automatically find and fix issues that slow down system performance.
• Dell Dock: Automatically sorts pre-installed software into user friendly categories placing the most frequently used programs front & center.
• Dell Video Chat: A one-click easy to setup and use video and voice communication program that can be shared with friends and family

Dell Launches Summer Rocks Festival Tour and Sweepstakes with a Head-Turning Towel Drop at Parks and Beaches Nationwide

A sea of color will wash over select recreational hotspots across the United States , as Dell choreographs mass arrays of the quintessential summer accessory – a super-sized, eye-popping beach towel. The event launches Dell’s six-festival Summer Rocks Tour and Sweepstakes.

Large-scale checkerboard mosaics comprised of hundreds of colorful beach towels are planned for:

• Austin, Texas
• Chicago, Illinois
• Los Angeles, California
• Miami, Florida
• New York
• Seattle, Washington

The premium bamboo towels evoke the new Dell Studio laptop PCs, which are available in more than 10 color combinations.

Hangtags on the towels announce the Dell Summer Rocks Sweepstakes, which offers passionate music fans the chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to the Austin City Limits Music Festival, in Austin, Texas.

Also, check out the Dell Dome, a geodesic structure that will serve as a massive canvas for the work of Brooklyn-based artist Mike Ming, whose designs are available on the Dell InspironTM 1525 laptop. Dell’s Summer Rocks Tour will bring the Dell Dome experience to six of the summer’s hottest music festival destinations:

• Lollapalooza – Chicago
• Virgin Mobile Festival – Baltimore
• Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival – San Francisco
• Bumbershoot – Seattle
• Monolith Music Festival – Morrison, Colo.
• Austin City Limits Music Festival – Austin, Texas

The exterior of the geodesic Dell Dome will serve as a massive canvas for the work of Brooklyn-based artist Mike Ming, whose designs are available on the Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop. Ming also will create a new work of art at each Dell Dome event and assist visitors with their own projects.

Inside the Dell Dome, visitors can take part in unique Dell experiences like:

• Stations for creating a 20-track “digital mix tape” from a menu of up to 100 songs.
• A pop culture hair salon, where stylists will recreate iconic rock star hairdos.
• Custom and Mike Ming original airbrush tattoos.
• Custom heat iron transfers for shirts, bags and scarves.

“The Dell Dome is a multimedia playground that celebrates self-expression and promotes sharing through art, music and design,” said Lisa Hassel, experiential marketing manager for Dell’s Consumer business. “The combination of technology and recreation adds unique depth and dimensions to the music festival experience.”

Dell Takes On Blade Workstations with Dell Precision R5400

Dell is taking on blade workstations with the Dell Precision R5400 rack workstation. The company also announced the Dell FX100 remote access solution with hardware based encryption and compression that doesn’t compromise system performance. The Dell Precision R5400 starts at $1,869 and the FX100 solution is $800.

• Rack workstation can offer greater flexibility, performance than blade workstations
• Dell Offers Leading-Edge PC-Over-IP Remote Access

The Dell Precision R5400 rack workstation helps customers protect their data by placing applications and data in a secure central location or data center. Customers can also remove system-generated heat and noise from spaces like financial trading floors. The offering can allow customers greater flexibility in system configuration versus blade workstations. Features include:

• Dual- and quad-core Intel Xeon processors.
• Support for up to two PCI-e x16 OpenGL graphics cards with dual 150 Watt slots on the motherboard
• Additional support for PCI and PCIx
• Simple installation and management that allows customers to “power and go” without the complexities of blade infrastructures enclosures and redundant power supplies, while supporting standard systems management tools

The Dell FX100 is designed to enable hardware-based encryption, compression, decompression and decryption, also known as PC-over-IP. The combination host card and remote portal device connect the Dell Precision R5400 workstation to a remote user and their peripherals – displays, keyboard, mouse, audio and USB devices such as printers. The solution can allow users to access applications and data in a secure manner, across the network with outstanding performance.

“The combination of the Dell Precision R5400 rack workstation and the FX100 is a leading edge solution from the world’s leading workstation vendor, “said Antonio Julio, director, Dell Product Group. “By not putting the solution on a blade, we were able to add more functionality and high performance OpenGL l graphics cards, to achieve the caliber of performance workstation customers want.”

Dell’s R5400 rack workstation complements all other Dell Precision workstations and delivers on the core values of performance, application focus, scalability, optimized solutions and managed for business.

Dell: Key Priorities, Increased Competitiveness Accelerating Growth

Dell’s enhanced product portfolio and competitiveness are driving renewed growth worldwide, Michael Dell, chairman and CEO, and Brian Gladden, Dell chief financial officer, told shareholders today at the company’s annual shareholder meeting.

