By The New York Times
Dell announced on Monday that it would acquire the information technology provider Perot Systems for $3.9 billion as it seeks to expand beyond its core personal computer business.
Michael Dell, the company’s founder and chief executive, has spent much of the recession talking about directing his company’s cash stockpile toward acquisitions, particularly in the services arena. By agreeing to buy Perot Systems, for $30 a share in cash, Dell has made just such a purchase. But even with the acquisition, Dell’s services arm would remain far smaller those of rivals Hewlett-Packard and I.B.M.
Perot Systems, based in Plano, Tex., handles a wide range of technology services, including data center management, software and consulting.
Perot Systems is “a premium asset with great people that enhances our opportunities for immediate and long-term growth,” Mr. Dell said in a statement. “There will be efficiencies from combining the companies, but the acquisition makes such great sense because of the obvious ways our businesses complement each other.”
Dell and Perot Systems, which was founded in 1988 by H. Ross Perot, said that the terms of the deal had been approved by the boards of both companies. Perot Systems, which had revenue last year of $2.8 billion, will become Dell’s services unit and be led by Peter Altabef, the Perot Systems chief executive. Ross Perot Jr., the chairman, is expected to join the Dell board.
“Today’s announcement is the next step in formalizing a relationship that has flourished for some time,” Ross Perot Jr. said in the statement. “When my father founded Perot Systems, he envisioned a global information-technology leader. The new, larger Dell builds on that promise and its own successes by taking Perot Systems’ expertise to more customers than ever.”
The combined heft of Perot Systems and Dell’s own services organization should result in about $8 billion of services revenue annually, according to Dell’s statement. Services deals tend to have far higher margins than selling things like PC’s and computer servers.
Since its overall business has slowed significantly in recent years, Dell has been exploring more profitable growth areas. It has been slowly building up its own services division through smaller acquisitions over the last two years. It has claimed to offer lower-priced services than its larger rivals and Indian services firm.
But the acquisition of Perot Systems now places Dell in much the same arena as its competitors.
Dell, based in Round Rock, Tex., is one of the world’s largest computer makers, with a customer base that includes corporate, government and home users. Dell said in late August that its profit fell 23 percent to $472 million in the three months through the end of July, as businesses reduced their computer purchases and prices tumbled. Revenue fell 22 percent to $12.8 billion.
For the fourth straight quarter, the No. 2 marker of PCs maker posted a drop in sales and profit from a year earlier. But in a sign Dell’s business may be stabilizing, it said sales rose slightly from earlier this year.
Dell posted earnings for its fiscal second quarter ended July 31 of $472 million, or 24 cents a share, down from $616 million, or 31 cents, a year earlier. Revenue was $12.76 billion, down 22% from a year ago.
Showing posts with label used laptops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label used laptops. Show all posts
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Dell Offers Peek At Notebook Thinner Than Apple Air
By Information Week
Dell on Wednesday offered a peek at a "design concept" for a stylish, high-end laptop that could become the computer maker's next challenge to Apple's MacBook Air.
A profile of the laptop, which would be the newest addition to Dell's ultra-thin Adamo line of notebooks, is shown on a Web site specially created to show off the PC. The system is slightly less than four-tenths of an inch thick. That's almost half the thickness of the first Adamo Dell released in March. That system is 0.65 of an inch thick, which is the same as the Air.
Dell is clearly going after Apple's Air with its Adamo line. In sending an email announcing the new Adamo site, Dell called the latest line of laptops a "design concept" and gave no other details.
The Air and current Adamo have starting prices of $1,499. The Air has a faster Core 2 Duo processor, 1.86 GHz versus 1.2 GHz, but the Adamo comes with a solid-state drive instead of a hard drive. Both systems have 13-inch displays, but the Air weighs three pounds and the Adam four pounds.
Dell used the same marketing scheme in trying to generate buzz for the first Adamo. The company launched a teaser site in December 2008, the month before Dell showed the system briefly at the Consumer Electronics Shows in Las Vegas.
Ultra-thin laptops under an inch thick are alternatives to less-expensive netbooks. The thin systems typically have more power, full-size keyboards and larger displays than the mini-notebooks--as well as bigger profit margins, making them more attractive to vendors.
Dell on Wednesday offered a peek at a "design concept" for a stylish, high-end laptop that could become the computer maker's next challenge to Apple's MacBook Air.
A profile of the laptop, which would be the newest addition to Dell's ultra-thin Adamo line of notebooks, is shown on a Web site specially created to show off the PC. The system is slightly less than four-tenths of an inch thick. That's almost half the thickness of the first Adamo Dell released in March. That system is 0.65 of an inch thick, which is the same as the Air.
