dell

[Comptalk]

I consider Alienware in a separate division than DELL. DELL could not complete against them or Voodoo, so DELL acquired Alienware. However, Voodoo computers are said to be built better and faster than Alienware. The support is different at DELL than with Alienware. So, in theory, Alienware is currently being operated such like You Tube with Google (which we all know this will change). If DELL pulls the customer focused support away from Alienware, they will loose even more market share to HP. There was a rumor a few years ago that Michael Dell was in talks with IBM's Louis Gerstner for either an merger or acquisition. Well, both CEO's are gone now, and DELL is no where near where it was back then as the market leader. However, one needs to think on how to battle MSFT's Xbox division (which they are in a way in competition with), Apple, Google, HP, and a host of other companies. Will Palmisano consider buying DELL, who knows. But I do think DELL needs to open up their eyes and see what obstacles are a head. With little allies, I do not know where else they can go. It would be a shame if they eventually end up where Gateway is. Then again, the CEO at Gateway is... well you know.

 

[UnFoRGiVeN]

Quote from ddunbar:

For the record, I loathe MSFT. But, for what I do, I haven't a viable alternative.

I, like you, have a background in computers. Was a programmer back in the day but feel in love with finance. The rest is history and I became an end-user.

Though, it's true - if you can afford an Alienware(Dell owned), etc., you won't be price sensitive and will be looking to get the best of the best. But you'll be "spec" sensitive at the same time. Usually though, home high-enders are either gamers or multimedia enthusiasts. You don't think of a MAC in terms of high end gaming. Neither IBM or SONY. DELL may have to worry about consoles like the new PS3 and Wii. Not so much the XBOX 360.

But DELL is perhaps the only maker of high end Gaming Laptops.

DELL does need Mike to dip his foot in the pool again. There seems to be a complacency at Dell right now. Even their adds aren't turning anyone on. So you can get a custom built computer. That's nothing new. They need to drop their ad campaign and go back to the hip "Dude, you're getting a DELL" style adds to compete with APPLE's highly effective, and memorable ads. (Too bad that actor in Dell's old commercials got caught with pot. Killed the campaign.) They also need a new ergonomics design team to make their products more appealing. Inserting plastic inserts with various colors or patterns or even college team logos, into a squarish box is not all that big of a deal.

DELL need a synonymous-ness. Like when you think mp3 player, you think Ipod. Right now, they only thing they have going for themselves is that you get a lot for the money. That makes DELL computers a commodity. But buying a Dell is sort of a compromise. You get a good product for less, but you get less customer service if you need it.

At ~30% of market share, they need to get on the ball with fresh thinking if they want to maintain that for the next 5 years.

1. Why does Dell have to worry about the PS3/Wii but not the 360?

I agree with the AD statement, i was going to post about it but decided not to. I find the Apple commercials entertaining especially the guy(PC) that looks like Bill Gates.

 

[Comptalk]

Quote from UnFoRGiVeN:
I find the Apple commercials entertaining especially the guy(PC) that looks like Bill Gates. [/B]

I believe that was the idea. Mac - Steve Jobs (cool, hip, fresh). PC - Bill Gates (dull, boring, standard). Not personally saying this is true though. I have the utmost respect for Bill Gates. MSFT 2.0 under Ballmer, I don't know. He reminds me of Crazy Eddie.

 

[ddunbar]

Quote from UnFoRGiVeN:

1. Why does Dell have to worry about the PS3/Wii but not the 360?

Because PS3 and Wii offers real competition to PC games. And at a price tag north of $500, the decision as to upgrading your PC or buying a PS3 comes down to what you use your computer for. IF you use it to play games mostly, it makes economic sense to buy a console and keep your old computer for web browsing. And that economic decision is something DELL has to worry about.

Is someone going to spend $3000 on a Dell box to get graphics and gameplay that don't exactly reach the level of a $600 PS3?

The 360 has been out for a while so we know what kind of effect it's having on the PC gaming crowd. Most PC's out now are more powerful than it and at a price that makes getting a PC and buying an Xbox doable.

 

[romik]

This might be a silly question, but why can't PC manufacturers develop a gaming environment built into PCs that operate on instant play, instead of install and pre-load principles. That IMHO will create a massive market as only then PCs will offer both - computing and instant gaming, hence no need for gaming consoles

 

[UnFoRGiVeN]

Quote from ddunbar:

Because PS3 and Wii offers real competition to PC games. And at a price tag north of $500, the decision as to upgrading your PC or buying a PS3 comes down to what you use your computer for. IF you use it to play games mostly, it makes economic sense to buy a console and keep your old computer for web browsing. And that economic decision is something DELL has to worry about.

Is someone going to spend $3000 on a Dell box to get graphics and gameplay that don't exactly reach the level of a $600 PS3?

The 360 has been out for a while so we know what kind of effect it's having on the PC gaming crowd. Most PC's out now are more powerful than it and at a price that makes getting a PC and buying an Xbox doable.

Really? Funny that you say that, last time i checked the 360 is more powerful than the PS3. Epic has stated that PS3 can't handle Gear Of War for the simple fact it only has 215 RAM while the 360 has 512. The Wii being the worst/least powerful of the three, i don't see the Wii being a competitor, i's only a little bit more powerful than the original xbox.

At the end of the day it come down to game and the X360 has better/More games than the PS3 and supports the same graphics for less. Microsoft is stealing all the games from Sony and making them MSFT exclusives. The only reason the PS3 will do good is because of its customer loyalty. But, the normal consumer will look at the two and pick on price, when you see the same games on the X360 gettin better review than on the PS3. The clear winner is the X360.

SNE is forcing Blue-Ray on the PS3, this may be a good move but it also be a bad move. If they did not have Blue-Ray on their system they will have the same price point as a X360. But, SNE wants to push their format(Blue-Ray), a format that hasn't been proven.