• Dell Continues To Grow Units Faster Than the Industry

Mr. Dell reviewed progress the company is making in its five growth priorities, including, the fastest growth in the industry during Q1 in consumer units and becoming the No. 1 choice of consumers for desktops and laptops in a survey by the Frost & Sullivan analyst firm; growth worldwide in notebooks; industry-leading growth in servers and storage products for data centers; 58 percent revenue growth year over year in the fiscal first quarter in emerging countries; and, the most shipments of desktops, laptops and servers to small and medium businesses globally in a single quarter of Dell’s history.

“Preliminary industry data shows we continue to grow units faster than the industry in the second calendar quarter,” Mr. Dell said. “Renewed product innovation and leadership with all products and services have accelerated our growth across the world. From the desktop to the datacenter, from consumers to our biggest corporate customers, we are listening and positioning Dell to win as the next billion people come online in the Connected Era.”

Mr. Gladden told shareholders that Dell also continues to improve its cost competitiveness as it works toward a target of $3 billion in annualized savings by the end of fiscal 2011.

“Operationally, our focus remains on growing faster than the industry; increasing revenue, profitability and cash flow,” Mr. Gladden said.

“Over the past four quarters, we have generated $4.2 billion in cash flow from operations; $3.4 billion in operating income; and, $62.5 billion in revenue. Going forward, we are committed to driving liquidity, profitability and growth and we believe we are making decisions that will deliver the best long-term results and greatest shareholder value.”

In formal business at today’s meeting, shareholders:

• Re-elected 11 company directors: Donald J. Carty; Michael S. Dell; William H. Gray, III; Sallie L. Krawcheck; Alan (A.G.) Lafley; Judy C. Lewent; Thomas W. Luce, III; Klaus S. Luft; Alex J. Mandl; Michael A. Miles; and, Samuel A. Nunn, Jr.
• Rejected a shareholder proposal regarding reimbursement of proxy expenses;
• Rejected a shareholder proposal regarding an advisory vote on executive compensation;
• Approved a proposal regarding an executive annual incentive bonus plan; and,
• Ratified PricewaterhouseCooper’s LLP as Dell’s independent auditor for fiscal 2009.

Dell Executives To Address Stockholders At Annual Meeting

Dell executives will address stockholders at its annual meeting in Austin, Texas, beginning at 8 a.m. (CDT) Friday.

The meeting will feature a presentation by Chairman and CEO Michael S. Dell and Senior Vice President and CFO Brian T. Gladden, followed by a question-and-answer session. It will be webcast live, then accessible via replay.

Dell Recycling Recognized With IDC G.R.A.D.E. Certification

Dell’s Asset Recovery Services, which help enterprise customers responsibly retire used IT equipment, has been recognized by IDC with the Green Recycling and Asset Disposal for the Enterprise (G.R.A.D.E.) certification. IDC published the 2008 Assessment of U.S. IT Asset Disposal Service Providers, Doc #213383 today.

“Dell provides convenient and responsible product retirement options to all of our customers. Doing so not only meets shared environmental goals but also helps customers simplify the management of their enterprise by protecting against data and environmental liability and minimizing the cost of disposal,” said Doug Hillary, director of services for Dell.

The IDC G.R.A.D.E. certification process is based on 34 IT Asset Disposal (ITAD)-related functions and tasks and uses a multi-dimensional weighting system that incorporates the broad offerings of remote applications, onsite services, logistics, in-plant processing, and post treatment. IDC G.R.A.D.E. certification is currently focused on the U.S. market.

“Selection of an ITAD vendor affects not only a company’s environmental record, but also the effective safeguard of company intellectual and physical assets. The G.R.A.D.E. certification can help a company select a responsible vendor, and we are pleased to recognize Dell as one of the first to receive the certification,” said David Daoud, Research Manager at IDC.

Dell Asset Recovery Services (ARS) help retire IT assets for business and institutional customers around the globe. Customers can take advantage of value recovery, robust reporting, reverse logistics and responsible recycling. An IDC study commissioned by Dell last year showed that data security was the number one consideration for companies selecting a third-party ITAD provider.

Small businesses can also take advantage of Dell’s product recovery services. Dell provides an online service to companies recycling fewer than 10 pieces of equipment, allowing them to easily manage, return and track used assets through the recycling process.

ARS is part of Dell’s global product take back organization, which also provides consumers free and convenient product recycling. Dell remains the only company in its industry providing consumers free recycling for its products worldwide. The company also provides free recycling of other brand products with the purchase of a new Dell product. Dell continues to expand its Reconnect alliance with Goodwill. Consumers can now take advantage of free and convenient recycling at 385 attended drop-off Reconnect locations in 24 U.S. markets.