Dell is clearly going after Apple's Air with its Adamo line. In sending an email announcing the new Adamo site, Dell called the latest line of laptops a "design concept" and gave no other details.
The Air and current Adamo have starting prices of $1,499. The Air has a faster Core 2 Duo processor, 1.86 GHz versus 1.2 GHz, but the Adamo comes with a solid-state drive instead of a hard drive. Both systems have 13-inch displays, but the Air weighs three pounds and the Adam four pounds.
Dell used the same marketing scheme in trying to generate buzz for the first Adamo. The company launched a teaser site in December 2008, the month before Dell showed the system briefly at the Consumer Electronics Shows in Las Vegas.
Ultra-thin laptops under an inch thick are alternatives to less-expensive netbooks. The thin systems typically have more power, full-size keyboards and larger displays than the mini-notebooks--as well as bigger profit margins, making them more attractive to vendors.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The PC Goes on an Energy Diet
Personal computers suck up enormous amounts of electricity—often when they aren't even being used. Manufacturers are tackling the problem.
By The Wall Street Journal
Some of the biggest energy hogs in a company sit in front of workers everyday: their PCs.
For a company that has 10,000 personal-computer desktops, for example, just leaving most of them turned on all night can cost more than $165,000 a year in electricity bills, while spewing more than 1,380 tons of carbon dioxide into the air per year.
That's roughly the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that come from driving a car for two months. In all, estimates are upwards of $1.7 billion that is being wasted in the U.S. with about 15 million tons of carbon emitted by desktops left on overnight.
As a result, corporate IT managers are clamoring for ways to rein in their PCs energy and expenses. And technology manufacturers are responding. For instance, Array Networks Inc. last November announced that its Desktop Direct program would let people remotely access their desktop even when it is turned off. Dell Inc. says the displays on its laptops use 43% less energy after older cathode screens have been swapped out with more efficient LED ones. And Hewlett-Packard Co. says its has saved 41% energy consumption on its lineup of PCs, compared with 2005 models, because of fewer components and other factors. Many other technology manufacturers are going green, as well.
In the end, this all adds up to smart business.
Returns on Investment
Developers say its desktop energy consumption has stayed roughly the same despite increasing the work force to 50 from 30 employees since 2008 because it switched to more efficient machines. The company's 200 desktops, laptops and refurbished laptops from H-P use about 40% less power than earlier models.
The move to greener PCs has picked up steam over the past five years, following mounting pressure from shareholders and environmental groups to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions that most scientists believe cause global warming. The PC makers have also faced heat for not doing enough to keep obsolete models out of the scrap heap. Many have since launched computer take-back programs, and have also switched to more recyclable materials.
Leading the Way
Three of the more active manufacturers in green PCs have been Dell, H-P and Apple Inc.
H-P, which has long operated an environmental program, ramped up its efforts on PCs in 2005 after someone asked, "What more can we do?," H-P redesigned its entire PC product line in 12 months, beginning in 2006, to include green features such as more efficient power supplies and the ability to go into power-saving sleep mode faster.
More recently, H-P in 2008 launched an EliteBook line of laptops that lets the user access email, calendars and contacts without having to power up the computer. The laptops use a technology called QuickLook, a separate, miniature operating system that doesn't require booting up the machine's main OS. QuickLook is also a feature on H-P's ProBook line of laptops.
Earlier this year, the company began shipping some consumer laptops featuring batteries that can hold a charge for as long as three years. That saves energy because they don't have to be recharged as much, H-P officials say.
Meanwhile, Dell over the past few years has revamped its OptiPlex desktops and Latitude laptops to include energy-saving features. Last year, the Round Rock, Texas, company introduced Latitude models that also can access email and Internet sites without booting up the computer; these models also have batteries that last twice as long as those of the previous model—six hours instead of three. One of the biggest savings, Dell officials say, has come from the shift to LED screens on laptops.
Among the biggest beneficiaries of the energy savings: Dell itself. The company more than a year ago installed night shut-off software in 50,000 desktops and notebooks across a number of its operations world-wide, achieving an estimated $1.8 million in power savings annually.
At Apple, company officials play up another benefit of green PCs: their reduced carbon output. The Cupertino, Calif., company calculates the amount of carbon each model uses. In the case of the MacBook Air laptop launched in 2008, the company says 43% of its carbon emissions come from the energy it uses. So to cut down on energy, the MacBook is equipped with features such as more efficient power supplies and enhanced sleep mode. The new 13-inch MacBook Pro released earlier this year draws just 15 watts when idle with display on—a quarter of the power needed to run a single household lightbulb—versus about double that for some other new laptops.
