Dell Australia – once, like its parent, a fierce advocate of direct-only PC sales – will be marketing some PC models and accessories in retails stores before the year is out. SmartHouse News has been told that the deal could involve Harris Technology and JB Hi Fi who recently said that they want to take on Harvey Norman in the PC market.
That pledge was given by executives at yesterday’s launch of Dell’s new consumer-focused strategy, including the release of new Dell Inspiron notebook PCs in eight candy colours – a far cry from Dell’s conservative grey or silver notebook lines.
The new Inspirons, aimed squarely at the consumer segment, may be among those sold via retail outlets “later this year”. They are available for order from today direct from Dell in the company’s traditional manner. A Dell Australia spokesperson told CDN no decision had yet been reached on which retails chains would offer Dell gear. But the company has already been besieged with reps from most major operators banging on its door, he said.
A company-owned Dell Store, in the manner of Apple USA’s Apple Stores, is not currently under consideration in Australia. But the number of Dell “kiosks” – where catalogues can be perused and orders placed – in shopping complexes would rise from five to seven, McKeon confirmed.
A major stumbling block in sealing deals with retailers like Harvey Norman, OfficeWorks or David Jones might be pricing: the retailers would insist on having good margins, but still not being undercut by Dell’s online operation.
The problem is not insoluble: in the US Dell has been selling some consumer systems at Wal-Mart stores for some months. Meanwhile Dell Down Under has been encouraged by a telephone survey it commissioned, which suggests four-out-of-five Australians want colours other than traditional beige or grey when it comes to choosing a notebook for their home.
They’ll certainly get their wish with the new Inspiron line. Models are available in the customer’s choice of Jet Black, Alpine White, Espresso Brown, Flamingo Pink, Midnight Blue, Ruby Red, Spring Green or Sunshine Yellow. Buyers also get to choose from three screen sizes (14-, 15.4- and 17-inch) and an optional 2-megapixel webcam. Prices start at $1599.
Free online storage for all
Dell also showed off its new “ultra-thin” XPS M1330, claimed to be the world’s thinnest 13-inch notebook: just 23.1mm thick and weighing in at 1.78kg. (Models on show at yesterday’s media launch were even lighter, as journos found when picking them up – all turned out to be mere shells, or mock-ups: the internal gubbins, it seems, are still being put together in the factories of Dell’s Asian suppliers).
“XPS” is Dell’s premium high-performance line, but the local HQ has kept pricing down, starting at $1899. M1313 buyers get a choice of three colours: Tuxedo Black, Pearl White or the tautological Crimson Red. It comes with a standard Webcam, dual microphones and optional fingerprint reader.
Buyers of the new models will get 12 months of free online storage at Dell Online Backup, a new global service. Inspiron buyers get 3 gigabytes of space; XPS aficionados cop 10 gigs. – David Frith