Comments on: Dell’s new talent misses on earnings

By: Steven T. Herndon, VA

Steven T. Herndon, VA — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:51:42 +0000

I agree with the comments related to product quality and poor customer service. I bought Dell twice once for desktop and the last one for the laptop. From delivery of the laptop to dealing with Customer service, it was definitely not a good experience for that amount of money paid.
I guess the more they became a player in this market, the more they lost sight of the things which make a product attractive. Not sure if I would buy Dell or Windows system again due those issues.

By: Savage, Montreal, Canada

Savage, Montreal, Canada — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:14:11 +0000

@Brad wise…

Dell has to generate 2.2 times the revenue just to make 58% of Apple’s profit. Bad, very bad.

By: v, Chitown, Il

v, Chitown, Il — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:38:53 +0000

What DELL did back in 80s and 90s was path breaking. But there is nothing like a constant business model. They need to start selling in retail outlets( which they are just starting to do).

Also revenues have increased and profits are down. This is exactly what Ron Garriques did in Motorola before Motorola went down. I was surprised to see Michael Dell actually hire him for a bad job at Moto.

By: Jimmy - OKC OK

Jimmy - OKC OK — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:18:15 +0000

Article changed it’s rosy tone from yesterday. Shouldn’t that be an update to the article rather than actually changing it?

By: gid, Houston, Texas

gid, Houston, Texas — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:05:35 +0000

They seem to concentrate more on businesses than home users.

By: John, Austin, TX

John, Austin, TX — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:15:25 +0000

Mark Jarvis oversold his ability to transform Dell’s marketing organization – the consumer team under Garriques has their own CMO now. But Jarvis is just a symptom. Dell is mired in mediocrity from top to bottom, and seems content with staying there. The stock price is a reflection of that. It’s a shame, really.

By: Warren, Los Altos Hills, California

Warren, Los Altos Hills, California — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:04:55 +0000

Dells are awesome At my middle school, all of the tech savvy, intelligent kids ask for dells. To answer the question “When was the last time you heard a teenager ask for a dell?”, my answer is TODAY. Macs are a joke. apple’s products are UGLY. Go Dell(they’re now carbon neutral!)!!

By: George, Delray Beach, Florida

George, Delray Beach, Florida — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:17:24 +0000

I have to say that I seldom take the time to comment on an article. However, this author is so disingenuous that I just had to write.

I read the initial version of this article, posted earlier in the day prior to the annoucnement of Dell’s disappointing results. In that version, the author “bet” that Dell’s talent would pay off and that readers would see this later in the day, and that Howard Shultz (Starbucks) could learn a thing or two from Michael Dell.

When Dell missed, the article was rewritten as if that first article was never posted. At no time did “Pattie” mention that she was one of those who had been wrong. The end was rewriten to now post Steve Jobs as the shning example of a winner. What a sham! Have some guts and own up! So much for forthrightness.

By: Mike, Framingham, MASS

Mike, Framingham, MASS — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:09:27 +0000

I ordered 2 Dell’s this Spring for my college bound twins. One came in with no problems at a great price. The other never came in and they kept pushing off the delivery date. I cancelled and bought a Mac.

No More Dells in my family

By: Vitaliy, San Francisco

Vitaliy, San Francisco — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:20:14 +0000

This is great! Years ago Michael Dell advised Steve Jobs to shut down the company and give the money back to shareholders. Look who is laughing now. While Dell makes horrible products and offers non-existent customer service, Apple is enjoying a monopoly when it comes to digital music and hip hardware. People crave Apple’s products. What is the last time you heard a teen asking for a Dell? I am curious what Michael Dell wants to tell Steve Jobs right now when Apple’s stock is trading at 170+ per share while Dell is somewhere in mid 20s.

By: Chris - Nashville, TN

Chris - Nashville, TN — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:35:07 +0000

Dell’s a joke. I worked there for years and saw a great deal of unethical behavior. The management could care less about customers as is displayed in the confusing phone trees, long waits, and lack of adequate training of the employees. This is a company just in it for the big bucks and now it’s falling apart.

By: Rob, Washington D.C.

Rob, Washington D.C. — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:12:02 +0000

What Dell needs is more aggressive leadership. Michael had a great idea back in the 80’s. However, today Dell Inc. needs a CEO that is more aggressive and dynamic. Dell continues to take Pillows to Gun fights! They need to hire a Gunfighter!

By: Brad Wise, Del Mar, CA

Brad Wise, Del Mar, CA — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:35:26 +0000

How does Apple’s market share compare to Dell’s? Gartner reports that Dell’s market share for US personal computer shipmenta in 2007 was 32.3%; Apple’s…6.2%.

By: john, houston

john, houston — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:57:40 +0000

crappy products, horrendous customer service and a screw the customer attitude = bad business.

By: robert Puget Sound,WA

robert Puget Sound,WA — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:36:25 +0000

Is it a recovery, or simply a short-term investment to fool more buyers into getting a Dell? What Dell STARTED doing in the late 80s, was breath-taking!!! But,, the appeal of fatter profits, greater bonuses, and juicy stock awards was too great. Dell has never been consistent; wow them, lose them, try and win them back, abuse them and lose them again…eventually, the ‘used and abused’ migrate, as we did to Apple.