Microsoft's Cheapest windows laptop

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) and India's HCL Infosystems said they would work together to develop a Windows-based laptop PC that will be the cheapest available in any market worldwide.

The system, called the MiLeap H Series, will run Windows XP Home and will sell for 17,000 Indian rupees, or about $425 (U.S.). The MiLeap H features a 30-GB hard drive and is "broadband ready," the companies said in a statement Friday.

Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner, at a launch event in Mumbai, said the offering is meant to "empower Indian consumers and businesses with the latest and best that technology has to offer."

Microsoft, along with a number of other vendors, is eyeing the low-cost PC market as a major growth opportunity -- particularly in emerging markets where average incomes pale compared with the West. The company recently announced that it would extend the life of its Windows XP operating system, but only for deployment on low-cost systems.

Low-cost PCs that run on Linux, from Asus, Everex, and other vendors, also are becoming increasingly popular as some computer users conclude that mainstream systems running the Windows or Macintosh operating systems are overpowered for their needs.

Also on Friday, Microsoft and HCL said they would jointly establish a new Center of Excellence in India, staffed with 500 programmers trained to develop Microsoft-based solutions for various industries in the country.

India is becoming increasingly important to Microsoft -- and not just as a source of low-cost programming talent. Domestic spending in India for IT services will grow by about 43% in 2008, according to Indian IT trade group Nasscom.

Dell Vostro Series Laptop getting Redesign

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Apr 15, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) today announced its redesigned Vostro(TM: 98.57, +0.59, +0.60%) laptop line for small businesses, including the new 13.3-inch Vostro 1310 starting at $749 and 15.4-inch Vostro 1510 starting at $599. Products are available today in Europe, Middle East and Africa, followed by North and South America May 1, and Asia Pacific and Japan May 5. The company will also offer a redesigned 17-inch Vostro 1710 laptop in mid May. For more information, visit dell.com/newvostro and Dell's new small-business blog direct2dell.com/smallbusiness to join the conversation.

"Listening to customers and acting quickly on their feedback to improve our products and services sets Dell apart," said Frank Muehleman, vice president and general manager, Dell Small and Medium Business. "For example, customers told us in a recent global laptop study that data protection and pre-installed security software are, by far, the most important security features.

"They also said they wanted thinner and lighter machines, all at a good price," Muehleman said. "We paid attention."

The new Vostro laptops deliver the following customer-driven features:

-- A sleek design, with slot load optical drive, that is thinner and lighter than previous generation Vostro laptops;

-- The display screen of the new Vostro 13.3-inch has 94 percent the viewing area of a 14.1-inch model, yet weighs nearly 20 percent less;

-- Continuation of Dell's 30-day worry-free return policy;

-- Available with no trialware and free services including 10GB of Dell DataSafe Online Backup, Network Assistant and PC TuneUp; and

-- Vostro 1310 and 1510 laptops offer more security features than comparable competitive products(1) with integrated fingerprint readers, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 helping prevent unauthorized network access and data theft, cable lock slot, and Dell-exclusive, factory-installed McAfee(R: 64.07, -2.61, -3.91%) Total Protection for Small Business security software(2).

Small businesses are increasingly adopting laptops over desktop PCs. Today, half of PC-owning small businesses in the United States own laptops, and the number is expected to grow to almost 57 percent by 2012(3), with similar laptop penetration in Western Europe and Japan.

To address this shift and provide more choice to customers, Dell plans to expand its laptop portfolio by 50 percent this year, to deliver the broadest product lineup in the company's history.

"After experiencing the productivity gains of the Dell Vostro 1510 compared to our older systems, I knew it was time to act on our dream to upgrade our IT network," said Cynthia Ebrom, founder and owner of Edinburg, Texas-based Cynthia's Cakes. "As our custom cake business expands nationally, technology becomes even more important to our growth and ability to better serve our customers. Vostro gives us the reliability, performance, service and support we need without exceeding our tight budget."

In addition to investments in its laptop portfolio, Dell is expanding its services, server and storage offerings to meet the unique needs small and medium businesses.

-- Dell's new services portfolio, ProSupport, gives customers the ability to customize and tailor services to fit their technical expertise and business needs.

-- Dell's new PowerEdge R300 and T300 servers have industry-leading performance, memory and high-availability features so small and medium businesses no longer have to sacrifice server performance or reliability for an affordable price.

-- Through affordable iSCSI storage area network (SAN: 51.51, +0.49, +0.96%) solutions like the PowerVault MD3000i and Dell EqualLogic PS5000 Series, Dell is simplifying storage for businesses of all sizes.

Additional small business resources:

-- Small Business 360 Mobility

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 www.dell.com/conversations. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.com/RSS.

(1)As compared to the HP 530, HP Pavilion dv2700t, Toshiba Satellite U300, Toshiba Satellite U305, Toshiba Satellite A200, Toshiba Satellite A205, Toshiba Satellite A215, the Acer TravelMate 4720, and the Acer Aspire 5720. As of March 7, 2008.

(2)McAfee Total Protection for Small Business security software available starting April 24, 2008, in the U.S.; select European countries May 21, 2008, and in Canada May 22, 2008. Additional availability is to be determined.

(3)IDC, "US Small Business 2008-2012 Forecast," Doc # 210657, February 2008.

SOURCE: Dell

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