NEW YORK — For computer makers, sometimes less is more.
The site offers calculators, as well as a data center capacity planner for customers to gauge energy costs and
That’s the position Dell took today at a
technology event here, announcing the company’s first business desktop
computer designed to help corporations slash energy costs associated with
using PCs.
Dell CEO Kevin Rollins unveiled the OptiPlex 745, a machine that offers
greater performance, manageability and security while simultaneously saving
businesses almost $1 billion per year on power costs.
“This reduction in power is significant and reduces annual PC costs by $80
[per desktop],” Rollins said. “We recognize that energy consumption is and
will be an emerging, critical requirement [in corporations].”
The move is the latest in a series of feverish efforts from computer and
server makers to help customers bring down the costs associated with running
several machines on a network or data center.
While the costs have been skyrocketing, the extra heat threatens to cook the
valuable gear and data housed in the machines.
Dell rivals IBM
, HP
and Sun Microsystems
have already unveiled servers,
fans and chips that aim to keep power consumption down.
One in the OptiPlex 745 series of desktops.
Source: Dell
Rollins said the OptiPlex 745, the first in a new line that was redesigned
based on customer feedback, also employs Dell’s HyperCool
thermal management technology, a new easy-to-use interface for
improved control, user authentication and encryption.
The machine runs the new Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 chip, which Intel claims
helps users save 40 percent on power costs.
The OptiPlex 745 also includes Dell Energy Smart power management settings;
Dell Client Manager for remote management and troubleshooting; Dell
configuration services; and Embassy Trust Suite security software for
encryption.
Starting at $899 with a three-year warranty, the OptiPlex 745 is Microsoft
Vista-ready. Customers can buy a 745 PC with a 17-inch flat panel screen for
$1,098.
Rollins also said Dell is backing up its power savings pledge with a new
energy resource guide on the Dell.com Web site.
consumption.
In other significant enterprise news, Dell renewed its five-year-old partner
pact with storage giant EMC, an arrangement that will keep the close
companies together through 2011.
EMC CEO Joseph Tucci joined Rollins on stage, where the two gushed about the
close relationship, which began in
October 2001.
Since that time, Dell-EMC has sold more than 34,000 networked storage
systems to more than 10,000 customers. Dell-EMC has expanded those
provisions to include storage management, backup and replication software.
Rollins and Tucci said they look forward to continuing their partnership for
the next five years.
Dell’s cheery news event comes against a backdrop of questions and concerns
surrounding Dell, which has been hammered in the press for falling behind on
once heralded services offerings, exploding laptops and questions over the
company’s accounting practices.
Just yesterday, Dell said it
would delay filing second quarter earnings while it and the Securities and
Exchange Commission continue their investigations into the computer maker’s
accounting for the last four years.
Today, when a reporter asked board chairman Michael Dell if he had heard
about a potential Nasdaq delisting, which is customary if earnings delays
persist too long, he replied that Dell is aware of the possibility and said
he and his team were working hard to get the accounting issues resolved.
Asked about press reports that Rollins be fired, Dell said he disagreed with
such sentiments, adding that it’s “not going to happen.”
