Dell Gets Colourful With Inspiron 545 and 545s Desktop PCs

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-inspiron_537?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs' target='_blank'>http://www.dell.com/content/product...s=19&l=en&s=dhs</a><br /><br /></div><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1242161207.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>There are only two interesting things about the Dell Inspiron 537 (picture above) and 537s (pictured below): they come in eight different colours, and by default they lack an optical drive - though that last point is confusing because <a href="http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-inspiron-537?c=ca&amp;cs=cadhs1&amp;l=en&amp;s=dhs" target="_blank">text on Dell's site says the optical drive is optional</a> ("Store more with the optional optical drive and up to 8GB memory"), and the photos seem to back that up, yet when I try to configure one there's already a 16x DVD drive included in the configuration and it can't be removed. So...yeah. I'm not sure what Dell is up to here. I'm all for colour, because I do think it's a differentiator in the marketplace, but I'd have preferred to see Dell do a <a href="http://www.shuttle.com" target="_blank">Shuttle</a>-like formfactor. That would have been slick! Prices for both the 537 and 537s start at $299 USD. The model numbers also vary from country to country: in Canada they're the 545 and 545s.</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1242161355.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p>

[David Tucker]

I want two. One orange, one blue!

[ptyork]

I want two. One orange, one blue!

I'll take Red and Black, thanks! Woof, woof, woof, woof!!!

Seriously, I'm glad to see some color coming to desktops that don't take the form of LED lights.

[Felix Torres]

Is it just me or does DELL look like its floundering these days?
I generally take it as a sign engineering is dead at a company when they resort to "seven fruity colors" to distnguish their products. Sorta like a Lifesavers theory of marketing...
Is DELL in that much trouble? :confused:

[ptyork]

Is it just me or does DELL look like its floundering these days?
I generally take it as a sign engineering is dead at a company when they resort to "seven fruity colors" to distnguish their products. Sorta like a Lifesavers theory of marketing...
Is DELL in that much trouble? :confused:

Actually, the fruity colors marked the beginning of the resurgence of the fruity company. Now, Dell just added fruity faceplates instead of creating a fruity icon (iMac), but I wouldn't call it death in engineering. Keep in mind that, at least for the past few years, Dell hasn't actually "engineered" much of anything, not even a call center, so any sign of life from them is a good thing.

[Jason Dunn]

I generally take it as a sign engineering is dead at a company when they resort to "seven fruity colors" to distnguish their products. Sorta like a Lifesavers theory of marketing...

I don't agree - if you look at the new touch-screen Studio computers, the small Studio Hybrids that came out last year, and even the Adamo, I'd say Dell is doing better with engineering then they have in the past. Dell tends to be more of a follower with products than a leader, but lately they've been doing pretty good.

[Felix Torres]

Once upon a time, Dell was all about good PCs at good prices with good service.
The good service is long gone.
The prices aren't so hot anymore.
And now...
Della.
<shudder>
http://content.dell.com/us/en/home/della.aspx
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30709961/
I can just see the next wave of Apple ads...

[Jason Dunn]

And now...Della.<shudder>

Seems like an OK idea to me. Dell is going for product differentiation and customization, which is a nice thing to offer customers. In Canada HP doesn't do direct online customization sales, so if I want to build a machine with the specs perfect for me, Dell is the only game out there. And hey, offering colour choices is better than Apple's "Do you want that in black or white?" approach. :D
</shudder>

[Felix Torres]

Some folks didn't think it was okay. ;-)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10241299-1.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

[Jason Dunn]

Some folks didn't think it was okay. ;-)

That guys says that computers are gender neutral. Tell that to HP with their Vivienne Tam netbook that every woman I've shown it to goes ga-ga over. I think it's simplistic to think that computers are gender neutral and design and style don't matter. The reality is probably more that computers have historically been designed by men, for men, and women have gotten used to that. A friend of mine bought his wife a laptop, and her only requirement was that it be pink. A woman doctor client of mine bought a new laptop, and it's pink. Style matters - design matters. I don't think most women WANT computers to be gender neutral, but perhaps some do.

I can't speak to the "50's housewife" thing - if Dell went that route, I can see why women would be offended. When I checked it out briefly, I saw a video about shopping for vintage clothes. Didn't seem offensive to me. :)

[carocuth]

...to replace my ageing Inspiron 1520, which has been pretty good. All the comments here have been interesting and helpful! Just one little note - the price quoted here was $299. In Canada, it starts at $599 - sale special this month. Ouch.