Dell Boosts Memory in Desktop Line
Company also announces new Inspiron Media Center laptops.Ben Ames, IDG News Service
Dell made a grab for more of the desktop computer market today, doubling the memory and hard-drive space of its XPS 200 and 400 PCs without increasing their prices.
That move changes the minimum configuration of all XPS computers to 1GB of memory and 160GB of hard-drive capacity, up from 512MB of memory and 80GB hard-drive space when they debuted in September 2005.
The extra memory will boost system performance, and will also allow users to store extra data like music, photos, and video files, the company says.
Dell has sweetened the desktop deal further with an offer of no-interest financing for the first 18 months. Pricing for the XPS desktop lineup starts at $999.
New Inspiron Laptops
Earlier this week, Dell announced two new laptop computers aimed at the middle of the marketplace for people who perform small-business tasks or enjoy multimedia entertainment.
The Inspiron 6400 and Inspiron E1505 are the first Dell products to provide technologies previously available only on high-end systems, packed into a 6-pound package.
The Inspiron E1505 notebook is designed to be a multimedia tool, capable of playing movies, photos, music, and--with an additional tuner and Internet link--television. The Inspiron 6400 offers enough horsepower to allow home-office and small-business customers to run demanding office applications for untethered productivity.
For either goal, the key technology is Intel's Core Duo processor. The chip's architecture allows users to juggle simultaneous tasks, such as playing videos while ripping music files, or editing spreadsheets while running virus scans.
Why Desktop Freebies?
The company made the desktop move to preserve its market share in high-end, high-margin computers, says Charles Smulders, an analyst at Gartner in San Jose, California.
"Dell needs to keep these configurations highly competitive, as buyers in this segment are more knowledgeable regarding machine specifications than buyers of Dell's mainstream lines," he says.
Seeking a competitive advantage, Dell made the move when it saw prices continue to fall for DRAM (dynamic RAM) and other storage technologies.
Indeed, Dell says the new machines are aimed at gamers, tech enthusiasts, and buyers who seek product excellence.
The new XPS desktop systems will have Intel dual-core processors, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, and a 15-month security subscription for virus and spyware protection.
Laptop Specs
Both notebook models are built for speed when handling image or song files. Users can access digital media without booting Windows, thanks to a one-button MediaDirect function. And they can access those files on an attached storage device with a five-in-one media card reader or ExpressCard slot.
Dell is selling the Inspiron E1505 and 6400 systems for $929 with an Intel Core Solo T1300 processor or $979 with a Core Duo T2300 processor.
Those standard configurations also include Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, a 15.4-inch screen, 512MB DDR2 memory, a 40GB hard drive, a six-cell battery, and a one-year limited warranty.
Options include a choice of operating system (Microsoft Windows XP Home, Media Center Edition 2005, or XP Professional); a Serial ATA hard drive up to 100GB; and either a Core Duo or Core Solo processor, each running at 667 MHz.