Dell also continues to lead the industry in setting responsible recycling standards, including minimization of landfill use globally, no export of waste and regular third-party audits of materials disposition. Dell reported recovery of 102 million pounds of IT equipment from customers during 2007, a 20 percent increase over 2006.

Dell’s product recycling offerings is a key element of the company’s goal to be the greenest technology company on the planet.

Patrick ‘Duffy’ De Armas: Turning fast cars into fine art

Dell Propels Laptop Innovation With First Multi-Touch Convertible Tablet, Larger Solid State Drive

Dell, continuing its laptop leadership, announced the industry’s first convertible tablet with multi-touch capabilities on the award-winning Dell Latitude XT.

• Dell Offers Free Multi-Touch Upgrade
• Delivers Most Comprehensive Lineup of Systems with SSD
• Company to Release Next Generation Latitude Laptops in Coming Weeks

The company is also expanding its solid state drive (SSD) leadership with availability of a 128 GB drive and said it will announce its next generation Latitude laptops in the coming weeks.

“We introduced the Latitude XT as a revolutionary product in the tablet space,” said Jeff Clarke, senior vice president, Dell Product Group. “Today Dell is taking that commitment to a new level with multi-touch functionality. We plan to finish this year with 50 percent more products in our laptop portfolio and deliver innovation our competitors can’t match.”

Dell First to Offer Multi-Touch Capability on Convertible Tablet

Dell was one of the first major vendors to introduce capacitive touch and is now bringing multi-touch capabilities to the Latitude XT. The new capabilities include:

• Scroll – by placing two fingers on the screen and moving them horizontally or vertically customers can easily navigate in web browsers and productivity applications.
• Zoom – by touching the screen with two fingers and moving them together customers can zoom various content in and out, such as pictures or Web pages.
• Programmable double-tap – customers can program a command, such as launching a Web browser or turning the screen off to save power, that will respond to two taps with two fingers.

Dell’s integration of multi-touch allows customers to use the full real estate of the screen, as opposed to just the touchpad like the Voodoo Envy 133 and Apple MacBook Air, and works with productivity applications they use every day, such as Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer, Google Earth, etc.

Dell Extends SSD Leadership with Availability of 128 GB Drive at Attractive Price Point

Dell was one of the first major vendors to deliver SSDs to its customers and leads major vendors with the broadest portfolio of client products available with the technology. The new 128 GB SSD starts at $649 and is available tomorrow in the U.S. on Dell Precision and Latitude systems. The drive will be offered on XPS and Alienware systems next week.

“We’ve led the industry in offering the broadest product portfolio available with solid state drive technology to help customers avoid hard drive failure – which is one of the leading causes of data loss and hardware failure,” said Clarke. “With the introduction of the 128GB solid state drive, we’re delivering capacity that meets the majority of our customers’ needs with increased durability and reliability at a great price.”

The new drive helps solve customer pain points around price and capacity of SSD technology. Customers get double the capacity of Dell’s 64 GB ultra-performance SSD offering for the same price.

SSDs are eight-and-a-half times more shock tolerant and have a predicted reliability more than three times that of standard notebook hard drives. Dell also offers a 64 GB ultra-performance SSD that delivers up to 22 percent better performance than a 7,200 RPM hard disk drive.

And a Bag to Match: New “Designed for Dell” Line Offers Colorful Accessories for Personalizing Hi-Def Lifestyles

Blending function and fashion, Dell has introduced Designed for Dell, a line of bags and accessories that adds style and flair to the personal computing experience. The inaugural selection of backpacks, computer sleeves, audio devices, mice and hard drives is distinguished by color, fit and finish that complement Dell PCs, like the new Studio laptops. The accessory portfolio incorporates subtle design elements from the PC to create an integrated style.

• Backpacks, Computer Sleeves, Audio Devices, Mice and Hard Drives Color-Matched to Dell PCs
• Exclusive designs from fashion and technology leaders

Launched in June, Dell Studio laptops come in standard Jet Black and six optional color choices: Plum Purple, Tangerine Orange, Flamingo Pink, Midnight Blue, Ruby Red and Spring Green. For a more subtly personalized laptop, a high gloss Graphite Grey version can be customized with contrasting black, blue, pink or red edge trim around the display back.

“We are collaborating with technology and fashion leaders to create complementary bags and accessories that offer Dell customers unique ways to express themselves,” said Andrea Kalmans, Dell Accessories Product Manager. “Whether you’re at home or in your favorite spot to see and be seen, Designed for Dell products reflect your style.”

