(Dell Inc., Round Rock, TX, www.dell.com) A leading PC manufacturer, founded in 1984 by Michael Dell. Originally selling under the "PCs Limited" brand, Dell was the first to legitimize direct sales of PCs by mail order and to provide quality telephone support. It was also the first major manufacturer to pre-load applications selected by the customer. In 2007, after more than two decades of direct sales, Dell expanded into the retail channel, and for the first time, people would see Dell products in chains such as Wal-Mart and Staples.
The company's rise was extraordinary. In 1991, after only seven years in business, it made the Fortune 500, ranking 490, with sales of $546 million. In 2007, Dell ranked 34 on the list with revenues of $61 billion. With more than 200 patents covering current and future computer systems and related technologies, Dell has been a major force in the industry.
Michael S. Dell
From Inc. Magazine's "Entrepreneur of the Year" to PC Magazine's "Man of the Year," Dell has received numerous awards for his management abilities. He started the company in 1984 with $1,000. (Image courtesy of Dell Inc.)
The company's rise was extraordinary. In 1991, after only seven years in business, it made the Fortune 500, ranking 490, with sales of $546 million. In 2007, Dell ranked 34 on the list with revenues of $61 billion. With more than 200 patents covering current and future computer systems and related technologies, Dell has been a major force in the industry.
Michael S. Dell
From Inc. Magazine's "Entrepreneur of the Year" to PC Magazine's "Man of the Year," Dell has received numerous awards for his management abilities. He started the company in 1984 with $1,000. (Image courtesy of Dell Inc.)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- For The First Time in Ages, I Agree With Apple
- Is this how you work? Then don't get angry at your OEM when they invalidate your warranty when you send your PC in for service. Yesterday our own Apple Core blogger Jason O'Grady reported that Apple has now adopted a policy of voiding...
- Blog posts 2009-11-24
- HP vs. Dell: Showdown at the Windows 7 upgrade corral
- Here's a tale of two PC titans: HP and Dell. One executes well every quarter. The other doesn't. Both see big PC upgrade cycles ahead. Both are looking to ride a bump in enterprise spending courtesy of Windows 7. Place your bets. by Larry Dignan
- Blog posts 2009-11-24
- Black Friday '09: $59 TomTom GPS, $78 Blu-ray player, $10 Blu-ray discs
- Our mammoth Black Friday guide has been updated yet again, this time with deals from many of the big dogs: Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop, Office Depot, HP, Dell, Amazon, BJ's, J&R and OfficeMax are all included in this round. by Andrew Nusca
- Blog posts 2009-11-24
- Is it time to go quad-core?
- I need a new laptop. My oldest son's laptop finally bit the dust, and he's pretty well attached to it, both for personal and school purposes. As a likely film major, my Mac would serve him well (at least through the first year of college, at which point he'll...
- Blog posts 2009-11-23
- Dell sells Motorola Droid for $119 with contract; $80 less than Verizon
- Race to the bottom.40% off less than a month into release is NOT a good sign for anyone involved. Does Dell think customers are going to "come for the Droid and stay for the Dimenson?"No Windows I am happy!:) How is $100/month a race to the "bottom"Unit price is just...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-21
- Dell sells Motorola Droid for $119 with contract; $80 less than Verizon
- Dell is now offering Motorola's hot new Droid smartphone for $119 with two-year contract. by Andrew Nusca
- Blog posts 2009-11-20
- Michael Dell sticks to Windows 7 big bang theory
- too old?"Windows XP is 8 years old"So What? If it ain't broke don't fix it!Windows 2000 is ten years old and still does almost everything I need. Everyone around me runs XP or newer, yet I have far fewer problems.What is good for the computer industry is not...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Research paints ugly IT employment picture: Almost 2 million jobs gone in 14 years
- Depressing...So much innovation happened in America in the 90's. Alot of what we have now was accomplished by American engineers, and now we are not being included anymore because of what? Arbitrage. Sad, Sad, Sad....Of courseBecause all these CEOs and wannabe businesspeople think quality doesn't matter so...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Michael Dell sticks to Windows 7 big bang theory
- Dell chief Michael Dell is projecting a Windows 7 upgrade cycle that could put PC growth "well into the teens." What's unclear is whether Dell will be able to grab a bigger share of the revenue pie. by Larry Dignan
- Blog posts 2009-11-20
- News to know: Google Chrome OS; Dell; AOL; Microsoft
- Google's Chrome OS from security to Web apps, Dreamforce wrap, AOL, Dell, and government IT lead today's headlines. by Larry Dignan
- Blog posts 2009-11-20
- Dell PowerVault DL2100 Powered by CommVault - Spec Sheet
- The industry's only integrated solution for faster disk-based backups and recoveries gets you up and running 4.5 times faster than configuring it yourself.
