dell

In a push to become a software player, Dell won a bidding war for Quest Software as it aims to bolster its data center software. The final price tag: $28 a share, or $2.4 billion.

Dell had been rumored as a buyer for Quest software for months. Quest received a $23 a share bid from Insight Venture Management and Vector Capital in March and then a "strategic buyer" pushed the price up to $27.50. Dell ultimately sealed the deal for $28 a share.

Quest's software manages databases and backs up data. Dell has been focused … Read more

Roof tile? That's over on aisle 9.

Stretch the analogy a bit. Windows tablets? They're on aisle 9, next to the laptop bags.

I could stretch the analogy even more, where the buyer gets lost amid a sea of generic Spanish roof tiles like Tom Anderson (the early version of Hank Hill) at Home Labyrinth.

Nobody has to ask that question about the iPad. It's front and center at the Apple store.

So, Redmond needs the Microsoft Store -- or similar boutique storefronts where its product can stand out.

On Friday, the Kansas City Star reported that people actually lined up … Read more

PC unit sales could fall as much as 5 percent to 10 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, according to Jefferies analyst Peter Misek's latest research note, published late last night.

Misek sees a troublesome time ahead for PC builders following a single-digit drop in PC shipments in the second quarter, particularly with Dell and Hewlett-Packard.

The report comes after he estimates what was a low drop in second-quarter PC shipments.

It also follows only a month after the two PC makers saw their target prices cut with analysts suggesting: "Windows 8 will prove to … Read more

So, why does the world obsess about the newest MacBook Pro and not competing laptops from Hewlett-Packard or Dell?

Let's just say that Apple has an innate sense about good design.

And you can bet Microsoft has uttered this sentiment behind closed doors more than a few times -- thus, the Microsoft-designed Surface tablet announcement this week.

But let's focus on the Retina MacBook Pro for now. That's a design that any PC maker could have feasibly done.

Big 15-inch class laptops fall right into the wheel house of the PC guys. Dell did the XPS 15z. … Read more

The hardware business has gotten a bad rap.

IBM saw the writing on the wall and sold its PC division to Lenovo in 2004.

CNET wrote at the time:

The deal will let IBM continue its shift from selling so-called commodity products to selling services, software and high-end computers. Although the company helped make PCs a global phenomenon, IBM makes little profit from PCs and often loses money.

Not long after, Dell followed suit.

Peter Pham explains it nicely from a financial point of view:

Dell is actively remaking itself into a server and IT services company moving away from … Read more

Before there were ultrabooks, we always had a soft spot in our heart for the Vostro, a smartly designed, slim, and surprisingly affordable small-business laptop line from Dell that borrowed some design touches from the long-departed Adamo.… Read more

Apple's cheaper-but-better MacBook Air isn't good news for ultrabooks.

Ultrabooks surfaced last year as a niche product in response to the Air. And now Intel, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, at el are trying to mainstream the skinny laptops.

There's one problem. Apple just cut the price and upped the processor specs on the MacBook Air today.

So, is Apple still standard bearer and ultrabooks just pretenders to the lightweight laptop throne?

Only time and market-share numbers will tell.

Spec check: $1,099 11.6-inch MBA: The high-end model has dropped to $1,099 from $1,199 and packs … Read more

Congrats to Michael M. of Nottingham, Md., for winning a $500 gift certificate from KlearGear.com in last week's giveaway. Are you a frequent traveler? On the heels of the E3 games expo, this week's giveaway sponsor, Dell, is offering up a nice, sturdy TSA-friendly backpack that's great for gamers and others.

The Dell Alienware Orion M17x Tactical Backpack keeps your gear secure and protected on the go with its heavily padded back panels. The subdivided main compartment easily holds a laptop up to 17.3 inches, while a secondary compartment has 10 additional pockets for holding anything from pens to plane tickets to MP3 players to any random tchotchkes you like to carry around during your daily wanderings. Also, the camo design sets it apart from its basic-black-leather cousins.

Normally, the Dell Alienware Orion M17x Tactical Backpack would cost you $119.99, but you have a chance to get it gratis. How? There are a few rules, so please read carefully; there will be a test. … Read more

It's amazing how quickly things change in the tech world.

A scant 18 months ago, Dell introduced the 7-inch Streak 4G tablet for the then-competitive price of $199.99 (with a two-year T-Mobile contract -- or $449.99 without one).

Today, and only today, 1SaleADay has the refurbished Dell Streak tablet for $139.99, plus $4.99 for shipping. The 4G capabilities are still there, but the contract requirement isn't -- meaning you're paying $310 less than you would have 18 months ago.

The Streak is quite the powerhouse. Its specs include a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 … Read more