Current Designed for Dell manufacturers include:

• Belkin : Backpacks and messenger cases
• Built : Computer sleeves, cargo bags and portfolios
• Creative Labs : Headphones and speakers
• Iomega : Portable hard drives
• Logitech : Mice
• Swiss Gear : Backpacks
• Targus : Messenger cases and accessories bundles

“Built loves to wrap laptops with color, and we make them safe and easy to carry too. The team at Dell developed a great program with fantastic colors and powerful new laptops that we are psyched to be a part of,” said Built Co-CEO and Chief Design Officer John Roscoe Swartz. “It capitalizes on both of our strengths and as a result I think the collaboration is greater than it parts.”

“Designed for Dell” products currently are available in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Dell Number One in iSCSI SANs Worldwide

Dell is the worldwide leader for iSCSI storage area networks (SANs), with more than double the share of its nearest competitor in the first quarter 2008 according to industry analyst firm Gartner1. In addition, Dell EqualLogic storage solutions received a “Strong Positive” – the highest possible rating – in Gartner’s “MarketScope for iSCSI SAN Integrated Solutions”.

• Virtual Data Centers, Internet Businesses Impacting Storage Requirements
• Dell EqualLogic Storage Ideal for the Connected Era

New Business Models, Massive Storage Needs

Burgeoning new Internet-based businesses including application service providers and hosted services, proliferating social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn and handheld mobile devices such as the BlackBerry are generating an unprecedented amount of digital content.

• IDC reported in March 2008 that the digital universe is expected to grow to nearly 1,800
• Exabytes by 2011, a ten-fold increase over the next three years.
• According to McKinsey & Company, demand for storage capacity has grown by more than 50 percent annually in recent years.

This explosion of digital information is not only creating a monumental data storage challenge for IT managers as people continue to consume, create and store more information, but also it demands new storage solutions that move beyond the limitations of traditional solutions. The storage needs to be accessible, flexible, automated, easy-to-manage, and have the ability to scale on demand without disrupting ongoing operations.

Emergence of iSCSI

iSCSI, or Internet SCSI, is a simple communications protocol that employs the Internet Protocol (IP) to connect servers with external storage devices. iSCSI’s advantages are that it runs over ubiquitous Ethernet networks and switches, can communicate over wide area as well as local area networks, and, because it runs on top of IP, it is an extremely flexible routed protocol that facilitates virtualization. Dell has invested in a broad range of iSCSI solutions ranging from entry-level PowerVault products to powerful Dell Equallogic solutions to massively scalable Dell/EMC products.

According to Forrester, there are both hard economic benefits as well as soft benefits in adopting iSCSI storage. “Given the hardware acquisition cost benefits as well as synergies in network staff and infrastructure, significant benefits can be gained from the use of iSCSI-based SAN architectures.” Among the soft benefits is “more virtualization within the protocol. iSCSI is inherently more virtualized than Fibre Channel… allowing for more granular addressing, especially important for virtual server environments.” (Forrester Research, Inc., February 2008, “Cost Comparison of iSCSI Versus Fibre Channel SAN Components”) But iSCSI alone is not the answer – in the case of Dell EqualLogic, iSCSI is the enabling technology for the patented virtualization architecture at the heart of the Dell EqualLogic product line.

“We are seeing a tremendous opportunity for our storage systems across the board including our Dell/EMC, PowerVault and Dell/EqualLogic lines – especially with customers building virtual infrastructures and Internet-based businesses,” said Darren Thomas, vice president and general manager of Dell Enterprise Storage. “These applications require not only the inherent ease of use and accessibility of the iSCSI protocol, but the intelligent automation and dynamic virtualization such as those in the Dell EqualLogic architecture.”

Dell EqualLogic Customers Pushing the Envelope

Dell owns the premier enterprise-class iSCSI-based storage platform for virtual infrastructures following the acquisition of EqualLogic earlier this year. Dell EqualLogic PS Series SANs are ideal for the new age of Internet-based applications, which demand unpredictable increases in storage capacity while continuously serving up uninterrupted access to data. PS Series SANs offers a dynamic response to the unique demands of each application, learning and adapting to its behavior and adapting to shifting workloads to help ensure responsiveness and consistent uptime.

WhitePages is the most trusted and comprehensive source for consumers to quickly and easily find relevant, accurate contact information in North America. WhitePages has deployed 105 terabytes of storage on 32 Dell EqualLogic PS Series storage arrays to index over 180 million people. “That’s more than MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn combined,” said Jack Valko, senior director of IT/Operations at WhitePages.com. “The number of rows in our database more than doubled last year. We can’t continue to be successful unless we have adaptable, reliable storage that tightly integrates with Linux and scales easily. With Dell EqualLogic storage we get all of that as well as great performance to meet current and future demand.”

