Dell drives into consumer electronics market

["happy_hammer66" <bill.mcmahon@xxxxxxx>]

FYI,
saw this article. just in case you didn't know already

cheers=20

bill



26.09.2003 - Dell confirmed its entry into the consumer electronics=20
market yesterday, announcing the planned introduction of a series of=20
Dell digital entertainment products including digital music players,=20
an online music service and an LCD TV-cum-computer monitor.=20

CEO Michael Dell said the company would roll out the new products in=20
the US in the fourth calendar quarter. They will be available from=20
Dell.com or over the telephone. The Dell.com site was being revamped=20
for this purpose and would be relaunched in mid-October, he said.=20

The announcement represents Dell's first move into the rapidly=20
growing online music market. Its offering here will consist of a=20
digital music player called the Dell Digital Jukebox (DJ) and an=20
online music service, the Dell Music Store. Customers can use the=20
website to purchase the Dell DJ and accessories and download songs,=20
much in the way they can from existing music sites such as the highly=20
successful Apple iTunes service.=20

The LCD TV =96 the Dell W1700 =96 combines a flat-panel monitor with a=20
television tuner, enabling users to watch TV and streaming video,=20
play games and use the usual PC applications all on the same display=20
device. The wide format 17-inch display can be used as either a=20
television or as a computer monitor.=20

The Dell Axim X3, Dell's newest handheld, is a thinner, lighter=20
companion to the popular Dell Axim X5 and features optional=20
integrated 802.11b Wi-Fi connectivity.=20

Two other new products were also announced: a high-end multimedia PC,=20
the Dell Dimension XPS, and a new home projector, the Dell 2200MP.=20

Dell also announced its plans to launch an exclusive software=20
application for home digital media management. The Dell Media=20
Experience converts the PC into a digital entertainment centre=20
enabling consumers to listen to digital music files, add music to=20
photo slideshows, watch DVDs, and view video clips.=20

"With more and more digital content, the PC has a great possibility=20
to be the centre of that experience and the software we are=20
introducing gives customers a great opportunity to integrate all of=20
this content on their PC," said Michael Dell, who added that the=20
software would come as standard on all new Dimension and Inspiron PC=20
systems.=20

=20

Pricing details and the timing of the European launch of the new=20
products will be announced at a later date.=20