Dell to launch high-end PC line
By Marc Perton 
posted June 3rd 2005 12:31PM
posted June 3rd 2005 12:31PM
Dude, Dell is going upscale! The company plans to roll out a series of high-end PCs, which the company calls the "Lexus of their lineup," this fall. The machines will include both desktops and laptops priced between $1,200 and $3,500, and will sport a look similar to the company's current XPS series (pictured), which is targeted at gamers and media junkies. Also featured will be what the company calls "white glove" service, which will include more online and in-home service options. We're down with that, as long as they don't send Steve.
"The Lexus of their lineup"?
I think Lexus would take offense at the ugliness of that computer. Yuck.
Is this a response to Acer's 'Ferrari' series ?
Dell making luxury computers is an oxymoron.
So they are going to have someone wearing white gloves tell you to reinstall the OS?
dell schold get a life and pake computers that actuly "work"
I'd hardly call Lexus luxury... i guess they might be hedging their bets for future series but surely if you want a prestige name you use Mercedes or BMW?
Absolutely HIDEOUS. What they really need is a service to stand behind all my friends and beat them with a tire iron every time they get another AIM virus.
^^^opps spelling mistake lol
The prisoner recycling program is run by Unicor, http://www.unicor.gov , at prisons in Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, ~and~ Texas, not by Dell.
They should just start selling cheap Macs.
you mean Dell will finally have Americans staffing their call centers for this line of computers' white glove service?
If my Lexus looked like that, I would push it off a cliff.
I believe the picture shown is misleading... it has nothing to do with the, as yet, un-named Dell luxery line. Its simply a pic of the XPS notebook. I, for one, am looking forward to Dell branching out into this boutique market. I think they have the means of coming up with something truly unique.
Claiming Lexus = quality is an oxymoron. Talk about Porsche I understand but Lexus?? give me a break.
And what's wrong w/Dell going upscale? Why is AlienWare in a better advantage to exploit this niche market given huge buying power and amazing JIT ordering of Dell?
you guys crack me up..
Lexus vehicles aren't quality vehicles, #15? You might need to get out more often.
The new line will be called FUGLEY. If I want to spend a lot of money on a PC for it's design I'll buy a VAIO.
It's actually in response to Alienware's ALX lineup... http://www.alienware.com/ALX_pages/main_alx.aspx Dell has been battling Alienware for some time now. As one of the comments above, Dell really makes some ugly PCs. Dell should stick to their market, as they are only validating the boutique markets and giving them more power. What people don't realize is that as Dell has been trying to cash in on the gaming lines, companies like Alienware have been trying to lower their prices, to the point that they can compete with Dell on price and sometimes even better. Brand name parts, cool styling, why buy dell?
I am an ex-employee of Alienware, so my thoughts might be biased... but hey... you be the judge.
#7 & #15 - You need to read a bit more about the auto industry - Lexus is the #1 Luxury brand right now (not ultra-luxury, such as Rolls or Bentley), topping Mercedes and BMW. As a matter of fact, Mercedes is really, really hurting with quality issues right now and are starting to be considered junk.
And it seems most missed the perfect analogy to Lexus - Toyota wanted to produce luxury vehicles, but nobody was willing to pay $60,000 for a Toyota. So they created the Lexus badge and the rest is history.
Volkswagen didn't learn and they tried (are trying still?) to sell a $60,000 VW, which was a huge bomb.
So, if Dell makes the Lexus analogy, it seems they will try to distance this new line away from the Dell name, for those that would never buy a high end "Dell".
And I might not have stressed this enough, but if you read the article, it clearly states "the as-of-yet-unnamed brand."
It seems these new computers will not carry the Dell logo on them at all, but be sold under a totally different company name. Dell knows they can't, and doesn't want to, repostion the Dell brand into the high-end market, so they are going to create a totally new brand to serve that market segement. Classic Marketing 101.
"2. Posted Jun 3, 2005, 12:40 PM ET by iPodTodd
Are they still using prisoners in Texas to dismantle recycled computers? That's what keeps me from gettin a Dell."
Why not? What good use are prisoners for then? They don't deserve any rights and should be used as seen fit.
I guess Dell customers will have to wait a couple years for their Lexus OS.
@#22(kirk):
obviously, you haven't seen Longest Yard
#7 mercedes and bmw are way overrated. there is a reason why lexus is the best selling luxury automobile manufacturer in the US. mercedes and bmw need to realize the 80s are over and have to step up their game. thats besdes the point though it will be interesting to see what dell comes out with.
#19,
You are mostly right but VW does have a lux line, it's called Bently. There is Audi, Lambo and a few others that have some weight in the lux marketplace. VW line does need a bit of a halo effect so maybe that's why they did that $60k phaeton. Their research (maybe flawed, sure) showed that younger people are okay with VW as a lux brand. Although I don't think of younger drivers and lux sedans like the Phaeton.
Maybe the point is that Dell should come up with a different product line for high end. Acutally call it something other than Dell (like Toyota did with Lexus).
Will they be hiring any Industrial Designers that actually have working vision?
I just stick to my Porsche. Lexus to me is like a Toyota or other Japanese crap automobiles...