AirClic provides mobile information services to more than 500 customers worldwide. The company focuses on developing mobile handset solutions that provide a simple, cost-effective means for a mobile workforce to capture and exchange information using wireless devices. AirClic’s Oracle-based application runs in a VMware virtual infrastructure on top of a tiered Dell EqualLogic SAN. “The impact of the Dell EqualLogic SAN on AirClic’s operations has been dramatic,” said Andy Monroe, vice president of technology at AirClic. “We know we can scale easily without disruption. Storage is not something we have to think about any more; so we can focus more on our customers and less on infrastructure.”

Dell Storage – Building Momentum Across the Board

In the first quarter of this year, Dell’s worldwide external controller-based storage revenue increased 21 percent year-over-year. Dell increased customer acquisition internationally, received positive industry validation, delivered new storage features and products, and became number one in open systems storage worldwide.

“We have been investing in every aspect of our storage business, from innovation in our direct attached product line to the acquisition of EqualLogic to highly sophisticated Fibre Channel solutions, in order to keep up with the unprecedented demand for storage,” said Thomas. “As a result, Dell has demonstrated strong momentum across the board.”

Windows 7 Photo

Minimum recommended specs call for Windows 7

• 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• 1 GB of system memory
• 16 GB of available disk space
• Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (to enable the Aero theme)
• DVD-R/W Drive
• Internet access (get updates)

Some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigation through the use of "touch," may require advanced or additional hardware.

The 32-bit version of Windows 7 is available in five languages: English, German, Japanese, Hindi, and Arabic. The 64-bit version is available in English, German, Japanese, and Arabic.

Windows 7

Over the past few years, you've asked us to make some changes to Windows. We listened closely. Now it's time to share an early look at how we've used your feedback. Windows 7 is faster, more reliable, and makes it easier to do what you want. Both the everyday things and the killer "is that really possible?" things.

Dell College Gaming League Becomes First Official Amateur League Partner for Championship Gaming Series

Dell’s College Gaming League (CGL), the community for avid PC and Xbox 360 collegiate gamers and Championship Gaming Series (CGS), have joined forces and established the CGL as the first Official Amateur League Partner of CGS.

The College Gaming League was founded as a joint venture between Dell, Intel and Microsoft as part of the Dell University program, which offers educational discounts and customized PC bundles for students, faculty and staff at thousands of participating schools across the country. League membership is free and open to all college students in the U.S. Benefits include access to public game servers for all members, exclusive offers on systems and games, member communication tools, weekly “Play with a Pro” game nights, open- and closed-ladder tournaments, a Premiere Division for top performers and a national championship tournament where school teams compete.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, the Championship Gaming Series (CGS) is a worldwide professional video gaming league and was formed in 2007 as a joint venture among BSkyB, DIRECTV and STAR. CGS features teams of the world's best gamers from North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. The league distributes entertainment content to more than 425 million viewers worldwide via DIRECTV and G4 in North America, DIRECTV in Latin America, BSkyB in the UK, Eurosport in Europe and STAR in Asia and Australia. CGS sponsors include Mountain Dew, Creative, Xbox 360 and Dell XPS.

“We’re very excited to partner with Dell on the College Gaming League,” said Andy Reif, Championship Gaming Series Commissioner and CEO, “Together, we’ll reach hundreds of campuses in the U.S. and engage a huge number of students to find out which schools have the top players and which of them will have a chance to join CGS as professional gamers. We can’t wait to start scouting the talent.”

“Together, Dell’s College Gaming League and the Championship Gaming Series will be turning the hallowed halls of our nation’s most respected institutions of higher learning into source of gaming greatness,” said Arthur Lewis, head of Dell’s gaming group. “This partnership will give our players access to professional talent as well as heightened exposure of the league and its initiatives.”

Highlights of the partnership include:

• CGL Premiere Division winners will win free trips to the CGS 2009 North America Combine and Draft. At the Combine, these CGL winners will receive preferential seeding as they compete to be selected as professional gamers on CGS professional teams at the televised 2009 Draft, where they will be featured in a special CGL seating area.
• Viewing parties on campuses nationwide during the upcoming televised CGS 2008 North America season and World Final, coordinated by CGL campus representatives.
• “Play with a CGS Pro” nights featuring CGS players online and live at CGL campus events.

Windows Live SkyDrive

Share Files Anywhere You’re Online, 24/7Store, access, and share your files with friends or co-workers, from anywhere online. Free 25 GB online storage means you can easily get to your stuff with just a few quick clicks.

Hefty storage

With 25 GB of free, password-protected online storage, you’ve got the freedom to share large photos, files, and documents. Photos
SkyDrive now does a great job with your photos, including large previews, thumbnail views of your photos, captions, and comments.

