Dell aims to be leader in computer gaming

Company founder scopes out hardware needs at game confab, predicts gaming will be a $4 billion-per-year industry.

The story "Dell aims to be leader in computer gaming" published September 8, 2006 at 12:55 PM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

[technewsjunkie]

So should I get a PC, or a game device??

I really wonder about gamers that spend all that money on
powerful PCs only to be used for games.

Why not just a game devicei instead. They certainly are powerful
enough.

Is it titles? What?

[~Canuck~]

Depends On What you want

As a PC Gamer, I chose the PC because of several things. Its a powerful, multitasking system; I can browse the internet, use Word, print photos, and more, as well as play games. Also, PCs excel in FPS games like Counterstrike and Battlefield 2; the keyboard-mouse combo has yet to be beaten, especially because consoles still have to use aim-assistance to help their gamers. Also, PCs have great MMOs such as WoW and Everquest, and fantastic Simulators, such as Microsoft Flight Sim '04. Finally, PCs are upgradeable, meaning that if I run out of horsepower, I just plug in some new stuff. In the end though, you're right: I stay on the PC for the great titles that will be available soon, or are already on the shelves.

[Souldreamer]

Because some people want

A computer that can do a number of different things besides just playing a game or three. Want to run videos? or play music? or maybe window to several instances of the same game? Run email and/or IM and/or ICQ (for example) while you're gaming? Or a combination of any or all of the above? Then you need a computer, not just a game device. Yes, if you ONLY want to play ONE game at a time, then fine, get a game device. If you want a machine capable of several different abilities at once, then you need a "Sierra Hotel" comp that can handle the loads.

[ackmondual]

PC and gaming devices aren't mutually exclusive, you can get both on budget

A curr/last gen will set u back $200 and below for the console/handheld, while the games will be $35 and down.

Curr/nex gen will cost up to $600 + $1000+ for an HDTV if you're into HD. Games will be $50 and up.

If you're satisfied with console gaming, chances are you'll still need a PC for internet, multimedia, documents, email, and other fun/productivity tasks. Unlike the PC gamer with a huge 24 widescreen LCD, Crossfire/SLI dual vid cards, and loads of CPU power that would cost at least around $1500, an $600 system can do all the other tasks and excel in some of them.

[34skyline]

Paying $5,000 or more to play games

Please, I won't pay that much for a computer just to play games
on, I will get a Xbox 360, PS3 for playing just games and it won't
cost me a over $5,000 either, Dell needs to be focus on their
customer service not gaming.

[ackmondual]

That's too much even for gaming PCs

A gaming PC from scratch and no peripherals can be had for $2200. U may not get the ABSOLUTE quickest frame rates nor the best textures and setting levels, but for most gmaers, it'll do nicely. Dell may charge this much for their "gaming PCs" but Dell and other manuf have cheaper alt to handle gaming w/o the bleeding edge performance and price tag.

If you go into PS3 and 360 games, mahy ppl need to factor in the price of a new HDTV

[gibson.matthewj]

umm

actually there are a lot of people who would pay 5,000 or more to play games on a computer.

[VaribleX]

its a differnt culture

Do you really think they are going to change their whole product line to display extreme amounts processor speed and video cards that can almost touch reality?

Of course not that does not make sense to sell everything to just this one niche market.

Really a lot of the high end stuff is either for games, or creating 3d media.


Buy a 5000 dollar machine for extreme graphics and fun is still a thousand times better compared to the people paying 500 dollars for a laptop so they can play solitare.

Its all relative.

[Pointedly]

What motherboard, Dell?

I do not consider computer purchases from manufacturers who do not specify the make and model of the computer's motherboard. In any computer, the motherboard is the most important component. In a gaming system, it is critical.

[mr3vil]

The reason for that is....

Is because they are Dell motherboards. Dell, like HP, Gateway, Lenovo, IBM (The major OEMs). Don't use off the shelf motherboards in their systems. The boards are made for their systems to their design criterion. If you're that anal-retentive about it, buy an Alienware/Falcon/Voodoo/ABS/local shop system. Those providers all use off the shelf boards in their systems. None of the big OEMs will ever use off the shelf boards in their systems because they cost them too much and don't offer the specific customizations that they want.

For all intents and purposes a Dell XPS 700 uses a "Dell XPS 700" motherboard.

[fred dunn]

Dell production not agile enough for gaming...

Gaming is an evolutionary industry that is always at least leading edge. Dell takes months just to evaluate a product for inclusion into a system. As has always been this has and will cause Dell to lag in the introduction of syatems that include the latest and greatest.
Not to mention that if Dell doesn't "Open Up" to industry standards (not just Intel Standards like BTX cases) then once you buy a Dell gaming system then you can't upgrade or will have difficulty upgrading.

Dell, stop trying to be everything to everyone because what you are doing is stumbling and it is making all of your lines look bad.

[Charleston Charge]

Agree for the most part

but I think that is exactly why they bought Alienware. Alienware brings those years of experience to the table where as Dell had never really had much focus on that segment of the market. Only time will tell whether or not Dell takes advantage of that experience or not.