How to select the right Dell laptop
IntroductionIn 1996, Dell bucked the brick-and-mortar trend and sold its products exclusively online. Since there was no need to keep stock in retail stores, the Round Rock company not only offered its products at a lower price than most of its competitors, but also allowed consumers to customize the internal hardware according to their needs and budget.Buying a Dell notebook used to be simple. Its consumer range was (and still is) the Inspiron series, while the Latitude machines took care of business users. For gamers and power users, the XPS models offered high-end computers which, though much pricier than the Inspirons, were still more affordable than most similarly specced models from other vendors. The first signs of change came in 2006 when Dell bought over Alienware, a company well-known for selling high-performance gaming systems at a steep premium. Though it competes with the XPS line for the same market, Dell repositioned Alienware as its premium gaming brand with designs and hardware not available to XPS models. For Asia, 2007 marks a major milestone when the company introduced XPS machines to the region. The Dell XPS M1730 became the first dual-graphics card gaming machine to enter the Asia-Pacific market. Since then, Dell has expanded its product lines to cater to specific segments of the market.
In the same year, Dell expanded its business model from online-only to brick-and-mortar stores. In order to avoid cannibalizing its own sales, retail outlets would carry exclusive configurations not available on its Web store. In Singapore, the Inspiron 13 is sold only via retail channels and is not available on Dell's Web site. At this time, Alienware products have not been brought to the Asia markets. Though its entry into the Netbook market was considered late, the Inspiron Mini 9 was popular not just because it was one of the most affordable machines but also because of its slimness and excellent keyboard. Moreover, it later included 3G/HSDPA connectivity as part of the standard bundle when other brands were charging up to S$300 (US$220.88) for this feature. The Inspiron Mini 12 also hit the record books as the first 12.1-inch Netbook, while the Inspiron Mini 10 impressed with a range of options that included GPS and integrated TV tuner. An important milestone for the company was the launch of the Adamo on March 26, 2009. This model breaks consumers' perspective of Dell as a maker of budget machines. With its sights set squarely on the MacBook Air, the Adamo uses the same unibody technology to fashion its chassis from a solid block of aluminum. To further emphasize its premium positioning, the machine also comes with a backlit keyboard, 128GB solid-state drive as well as an impressive 5-hour battery life. Unfortunately, with the ongoing economic recession Dell faces an uphill challange to convince consumers to part with S$4,499 (US$3,312.40) for a premium notebook. Thought its machines remain one of the most affordable in the market, it is no longer the cheapest brand in town as Taiwanese makers like Acer and BenQ have undercut the US company's prices. However, there are two key advantages to getting a Dell: Customizability and support. Its online ordering system allows users to pre-order the exact specifications according to their needs and budget. While the base models are affordable, high-end features such as Blu-ray and solid-state drives can be added at a premium. This flexibility is not available in other brands as most vendors offering fixed configurations. Dell machines all come with the standard one-year coverage for consumer models and three years for business laptops. At the point of purchase, the user can select from a range of warranty options which include international cover, three-year extension and 24/7 support. One of the most interesting upgrades is the CompleteCover package in which Dell will repair or replace the laptop even if it is damaged in an accident. Only fire, theft and loss are not covered under this plan. The online technical support is also impressive as it allows Dell repair staff to remotely control the laptop and fix software issues where possible. Since there are no Dell service centers, technicians are dispatched onsite to fix hardware problems. With the expansion of the company's product line from Inspiron and Latitude to the current eight lineups, differentiating them is not an easy task. We take a closer look at the defining characteristics of each range to see how they suit the particular needs of the market. Consumer lineupInspiron Mini | Inspiron | Studio | XPS | Studio XPS | Adamo
Business lineupVostro | Latitude
Tags: Netbook, Laptop Computer, Dell Computer Corp., Dell Latitude, Dell Inspiron | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Talkback
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acet says...
too expensive,can i get less price for student HP Pavilion dv2000
Sep 08, 2009 15:21
too expensive,can i get less price for student HP Pavilion dv2000
Sep 08, 2009 15:21
idinkz says...
I feel Dell is just right for me. Other than it's just-right price Dell also holds some free upgrades every week. I got my Dell Inspiron 13 with a free upgrade to 4 GB RAM and free upgrade to 2.5 GHz processor, and everything for SGD$1500. Other than that, the suppport is also great.
Oct 23, 2009 17:34
I feel Dell is just right for me. Other than it's just-right price Dell also holds some free upgrades every week. I got my Dell Inspiron 13 with a free upgrade to 4 GB RAM and free upgrade to 2.5 GHz processor, and everything for SGD$1500. Other than that, the suppport is also great.
Oct 23, 2009 17:34
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