Personal folders

With personal folders, you can keep your files online and access them with virtually any Web-enabled computer or mobile device — whether it’s yours, a friend’s, or a public computer.

Password protection: You set the passwords and you decide who sees what, so you have confidence that your data is in your control.
Drag and drop: Uploading content is as easy as dragging and dropping the files from your computer onto the Web.
Shared folders: Working on a project with classmates, co-workers, or family? With shared folders, the whole crew can upload, download, and collaborate with you on documents and other files.
Direct links: Each folder on SkyDrive has a unique Web address, so you can save the link as a favorite or copy-and-paste it into e-mail or other documents for direct access.

Dell and Abvi-Goodwill Launch Free Computer Recycling Service For Residents of the Greater Rochester Area

Reconnect, a free drop-off program to recycle unwanted computers, was introduced today by Dell and the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI)-Goodwill of Greater Rochester, Inc.

• Reconnect offers consumers in the greater Rochester area and surrounding counties free recycling for any brand of computer equipment in any condition.
  
• Program goals are to divert over 300,000 pounds of used computers and computer equipment from area landfills over the next year; and provide consumer education on the importance of environmentally-responsible computer disposal. Reconnect also can help create job opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired or who have other barriers to employment or independence.
  
• ABVI-Goodwill will accept and sort the donated computer equipment and Dell's product recovery partner will recycle and remarket the recycled materials. All proceeds support programs, services and job opportunities at ABVI-Goodwill for people who are blind or visually impaired. Residents are responsible for removing data from hard drives and other storage media before donating to Goodwill. ABVI-Goodwill staff will provide donors with a donation receipt at the time of donation.
  
• Reconnect was also launched recently in Western New York State.
  
• Other Reconnect programs currently exist in Austin, Texas (15 counties in Central Texas), San Francisco (Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties), San Antonio (23 counties in Central and South Texas), Houston (15 counties), North Carolina (49 counties), San Diego County, Pittsburgh, Northern New Jersey, Northwest Ohio and throughout the state of Michigan.
  
• Dell provides consumers worldwide free computer recycling. In 2007 the company collected 102 million pounds of IT equipment from customers, a 20 percent increase over 2006.

“As a longtime advocate for developing strong electronic waste recycling programs, I applaud ABVI-Goodwill on their local efforts to move us towards smarter recycling policies,” said Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter. “By providing our community with the opportunity to recycle responsibly, this program will help to protect our environment while creating much-needed new jobs for our blind and visually impaired citizens.”

“ABVI-Goodwill is pleased to begin the operational phase of our partnership with Dell,” said A. Gidget Hopf, Ed.D., president and chief executive officer of ABVI-Goodwill. “This exciting new program is a reflection of our commitment to what we call the triple bottom line – people, profit and planet. The program will create jobs, add revenue, and contribute significantly and positively to our environment.”

“Dell wants to make computer recycling easy, convenient and free for any consumer, and Reconnect is an important program that helps make that possible,” said Joe Strathmann, head of product recycling services for Dell. “This program is a win on all fronts, it benefits the environment, the community and consumers in the greater Rochester area.”

About ABVI-Goodwill of Greater Rochester

ABVI-Goodwill of Greater Rochester, Inc., founded in 1911, has a mission to prepare and empower people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families and communities. Through a variety of entrepreneurial business initiatives, including manufacturing, call center, food service and Goodwill retail operations, the agency is able to support this mission and provide programs, services, career training, and employment opportunities to people who are blind or visually impaired or have other barriers to employment or independence.

Seto Asaka

Tokyo University Story drama

Tokyo University Story drama

About Windows Mobile 6.1

Now it’s even easier to stay connected and manage your busy life—from just about anywhere. Windows Mobile 6.1 is full of enhancements, made with your needs in mind:

• Instant messaging-like texting
• Improved Internet browsing
• Simpler e-mail and Bluetooth setup
• New Home screen interface
• New Getting Started Center
• Security enhancements
• Easier Wi-Fi connection
• More personal choice

Dell FlexAddress Simplifies Blade Deployment and Management

Dell has followed on the successful introduction of its PowerEdge M-Series blade server solution with Dell FlexAddress, a patent pending tool for blade chassis virtualization and persistent identity. Dell FlexAddress is a simple, low-cost way for customers to deploy and manage blade infrastructures while reducing data center downtime. Dell FlexAddress is enabled by a special SD card for the PowerEdge M1000e Chassis Management Controller (CMC) and the latest firmware. The FlexAddress SD card is now available worldwide with a starting price of $499.