Remote Control
Software makers are also stepping up to address the problem of PC energy. Some programs currently being used let IT managers remotely adjust energy use of computers—such as being able to shut them off when not in use. They say their customers have saved more than $30 million in energy costs since it began offering the service about three years ago.
One customer, Cox Communications Inc., says it has seen a 40% drop in energy consumption in 15,000 desktops and used laptops since the company began deploying Surveyor last April. The Atlanta cable firm, a unit of Cox Enterprises Inc., uses Surveyor to remotely turn on desktops at night when they need software updates, and then turn them back off when the download is complete, says Peter West, vice president of IT and operational development.
By The Wall Street Journal
Some of the biggest energy hogs in a company sit in front of workers everyday: their PCs.
For a company that has 10,000 personal-computer desktops, for example, just leaving most of them turned on all night can cost more than $165,000 a year in electricity bills, while spewing more than 1,380 tons of carbon dioxide into the air per year.
That's roughly the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that come from driving a car for two months. In all, estimates are upwards of $1.7 billion that is being wasted in the U.S. with about 15 million tons of carbon emitted by desktops left on overnight.
As a result, corporate IT managers are clamoring for ways to rein in their PCs energy and expenses. And technology manufacturers are responding. For instance, Array Networks Inc. last November announced that its Desktop Direct program would let people remotely access their desktop even when it is turned off. Dell Inc. says the displays on its laptops use 43% less energy after older cathode screens have been swapped out with more efficient LED ones. And Hewlett-Packard Co. says its has saved 41% energy consumption on its lineup of PCs, compared with 2005 models, because of fewer components and other factors. Many other technology manufacturers are going green, as well.
In the end, this all adds up to smart business.
Returns on Investment
Developers say its desktop energy consumption has stayed roughly the same despite increasing the work force to 50 from 30 employees since 2008 because it switched to more efficient machines. The company's 200 desktops, laptops and refurbished laptops from H-P use about 40% less power than earlier models.
The move to greener PCs has picked up steam over the past five years, following mounting pressure from shareholders and environmental groups to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions that most scientists believe cause global warming. The PC makers have also faced heat for not doing enough to keep obsolete models out of the scrap heap. Many have since launched computer take-back programs, and have also switched to more recyclable materials.
Leading the Way
Three of the more active manufacturers in green PCs have been Dell, H-P and Apple Inc.
H-P, which has long operated an environmental program, ramped up its efforts on PCs in 2005 after someone asked, "What more can we do?," H-P redesigned its entire PC product line in 12 months, beginning in 2006, to include green features such as more efficient power supplies and the ability to go into power-saving sleep mode faster.
More recently, H-P in 2008 launched an EliteBook line of laptops that lets the user access email, calendars and contacts without having to power up the computer. The laptops use a technology called QuickLook, a separate, miniature operating system that doesn't require booting up the machine's main OS. QuickLook is also a feature on H-P's ProBook line of laptops.
Earlier this year, the company began shipping some consumer laptops featuring batteries that can hold a charge for as long as three years. That saves energy because they don't have to be recharged as much, H-P officials say.
Meanwhile, Dell over the past few years has revamped its OptiPlex desktops and Latitude laptops to include energy-saving features. Last year, the Round Rock, Texas, company introduced Latitude models that also can access email and Internet sites without booting up the computer; these models also have batteries that last twice as long as those of the previous model—six hours instead of three. One of the biggest savings, Dell officials say, has come from the shift to LED screens on laptops.
Among the biggest beneficiaries of the energy savings: Dell itself. The company more than a year ago installed night shut-off software in 50,000 desktops and notebooks across a number of its operations world-wide, achieving an estimated $1.8 million in power savings annually.
At Apple, company officials play up another benefit of green PCs: their reduced carbon output. The Cupertino, Calif., company calculates the amount of carbon each model uses. In the case of the MacBook Air laptop launched in 2008, the company says 43% of its carbon emissions come from the energy it uses. So to cut down on energy, the MacBook is equipped with features such as more efficient power supplies and enhanced sleep mode. The new 13-inch MacBook Pro released earlier this year draws just 15 watts when idle with display on—a quarter of the power needed to run a single household lightbulb—versus about double that for some other new laptops.
Remote Control
Software makers are also stepping up to address the problem of PC energy. Some programs currently being used let IT managers remotely adjust energy use of computers—such as being able to shut them off when not in use. They say their customers have saved more than $30 million in energy costs since it began offering the service about three years ago.
