Rollins resigns, Michael back as Dell CEO

With growth on the decline and competition heating up, it looks like Kevin Rollins has had enough of the cutthroat PC game, and has resigned his posts as Dell CEO and board member. Now Michael Dell has returned to the helm of his baby, after handing over the top spot to Rollins in 2004. Shares of Dell are up now that the founder is back in his place, but HP is all up in his grill right now, and the company warned on Tuesday that it would be missing analyst earning expectations for its fiscal fourth-quarter, so it's clear Mike is going to have an uphill battle in the attempt to return Dell to its former undisputed status atop the PC industry. Mr. Dell, who will retain his position as chairman of the board, said in a press release, "Dell has tremendous opportunities ahead of it, I am enthusiastic about Dell 2.0, which includes our plan to provide the best customer experience, build a strong global services business and ensure our products deliver the best long-term customer value." Dell 2.0, huh? We're down, let's see what you've got.

[Johan S @ Aug 9th 2007 6:12PM]

Maybe he can start by trimming the product line?

There's way too many options and price points. I bet it's also a nightmare to support.

If I wanted to build my own PC I'd do it from someone else.

Also, what's the point of even selling machines with less than 1 GB of RAM ...they're unbearably slow with today's operating systems and software.

[Killian @ Jan 31st 2007 6:38PM]

lol Dell

[Dave @ Jan 31st 2007 6:51PM]

JohanS:

My 500MB RAM 1.4Ghz computer still runs very jiffy with Fedora Core 5 installed...

[k @ Jan 31st 2007 6:59PM]

blah... it's still a dull.

[Rick Ludwig @ Jan 31st 2007 7:24PM]

ANOTHER thing Dell copies Apple on.... LOL

[Brian @ Jan 31st 2007 7:07PM]

"...our plan to provide the best customer experience..."

It could not get worst so the only way is up.

Dell is no Jobs but could he do any worst than Rollins. Maybe I will gamble a few dollars on a few Dell shares.

[CTG @ Jan 31st 2007 7:34PM]

Lol, the irony.

October 6, 1997: Michael Dell offers Guidance for Apple Executives

Gil Amelio had recently been ousted and Apple was in the midst a search for the next CEO of the Cupertino based computer manufacturer.

While the search was continuing Apple asked Steve Jobs to step up his involvement. Not all industry insiders thought having Steve around was a good idea, they rightly feared that Mr. Jobs’ presence would scare away many potential [CEO] candidates.

Michael Dell was in the “Steve won’t help camp” and, when asked what he thought Apple should do replied, “What would I do? I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.”

----

I hope someone in turn asks Steve Jobs what he thinks the return of Michael Dell will mean for this company.

[Will @ Jan 31st 2007 8:11PM]

So you mean to tell me that reducing customer support to a laughing stock, creating products that have different pricing on different days, and selling laptops with blurry screens (D620) is not the way to grow a company?

Dell is their own worst enemy. They helped create the idea of bargin basement computers. And now they have grown so big that they are too bloated to effectively compete in the consumer, and business markets.

Either way I think Dell's fortunes prove the idea that people are willing to pay for service and quality.

[Rand @ Jan 31st 2007 8:40PM]

The King of "Cut Cost, Keep Doing the Same Thing" is finally gone. There is much rejoicing in Round Rock today.

[Robert @ Jan 31st 2007 9:35PM]

screw it get one on NEWEGG

[Shahar @ Jan 31st 2007 10:39PM]

Last weeks Time magazine:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1576821,00.html

Quote:
Would you take over the day-to-day reins of the company again?

I'd have to give them up first. I haven't stopped being involved with the company all the time.

But taking over as CEO?

No. [CEO Kevin Rollins] and I run the company together. I haven't changed that, and I'm not going to change that.