• Low-Cost Solution for Blade IO Virtualization, Deployment and Reducing Downtime
• Utilizes Existing Networking Investments; No Need to ‘Switch Your Switch’
• Achieves up to 100 Percent More Networking and Storage Connectivity at Half the Cost of HP Virtual Connect

“We delivered one of the greenest, most energy-efficient blade solutions on the planet with the PowerEdge M-Series and now we’re making it one of the most flexible,” said Rick Becker, vice president of software and solutions, Dell Product Group. “FlexAddress frees customers from existing high-cost, proprietary tools, and enables them to utilize existing networking infrastructure and knowledge to handle predictable or even unplanned changes in their data center without affecting the network.”

Dell and Partners Declare: No Longer a Need to “Switch Your Switch” for Blades

Dell FlexAddress allows any M-Series blade enclosure to abstract the Fibre Channel World Wide Name(WWN) and Ethernet/iSCSI Media Access Control (MAC) from the blade hardware and, instead, tie it persistently to a slot in the M1000e chassis. This feature provides customers with an efficient, flexible and consistent infrastructure. Dell FlexAddress is managed by the Chassis Management Controller (CMC) in the PowerEdge M1000e, keeping it agnostic to the IO module and avoiding the need to “switch your switch.” Customers can achieve 100 percent more network and storage (LAN and SAN) connectivity at half the cost of HP Virtual Connect by enabling automated deployment configuration in advance and network stacking. This speeds network configuration and management by virtualizing the switches across up to 8 chassis (up to 128 servers), making them appear as a single virtual switch. FlexAddress also works with all Dell pass-through modules.

“Dell has provided M-Series customers with a powerful tool to help simplify the management of the data center while taking advantage of the intelligent network, management and advanced security capabilities of Cisco's Ethernet switches,” said Ed Chapman, vice president of product management, Server Access and Virtualization Business Unit for Cisco. “Dell’s FlexAddress offers seamless integration with Cisco network and device management tools. This integration eliminates the need for additional changes to existing management and infrastructure.”

“Dell customers will truly benefit from the flexibility of choice in industry standard networking products as well as the powerful capabilities Dell’s new FlexAddress technology delivers,” said Madhu Matta, Vice President, Server Connectivity Business, Brocade. “The combination of FlexAddress and Brocade’s Access Gateway technologies help eliminate costly training and translates into greater IT simplification.”

Blade Deployment and Management Made Easy

Dell FlexAddress helps save customers time, money and resources because changes to the underlying hardware, whether upgrades or replacements, are transparent to the network. Additionally, since Dell FlexAddress is controlled by the Chassis Management Controller (CMC), it doesn’t add a management layer. This means it can seamlessly integrate into the network management tools already used in any data center today, such as CiscoWorks.

Palm Pre: Connected calendars and contacts

Universal search


Multiple websites


Notification dashboard


Card view

Your day, layered view

Dell Invites Bands Nationwide To Compete In The Austin City Limits Festival’s “Sound And The Jury” Contest, Produced By C3 Presents

Microphone, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums? Check. Now the only thing standing between you and your shot at international visibility are a few clicks of the keyboard -- and the votes of your passionate fans.

The Austin City Limits Music Festival’s “Sound and the Jury” Contest,* presented by the Dell Lounge, is a contest open to emerging bands and artists, with the top prize of a showcase on Dell’s ACL Festival stage.

Bands can upload their music and create a profile on the contest site.

Copy the tag embedded on your profile page into your MySpace profile, Web site or other online networking pages, which will add a quick link for fans to hit your Sound & the Jury page.

Voting begins on the Dell Lounge site July 11 , so don’t forget to e-mail your fans to let them know you’re in the contest, and exhort them to vote early and often!

Five finalists will receive tickets to Austin City Limits Festival and a travel stipend, plus a feature on the Dell Lounge.

The top five finalists will face off at the world-famous Antone’s in Austin, Texas, and the winning act will open the Dell ACL Festival Stage the next day.

“More than ever, fans are in the driver’s seat, determining the music that we all listen to,” said Lisa Martin-Louro, Dell Lounge Experiential Marketing Manager. “The Sound and the Jury contest celebrates every passionate fan’s newfound power as a music influencer.”

Last year’s contest attracted more than 600 bands, and after fans cast approximately 200,000 votes, the last band standing was Abiliene,Texas-based Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys.

Britney Spears Photo

Dell ProSupport Services Keep Mobile Professionals Protected And Connected

Dell today introduced Dell ProSupport Mobility Services, a suite of modular asset and data protection services to help companies protect laptop computers and company information, especially when the computers are lost – a growing problem for a mobile workforce.

