September 2009 - Direct2Dell

Over the past several weeks you’ve read about the U.S. finalists from the Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award and how each company uniquely uses technology in their business.

From a record-breaking 3,000 applicants for this year’s award, BusinesSuites was selected as the U.S. national winner for its entrepreneurial approach to using technology to better serve its customers. Based in Austin, Texas, BusinesSuites provides executive suites and virtual office services in 15 locations nationwide.

BusinesSuites’ strong focus on hands-on customer service, backed by innovative use of technology, really set them apart from the other applicants and finalists.

As the winner, BusinesSuites will receive $25,000 in Dell products and services, a lifetime membership to NFIB, valued at $15,000, and a day of best-practice sharing with Dell experts, including time with Chairman and CEO Michael Dell.

To hear about how BusinesSuites uses technology to serve its clients, check out the video below featuring John Jordan, President of BusinesSuites.

For more on the award program and the other winners from around the world, check out http://www.dellhero.com

Today I am delighted to share an update on the Inspiron 11z.

When we first announced the Inspiron 11z, we took a Henry Ford approach - for $399 you got a compact ultra-thin laptop with limited configuration options, and one color -Obsidian Black. One of the benefits of this minimalist approach is it allows us to make the Inspiron 11z available via our FastTrack program, which ships a system within 24 hours of the order being placed. In fact, a solid $479 configuration with a 250GB hard drive and Vista Home Premium (with Windows 7 upgrade) is available today. 

However, for customers who enjoy the full configurability experience, I urge you to take another look at the Inspiron 11z, starting at $399. We've added more processor, memory and hard drive options, and expanded our trademark color choices, including Alpine White, Ice Blue, Jade Green, New Cherry Red,  Passion Purple, and Promise Pink (with a $5 contribution to Susan G. Komen). 

As I explained in my Inspiron 11z introduction post, this is a very cool system that combines netbook-like portability (weighs about 3 lbs) with laptop-like capability, because it is powered by Intel's CULV processor family, and the new options reinforce that. For example, starting today you can order an Inspiron 11z with an optional dual-core CULV, the Intel Pentium SU4100.  If more system memory is a priority, then look at going with the optional 4GB, and for you digital pack rats we offer a 320GB hard drive option, which can hold up to 80,000 songs or 142 hours of DVD quality video.  And according to the lab, a system featuring the Intel Pentium SU4100 averages a little  more than 3 hours of battery life with the 28WHr 3-cell battery and double that with the optional 56WHr 6-cell battery (mileage may vary based on configuration, operating condition and other factors).  

This is a great system for individuals who have become comfortable with the lighter weight and smaller size of their netbook, but need a bit more horsepower to power through emails with attachments, preparing photos for uploading to share online,  or preparing MP3s for taking on the road.

Sometimes being dependable, steady and unassuming may not always work to your advantage, especially on days like today when we're introducing products like the Latitude Z. The same I think holds true for commercial desktop technology. In recent years, desktop PCs have been much maligned being labeled as boring, passé and even antiquated. I couldn't disagree more, based on recent conversations with colleagues and customers, I've found that desktop systems will continue to play a vital role as the client backbone to most Fortune 500 companies.

Today, our OptiPlex line is the best selling commercial desktop in the world, according to IDC. As customer needs change and evolve, we've taken a good thing and made it better. How?

Well, the OptiPlex 780 gives IT managers streamlined remote systems management capabilities through Intel vPro technology. This technology provides a great way of "future proofing" an IT investment because it enables desktop virtualization, which is still in its infancy. At the same time, the OptiPlex 780 is engineered to keep downtime at a minimum when performing the four most common desktop service tasks: replacing hard drives, replacing power supplies, adding memory, and adding PCI(e) cards.

At the end of the day, IT managers and users want a versatile mainstream desktop solution that won't break the bank. The OptiPlex 780 delivers just that-delivering performance, efficiency and dependability. Systems like the OptiPlex 780 may not ever get noticed for being sleek but it is one of the few things that will keep working and plodding on without interruption.

Though they're not as exciting as the images of the Alienware ALX or the Latitude Z, you can see more pictures of it in our OptiPlex 780 Flickr set.

In trying times, it is more important than ever for businesses to stay focused on long term objectives, maximize value and gain productivity in everything they do.  That is why most organizations are looking to get more out of their IT. When it comes to technology, Dell supports the needs of businesses of all sizes, and has solutions for the printing needs of businesses.

You see, every print command is a tiny expense of toner and power. This ends up getting multiplied by hundreds and thousands or more. When all that is added up, printing can be a significant expense for growing businesses.

For large and medium businesses, the focus is on productivity, reliability and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Dell's imaging division has designed an award winning portfolio spanning multi-function(MF), single function(SF), monochrome and color lasers and inkjets.  Made for demanding business networks, they are capable of producing professional-grade color or black-and-white printing, scanning or faxing. You can learn more about some of the latest additions to Dell's growing printer offerings here.

Today, Dell launched the 3330dn; a fast workhorse printer that is built for reliability, with a low total cost of ownership and expansion capabilities that scale with growing business demands. Not only does this mono laser networked printer make black and white printing more affordable for medium and large businesses, it also makes them more productive by quickly printing more than 40 pages-per-minute (ppm). 