One customer, Cox Communications Inc., says it has seen a 40% drop in energy consumption in 15,000 desktops and used laptops since the company began deploying Surveyor last April. The Atlanta cable firm, a unit of Cox Enterprises Inc., uses Surveyor to remotely turn on desktops at night when they need software updates, and then turn them back off when the download is complete, says Peter West, vice president of IT and operational development.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Microsoft, Nokia Take Aim at BlackBerry
Giants Strike Alliance to Bring Office and Collaboration Software to Nokia's Cellphones
By The Wall Street Journal
Microsoft Corp. and Nokia Corp., once bitter rivals in the mobile market, formed an alliance to strengthen their positions at a time when other competitors have become far more troublesome.
The deal between the two companies will bring Microsoft's Office programs and other software to Nokia phones. It is aimed squarely at the professional market that Research In Motion Ltd. targets so successfully with its BlackBerry line of smart phones.
For Microsoft, the deal is an attempt to increase the appeal of Office -- a lucrative franchise that includes Word, Excel and other productivity programs -- to a business audience that is being courted by competing products from rivals that range from Google Inc. to Cisco Systems Inc. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
In a conference call, a Nokia executive was particularly blunt in saying the deal represents more of a threat to the BlackBerry maker than to Apple Inc., which is thriving among consumers with the iPhone.
It's about creating a formidable challenger to RIM than anybody else. RIM, which is based in Waterloo, Canada, didn't respond to requests for comment.
Nokia remains the dominant supplier of smart phones, but its market share has been shrinking, falling to 45% of world-wide unit sales in the second quarter from 47.4% in the same period the prior year.
RIM, meanwhile, jumped to 18.7% of the market from 17.3% during the same periods, while Apple soared to 13.3% from 2.8%.
Part of Nokia's problem, analysts say, is that its devices, which rely mostly on the Symbian operating system, have lost technological ground to rivals.
Nokia is suffering right now from having a really old user interface in Symbian. It's not that exciting.
While the Microsoft deal won't provide more eye-catching interfaces for Nokia phones, it could give users a better experience on the go as they try to stay connected to work, whether editing Word documents or viewing Excel spreadsheets.
Microsoft said next year it will offer a Nokia version of an existing product called Office Communicator Mobile that makes it easier for users to be reached through a single phone number, rather than requiring callers to hunt for them by dialing multiple numbers.
The two companies will work on other projects, such as conferencing software that will allow Nokia phone users to participate in teleconferences that use interactive slide presentations.
Microsoft's strategy is to make it tougher for business users to switch to applications from rivals such as Google. Microsoft's approach here is to put an anchor point in ground.
By The Wall Street Journal
Microsoft Corp. and Nokia Corp., once bitter rivals in the mobile market, formed an alliance to strengthen their positions at a time when other competitors have become far more troublesome.
The deal between the two companies will bring Microsoft's Office programs and other software to Nokia phones. It is aimed squarely at the professional market that Research In Motion Ltd. targets so successfully with its BlackBerry line of smart phones.
For Microsoft, the deal is an attempt to increase the appeal of Office -- a lucrative franchise that includes Word, Excel and other productivity programs -- to a business audience that is being courted by competing products from rivals that range from Google Inc. to Cisco Systems Inc. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
In a conference call, a Nokia executive was particularly blunt in saying the deal represents more of a threat to the BlackBerry maker than to Apple Inc., which is thriving among consumers with the iPhone.
It's about creating a formidable challenger to RIM than anybody else. RIM, which is based in Waterloo, Canada, didn't respond to requests for comment.
Nokia remains the dominant supplier of smart phones, but its market share has been shrinking, falling to 45% of world-wide unit sales in the second quarter from 47.4% in the same period the prior year.
RIM, meanwhile, jumped to 18.7% of the market from 17.3% during the same periods, while Apple soared to 13.3% from 2.8%.
Part of Nokia's problem, analysts say, is that its devices, which rely mostly on the Symbian operating system, have lost technological ground to rivals.
Nokia is suffering right now from having a really old user interface in Symbian. It's not that exciting.
While the Microsoft deal won't provide more eye-catching interfaces for Nokia phones, it could give users a better experience on the go as they try to stay connected to work, whether editing Word documents or viewing Excel spreadsheets.
Microsoft said next year it will offer a Nokia version of an existing product called Office Communicator Mobile that makes it easier for users to be reached through a single phone number, rather than requiring callers to hunt for them by dialing multiple numbers.
The two companies will work on other projects, such as conferencing software that will allow Nokia phone users to participate in teleconferences that use interactive slide presentations.
Microsoft's strategy is to make it tougher for business users to switch to applications from rivals such as Google. Microsoft's approach here is to put an anchor point in ground.
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