- White papers 2009-11-20
- Data Protection Strategies: Deduplication for More Efficient Backups
- Data proliferation coupled with increasing pressures to ensure comprehensive data protection is driving organizations to evaluate technologies to help them meet these requirements. Deduplication technologies can deliver more efficient backups of critical data and this on-demand webcast offers an overview of deduplication and key consideration factors. ...
- Webcasts 2009-11-20
- CompanionLink Professional 2.0 for Pocket PC 2.0 (Mobile)
- Power in your Pocket! CompanionLink Professional is the most powerful synchronization tool for people who use Pocket PC devices with ACT!, GoldMine and Lotus Notes. CompanionLink's detailed synchronization features make the most of your PDA investment, increasing both your productivity and business contact capabilities. If you are using multiple databases,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- CompanionLink Express 2.0 for Pocket PC 2.0 (Mobile)
- Power in your Pocket! CompanionLink Express quickly and easily synchronizes ACT!, GoldMine and Lotus Notes with any Windows Mobile-Pocket PC device. CompanionLink's detailed synchronization features make the most of your PDA investment, increasing both your productivity and business contact capabilities. CompanionLink offers more CRM features than any other synchronization tool...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Dell's third quarter disappoints yet it sees IT demand improving
- Dell is doing well.Dell is doing well, we are a Dell shop and they have the best ROI and ease of updating/upkeep...Is Dell now an "also ran"?It wasn't that long ago when Dell was king of the hill. Now they are shutting down their last US plant and continually...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Dell's third quarter disappoints yet it sees IT demand improving
- Dell missed Wall Street targets on third quarter earnings, revenue and gross margins. But Dell does see some signs that IT demand is improving. by Larry Dignan
- Blog posts 2009-11-19
- iTablet goes OLED,??bumped until late 2010
- $2000? I doubt it.Apple puts themselves in a "premium" price range, but $2000 for a 10" tablet? Even they're not THAT crazy.No ThanksDon't need or want either, waste of space...If I want real gaming, I'd rather play real games on my PS3 or Wii on my flat screen; or on...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Whitepaper: Fast, Reliable Data protection from Dell and CommVault
- Dell and CommVault have teamed up to create a next generation disk-based backup system that combines leading-edge Dell™ hardware with innovative CommVault® data protection software. The new state-of-the-art Dell PowerVault™ DL2000 - Powered by CommVault integrates disk-based backup and recovery with de-duplication technology to help deliver fast, reliable data protection.
- White papers 2009-11-19
- Power Solutions Article: Streamlining Data Management with CommVault Simpana and Dell EqualLogic PS5500E iSCSI SANs
- Ongoing data growth can present major challenges for IT organizations. The combination of CommVault® Simpana® backup-to-disk software and Dell™ EqualLogic™ PS5500E Internet SCSI iSCSI storage area network SAN arrays can provide a simplified, scalable, cost effective way to gain control over enterprise data and create a platform to support future...
- White papers 2009-11-19
- Whitepaper: Dell PowerVault DL2000 Powered by CommVault - Backup-to-Disk and Recovery with Deduplicatation
- Backup-to-Disk and Recovery with Deduplicatation
- White papers 2009-11-19
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Free Six-Month Trial for Eligible Organizations
-
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides fast online access, simple contact management and better sales performance for a low monthly cost - the best value on the market today.
- Learn more about the free, six-month trial offer>>
- Keep Up With The Latest In Document Management with The DocuMentor.
-
Doc delivers the scoop on today's enterprise content management, printer maintenance, and all other issues related to document management. It's the DocuMentor Blog.
- Learn more >>
- New Online Dashboard for IT Leaders
-
Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost-effective solutions to real-life IT problems.
- Learn more >>
- The best support in the Linux business
-
If Linux is going to power your mission-critical applications, you'd better have the best support known to business. Novell was rated the top provider of Linux technical support.
- Learn more >>
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- How to Drive Better Business Outcomes with Exceptional Web Experiences Download the eBook
- Driving Business Agility through SOA Connectivity & Integration Read the White Paper from IBM
- Linking Decisions and Information for Organizational Performance Read the Tom Davenport study