With a true print resolution of 1200x1200 dpi, the 3330dn produces razor sharp print outs for both business graphics and text while an 80,000 page-per-month duty cycle means this machine is fully capable of handling even the most demanding printing needs. Today's launch marks Dell's continued commitment to printing by providing an advanced category mono laser to strengthen Dell's printer portfolio. You can find out more about the technical specifications and features of the 3330dn here.

Most importantly, the 3330dn is a printer that grows with your business as it features an optional 550-sheet paper drawer as well as additional memory power for high capacity printing, as well as a 50-sheet multipurpose tray that lets you print media of different sizes.

Other key features include:

• User friendly with an intuitive 4-line graphical display
• Enhanced security features with a 10 digit numeric pad
• Complete suite of management software including the Dell Toner Management System, Dell Open Manager Printer Manager and Dell Printer Configuration Web Tool
• Environmentally friendly with double-sided printing standard and ENERGY STAR 1.1 certification

The 3330dn includes the same level of great service you've come to expect from Dell with a standard 1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty and 1-Year-Next-Business Day Advance Exchange Experience. And if that doesn't set your mind at ease, you can extend your warranty protection with terms of up to five years.  Installation and customizable ProSupport service options are also available. 

Update 10-14-09: The Dell 3330dn is available direct and through select Dell partners now in the US at a price of $599 and in Europe starting October 13 at  429 GBP or 499 €.

I’m writing this post from San Francisco where we’ve just finished up briefing reporters and bloggers on one of the coolest laptops Dell has ever introduced. And guess what – it’s designed for corporate customers and it’s called the Dell Latitude Z.

Yes, that’s right, while my consumer colleagues are typically all giddy with their latest gadgets, I get to brief the world on a laptop that just about every single design-savvy individual will want but one that your IT department will like as well. A system that is predictable, easy to manage. And now I am the one doing a little jig of excitement because this laptop is very cool.

Of course, there’s been some rumor and speculation about this new system for some time. Robert Scoble got an early peek at it (suggesting he would be throwing away his Mac when it comes out), there’s been some chatter on it over at Notebook Review’s Forum and, as always, our friends at Engadget and Gizmodo couldn’t pass up talking about it. Some secrets are hard to keep.

Before I share more details on the “Z,” let me give you some background on our overall commercial client strategy and how this fits in:

• Stability in our core, mainstream family of products. For example, Latitude E-Family laptops and OptiPlex desktops, with virtues grounded in commonality, image stability and extended lifecycles;
• Choice in innovative, purpose-engineered products designed for specific usage needs. like our Latitude E6400 XFR fully rugged laptop, Latitude 2100 education netbook and even our massively scalable Dell Precision workstations; and finally,
• Efficiency in flexible computing solutions that simplify management, speed up deployment, secure information from data center to desktop and reduce TCO.

With this in mind, we set out to develop another product that falls into our strategy. For many of our customers, their “personal brand” is critical to their success -- entrepreneurs, sales staff, executives, creative agencies, thought leaders and policy makers in higher education, and attorneys, to name just a few. We set out to bring together super svelte design with breakthrough features in a laptop that your IT department will support and manage.

The result: the Latitude Z600 – the thinnest, lightest 16-inch notebook in the world. The design isn’t the only advanced feature -- we’ve gone beyond to introduce several industry firsts such as wireless docking and inductive charging. We're also introducing Latitude ON, a hardware-based feature that allows you the full power of your laptop with the flexibility of your smartphone.

Latitude ON is essentially a motherboard within a motherboard where a separate processor and OS boot into Latitude ON “mode” to provide instant, interactive access to email, contacts, calendar and the Web. And, it hooks into Microsoft Exchange, IMAP, POP and Novell GroupWise email, while delivering battery life that lasts for days, not hours. See Lionel's Latitude ON post for more details.

Note: Click on the images in this post to see larger versions. If you want to see more, check out the Dell Latitude Z set on Flickr. Since there are many details to go through, I’ve listed out the details of the Latitude Z600 into bite-sized pieces. Here we go:

• Half an inch thin, 4.5 pounds with a four-cell battery with a lean, tapered design and soft-touch Black Cherry finish;
• World’s first laptop with optional wireless docking, that relies on a UWB radio for point-to-point communications, and inductive charging, which eliminates the need for power cords by using a dynamic power transfer between system primary stand and secondary module. Both will be available in the coming weeks;
• Dell’s first-of-its-kind EdgeTouch allows users to interact with commonly used applications and media controls through a touch interface that is on the edge of the system’s screen;
• Spacious multi-touch touchpad and silky-touch backlit keyboard;
• High-definition (1600x900) WLED display and two megapixel camera featuring Dell Capture technology that allows users to scan and save business cards to Microsoft Outlook contacts and copy documents;
• Dell FaceAware Lock-Out automatically locks out other users when a user steps away from the laptop;
• Ultra-small power adapter;
• Custom bags by Cole Haan and Timbuk2 designed specifically for the Latitude Z;
• Wireless options include WLAN, Bluetooth, optional 3G WWAN.

The Latitude Z is available starting today in select countries in Europe and Asia, as well as Canada and the U.S., starting at $1,999.

These new products are designed to meet the unique needs of our customers when they are ready to refresh or add to their existing infrastructure. We hope you like what you see. I would love to get your feedback and thoughts.

Check out this video on Latitude Z that will give you a better idea of how all its features work.