• New Study Reveals Up To 12,000 Laptop Computers Lost Weekly and up to 600,000 lost annually in U.S. Airports
• 53 Percent of Surveyed Mobile Professionals Carry Confidential Company Information, 65% of Those Who Carry It Don’t Take Steps to Protect It

IDC projects nearly 54 million units of business laptops will be purchased for employees and shipped in 20082. New research reveals that hundreds of thousands of these laptops will be lost or left behind at airports, and 65-69 percent of them will go unclaimed.

For many companies, the loss of valuable information contained on the systems may be of even greater concern as the research indicates that approximately 53 percent of surveyed mobile professionals carry confidential company information and 65 percent of those who do, don’t take steps to protect it. This data can include customer and consumer information, confidential business information and intellectual property such as software code and product renderings.

The research, conducted by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by Dell, shows that up to 12,000 laptops are lost in U.S. airports each week.

“It’s staggering to learn that up to 600,000 laptops are lost in U.S. airports annually, many containing sensitive information that companies must account for,” said Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of the Ponemon Institute. “IT departments must re-evaluate the steps they’re taking to protect mobile professionals, the laptops they carry and company data stored on mobile devices.”

To help companies keep mobile workers and assets protected and connected, Dell is expanding its ProSupport portfolio by introducing new asset and data protection services for ProSupport for IT and ProSupport for End-Users service models. These include:

• Laptop Tracking and Recovery – helps companies more accurately track and recover lost or stolen laptops.
• Remote Data Delete – enables customers to remotely delete sensitive company data if a laptop is lost or stolen.
• Hard Drive Data Recovery –Retrieves information from a failed or damaged hard drive.
• Certified Data Destruction – Destroys notebook data in a secure manner, providing certification of destruction, and disposing of the customer’s hard drive in an environmentally responsible manner.
• CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service – covers repair and replacement costs associated with most accidental damages to laptops caused by spills, drops and surges.
• Extended Battery Service – expands battery warranties that include the option to replace a battery in the second to third year of system ownership.

“Laptops will soon become more prevalent than desktops in business,” said Steve Schuckenbrock, president, Dell Global Services and CIO. “Dell is providing services and system features now to keep companies, their mobile professionals and the company information they carry ‘Protected and Connected’ at all times.”

“Dell is continuing to listen to their customers and is introducing services aimed at addressing their needs,” said Matt Healey, Research Manager, IDC Software and Hardware Support Services. “Dell ProSupport Mobility Services provides an added layer of protection for the busy and fast-moving mobile workforce of today’s economy. Adding this layer of protection can help these employees become more productive and face the challenges of business today.”

The Dell ProSupport portfolio, initially introduced in February 2008, is a configurable suite of services that lets customers choose the support offerings that meet their unique needs. Customers can choose recommended solutions based on service model, technology being used, desired service level, or other proactive selections. With the right options, customers can reduce technical incidents by as much as 37 percent and critical downtime by as much as 48 percent.

In addition to Dell ProSupport Mobility Services, Dell commercial laptop systems are available with advanced security features such as full disk encryption hard drives, TPM security chips additional user and hardware authentication tools and antivirus software. Integrated smart cards and fingerprint readers are also available for companies that want an extra measure of external notebook security. Mobility Services combined with Dell ProSupport services better equip businesses to handle the mobility and data security challenges of today’s workforce.

With mobile monitoring, cardiac patients are a heartbeat away from help

Dell Foundation Awards 2008 ‘Healthy Community’ Grants To 27 Non-Profit Organizations In Four States

The Dell Foundation announced its “Healthy Community” grants which have been awarded to 27 organizations in four states, Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Carolina, where significant numbers of Dell employees live and work.

These two-year, $50,000 grants support innovative and collaborative initiatives that address the health of young people. Addressing basic health and developmental issues is a major focus of the Foundation, which believes this is a prerequisite to the future success of young people in an increasingly digital and globally competitive world.

The grants support a range of programs including:

• activities that help students refrain from the use of alcohol, other drugs and violence;
• enhancing educational achievement and character development; and,
• pre-natal education programs addressing adverse birth outcomes for teens and low-income women.

“By supporting community organizations that are collaborating and achieving success in improving health and basic needs, the Dell Foundation’s support helps strengthen the communities where the majority of Dell families live and work,” said Lisa Huddleson, Executive Director, Dell Foundation.

This year’s grants were awarded to organizations whose applications addressed important dietary, nutritional, educational and access to health care issues, as well as substantiated results that could be achieved, while also fostering collaboration between local organizations to further strengthen community health and wellness.

The Dell Foundation solicits competitive applications from 501 non-profit organizations for a number of partnerships every two years. The next cycle for Healthy Community grant application submission will be announced in 2010.