Dell has done a credible job of perpetuating the myth that they have the top of the line technology. Of course they are the ones saying that. If you spend enough $$ on advertising then people will start to believe anything. However, saying it doesn't make it so. Here what the real movers in the industry have to say about the technology behind DELL.

Cracking Dell's Code
Shifting market conditions, poor business decisions and lagging technology are creating fissures in the direct-sales giant--and creating opportunities for solution providers

By Ed Scannell, VARBusiness
VARBusiness, Thu. Jan. 05, 2006

From the January 09, 2006 VARBusiness Sailing in the wake of rivals' innovations and setting the market with low-cost products, Dell has made a fortune. But competitors and their channel partners are taking price out of the equation and beating Dell by enhancing partner relationships, improving services and focusing on high-end solutions. The result: Dell's low-cost, direct model is hitting chop. "Dell has had a very focused strategy: Don't spend a lot on research and development, leverage the work of others, and deliver cookie-cutter servers and desktops cheaply," says Gordon Haff, senior analyst with market researcher firm Illuminata. "That lined up well with the market when saving money was in. But IT managers have to consider more than price now in making buying decisions." Dell declined several requests by VARBusiness to interview its executives for this report. But there's a bevy of data and expert observations that draw a bleak picture of Dell and, as a result, what opportunities that opens for solution providers.

View full article at www.varbusiness.com    Cracking Dell's Code

8 Ways To Beat Dell

By Robert Wright, VARBusiness
VARBusiness, Thu. Jan. 05, 2006

From the January 09, 2006 VARBusiness

Though it's not yet showing up in market share, Dell is now showing signs of vulnerability. That's partly due to the creative ways solution providers are learning to beat it in the market--and partly due to Dell's own foibles. Evidence of the latter can be found in its third-quarter earnings, which came up short because of slumping sales in the United States and the United Kingdom, and a $300 million charge because of defective motherboards for OptiPlex desktops.

...It's no secret that the Dell portfolio has had trouble scaling. The computer maker has abandoned its high-end technology strategies

Once the gold standard for customer service and support, Dell's reputation has taken several recent hits. Resellers say many of their customers that purchase Dell systems have complained about the company's call centers overseas, and even the technical skills and knowledge of Dell's domestic support staff. "They're certainly not happy with Dell's lack of on-site support," says Al Rosen, president of Bi-Tech Enterprises of New York.

View full article at www.varbusiness.com    8 Ways To Beat Dell