Regarding VW and Phaeton - the whole concept is stupid because you can get an Audi A8 for slightly more which is the same exact car...
Prisoner recycling program?!?
One usually hears the phrase "The Lexus of ..." but you never hear that of Porsche. Whenever I hear Porsche, I always think its for guys having a midlife crisis.
Not many gamers will adapt this line if it isn't offered with AMD Athlon FX processors. I don't think any serious gamer would even consider paying a premium for an intel based computer. For sure I wouldn't - Alienware it is unless Dell cracks down and offers AMD based systems.
re: #22
http://www.google.com/search?&q=prison%20industrial%20complex&sourceid=firefox
I don't usually comment on this sort of thing but that is definitely one fugly looking computer.
Maybe Dell should hire whoever designed Alienware's towers. For all the car comparisons people are making, there's a machine that looks like something you could drive.
#22 - Looks like somebody failed civics class. How about you pick up a dictionary and look up "unalienable" sometime, mmmmkay?
#26
Yea, but that is like saying Jaguars are rebadged Fords! :) Buying the company and creating the brand from scratch are different.
True, maybe the younger generation are OK with VW as a luxury line, but then again - most of them can't afford a $60,000 VW.
But maybe VW knows this, but figures if they put them out there now, by the time the younger generation is old enough to afford them, then VW will be an "established" luxury car provider. It could work...
Ooh, this has morphed into car comments. Every owner of a new German luxury car I know silently sends their auto to the dealership for repairs every few months. The snooty ones say it's part of the culture, the practical ones trade in for a Lexus. So unless Dell improves their service record, maybe the really should change that comparison to that of a German luxury auto maker.
#29,
VW's Phaeton has the W12, getting an A8 with that engine might cost a bit more. Also, the VW doesn't have the A8's aluminum-spaceframe. And that pesky 1000lbs weight difference. The Audi also has a wheelbase that's 2.9 inches longer and different front-suspension geometry. A8 is a better car, no doubt and far from the same car as the Phaeton.
#26,
You're right. Although I would argue that the bentley continental gt is the best car VW ever built. I do agree that it was VW's mistake. I think it was just VW's CEO having to show up at meetings/gathering in his highest end auto (a passat?) and asking "Can't we build a better car for me to be driven around in?" If they don't kill it off, it will probably be a couple more generations of Phaeton is worthy competition.
#33-so? Sounds good to me.
Now why would you spend money on a top of the line Dell POS, when you could get an amazing iBook or Powerbook for less? I have a brand new Powerbook, and it looks better than a dell ever could, plus it doesn't run Windows (The biggest advantage)
I looked at the top of the line configurations, and for value the Powerbook just kicks their asses.
I spent $2550 on a brand new 15 inch 1.67 Ghz Powerbook with: 128 MB Video Ram/100GB HD/1.5 GB RAM/8X Superdrive (DVD+-)/Airport/Bluetooth/Backlit Keyboard/Lots of GOOD software that is updated often and is much better than the windows crap.
Oh yeah- Its also in a 1 inch thick package. I looked at Alienware's I was impressed- until I saw it was 2 inches thick. Oh yeah- It also looked like crap.
So basically why by anything but Apple if you're going for preformance. (Don't be impressed by clock rates of intel- it's been proven by all kinds of tests that in processor intensive tasks, the motorola chips are more powerful)
Like declaring that they will make "Lexus" computers really means that they will not make the same old same crap computers...
'(Don't be impressed by clock rates of intel- it's been proven by all kinds of tests that in processor intensive tasks, the motorola chips are more powerful)'
Bad news 'Victor'...
http://news.com.com/Apple+to+ditch+IBM%2C+switch+to+Intel+chips/2100-1006_3-5731398.html?tag=nefd.lede
To all those bashing the XPS Gen 2 pictured all I have to say is try using one. One look at the 17" screen with UXGA running a 6800 Ultra video card and you'll change your minds.
Everyone @ the office who sees it goes "Yipes, ugly computer!" Then they see the screen and instantly fall in love.
Lexus is the Japenense Mercedes
#22/Kirk
Did you visit any of the pages? Look past what you think about how the large prison population in the United States should be treated. Don't you find it at all troubling that public funds are used to pay for the housing of prisoners, but the profit from their labor is collected privately (and not applied towards the cost of imprisonment)? After answering that, take another look at the exploding prison population and see if you come to any new conclusions. Maybe you will. Maybe you won't.
Dell is targeting me.
I'm a loyal Apple entusiast whose once again nearing his system's lifecycle. I'm not a preachy brandwashed eccentric like the majority of Apple owners out there, so I am able to think for myself. I like good product ID, reliability and fair pricing. If Dell wants my dollar, Dell is going to have to speak to me. Which means rethinking their, product ID, value-based marketing strategy and awful politically-correct TV campaigns. Can Dell do it? I doubt it but I can't wait to see.
Actually, I like the new VW Phaeton... and the Lexuses, and the Porsches, etc. And I also like how the new XPS looks...
Lexus is ugly push it off a cliff while it is still rolling, the VW phaeton is a winner and so is the Dell