Dell designs new Vostro for the Middle East and other fast growing economies & businesses

Matches affordability with quality and reliability

Backed by especially designed support services

Fuels commitment to emerging economies

DUBAI, UAE Aug 27^th 2008 -- Dell today unveiled two new Vostro laptops and two desktops designed specifically to meet the needs of small businesses, government and educational institutions operating on limited budgets in Middle East and the world's emerging economies

The new Vostro laptops and desktops will be available through authorized channel partners, as well as direct from Dell in the Middle East and more than 20 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. More information is available at www.Dell.com/newvostropresskit.

"Within the world's emerging economies, such as Middle East, millions of new businesses are demanding just the technology they need, at the prices they can afford, from a vendor they can trust. Today we answer that need by introducing new products that join our existing Vostro product line," said Michael Collins, General Manager - Dell Middle East. "Together with our partners, Dell will play an important role in bringing more technology to more people than ever before - whether in business or in the public sector. Vostro is a key building block to unleashing the potential of the Connected Era."

The new Vostro products include two pre-configured laptops and two desktops. Additional Vostro products designed for Middle East emerging countries will be introduced in coming months. The new Vostro products being introduced today provide:

Everyday Business Mobility - The Dell Vostro A860 laptop is an affordable 15.6-inch laptop equipped for handling everyday business tasks. This system is ideal for customers interested in transitioning from desktop to mobile computing.  It offers an HD widescreen LCD with anti-glare coating, the choice of a variety of Intel^® processors from Celeron^® to Core 2 Duo and the choice of Ubuntu® Linux® or various Microsoft® Genuine Windows Vista® operating systems. The laptop also offers an integrated network, modem and wireless connectivity with optional Bluetooth capabilities.

Compact Affordability - The Dell Vostro A840 is a 14.1-inch version of the A860 laptop with an anti-glare WXGA widescreen LCD. It offers the same practical technology for mobile business computing, but for small business customers who value mobility and compact size at an affordable price offering. 

Affordable, Basic Business Computing - The Dell Vostro A180 is an affordable, practical desktop solution for everyday business computing. The system offers Intel Celeron and Pentium dual core processors to optimize office application performance and simple multi-tasking, in addition to the option of Ubuntu^® Linux^® or Microsoft^® Genuine Windows Vista^®.

Entry-Level Productivity - The Dell Vostro A100 is a reliable, entry-level desktop designed for basic business productivity. The system comes standard with an Intel Atom^™ processor and Ubuntu^® Linux^® operating system.

According to IDC, there are more than 72 million small businesses worldwide, with 23.4 million - nearly one-third of the global total - located in Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan).  Latin America and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) follow with 12.5 million and 11.9 million, respectively.¹

Through the thousands of daily conversations Dell and its channel partners have with small businesses in these countries, Dell identified significant challenges related to the purchase, ownership and support of technology.  These included:

• The prohibitive cost of technology, especially mobility.

• Product reliability and quality.

• Finding solutions that are easy to deploy and maintain.

• Accessible support and services.

The new Vostro products were designed to address these needs as follows: 

Affordable: These systems enable growing businesses to increase productivity through basic business and everyday computing applications. 

Reliability: The new Vostro products reflect Dell's reputation for high quality standards and underwent up to 7,000 hours of rigorous reliability testing.

Easy to maintain: The set configurations are easy to set-up and maintain, delivering out-of-the-box productivity. The systems are also pre-configured with core office productivity applications and only the software customers want.

Worry-free Dell services² and support: As the technology needs for small and medium size businesses in emerging economies continues to grow, so does their need for accessible services and support. To help these businesses keep their systems running smoothly, Dell offers a range of service and support options that include:

• Technical support that begins with telephone diagnosis and consultation, and includes system repair or replacement³ if necessary.

• Easy-to-use return for repair process ⁴ at Dell-certified repair facilities.

• Next business day onsite support⁵.

• Support consultation and repair parts and labor included as part of the standard one-year limited hardware warranty⁶.

Accidental damage service and basic installation.

Pricing for the new Vostro products will vary by configuration, region and country. For more information on the new Vostro product line and country availability, visit www.Dell.com/newvostropresskit.

From & For Partners

Consistent with Dell's commitment to deliver affordable and reliable technology to Middle East and other emerging countries through multiple channels, the pre-configured Vostro laptops and desktops will be available primarily through a Dell local solution provider, distributor or retailer. While all products are available through Dell channel partners, this is the first time a Dell product will be available primarily through Dell channel partners in the Middle East and other emerging countries.

-Ends-

About Dell 
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its direct business model, Dell is a leading global systems and services company and No. 34 on the Fortune 500. For more information, visit www.dell.com, or to communicate directly with Dell via a variety of online channels, go to http://www.dell.com/conversations. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.com/RSS.

¹ IDC, Worldwide Small and Midsize Business Company Counts: Sizing the SMB Universe by Region, Doc # 212697, June 2008.

² Availability and terms of Dell Services may vary by country or region. For more information, visit www.dell.com/servicedescriptions.

³ Subject to parts availability, geographical restrictions and terms of service contract.

⁴ Return process may vary by customer location and service contract. 

⁵ Service timing is dependent upon time of day call is placed to Dell.

⁶ For a copy of limited hardware warranty, write Dell USA LP, Attn: Warranties, One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 or visit www.dell.com/warranty.

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© Press Release 2008