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Fewer Desktop Enclosures to help Dell's bottom line

10 points posted to Desktops by getgreg 04/04/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Ok, I'm not an "industry analyst" and I obviously don't have access all the data that Dell does, but from what I read it seems that across the board desktop sales are slowing and laptops are becoming increasingly popular. This really comes as now surprise to me, everyone I know who ditched their desktop for a laptop has never looked back. Anyway, if this is the case why does Dell offer, by my count, 12 different desktop enclosures?




  1. Dimension 9200C/XPS 210 - Small Form Factor



  2. Dimension E520/Dimension E521 - Mini Tower


  3. Dimension C521 - Desktop


  4. XPS 410/Dimension 9200 - Mini Tower



  5. XPS 710 - Full Tower



  6. XPS 710 H2C - Full Tower


  7. Optiplex - Ultra Small Form Factor


  8. Optiplex - Small Form Factor


  9. Optiplex - Desktop


  10. Optiplex - Mini Tower


  11. Precision Workstation 690/490 - Full Tower



  12. Precision Workstation 390 - Full Tower




The really crazy thing is of those 12 enclosures there are really only 5 distinct sizes: Ultra Small Form Factor, Small Form Factor, Desktop, Mini Tower, and Full Tower.




Wouldn't now be a really good time to trim the number of enclosures down to 5 or even 4 enclosures? (The "small form factor" and "desktop" enclosures are almost the same size.) It seems to me that the cost savings of cutting the number of enclosures so drastically would be huge. Also, the enclosures used for the Optiplex line along with the XPS tower should accommodate every system you're currently selling.

Also, at the same time you could merge Dimensions into Optiplex and Precision Workstation into XPS. Lost of people have written here about killing the product segments and making all systems available to all customers, and this would be a way to do just that.

Lastly, I've seen a lot of interesting and crazy ideas here, but not a lot of ideas that I think would actually help Dell's bottom line and give customers a better product. I personally think offering fewer enclosures would do just that. It would cause Dell to have to design, manufacture, and stock fewer enclosures, make the process of buying a Dell a little less dizzying while giving home consumers a higher quality enclosure.

What do you think? Man I'd love for some Dell employee's to chime in here. Maybe I'm just way off...
And if I'm not, well I'd love an internship :)



coulton20
04/04/07		 This is probbly because, many people still use a desktop for their PC's.

And at the moment, a desktop still costs significantly less than a laptop for the same spec.
getgreg
04/04/07		 I'm not suggesting that Dell offer fewer desktop computers, I'm suggesting Dell use fewer enclosures for the desktops they sell. For instance instead of having a mini tower case the Dimension line, another mini tower case for the XPS line, and yet another mini tower case for the Optiplex line, just use the same mini tower case for all product lines.

And preferably it should be the mini tower case from the Optiplex line, since it's probably the best.

My secondary point is that if it makes good financial sense to do that, then the product lines may cease to be useful and Dell may consider just merging similar product lines together.
coulton20
04/07/07		 I see where you are comming from. But it is oftern the case consumers like to choose.

And what say, an extrem gamer may think is a nice case, some may find ugly. And the other way arround.
coopersecurity
08/22/07		 Oh come on, a computer is a computer,. I actually have a laptop and went to a desktop, and now use both. I perfer the desktop for work and the laptop for travel.
getgreg
10/05/07		 @coopersecurity
Your comment reinforces my point. If a computer is a computer, dell (and dell's customers) shouldn't need so many redundant enclosure options.
coopersecurity
Mar 19		 See the problem is, is that I PERFER the desktop enclosures, aka small form factor, desktop, and ultra small form factor,OVER the tower enclosures, such as the mini and full tower form factors. It takes up less height space when horizontal, its quieter, takes less power, and it looks better, especially the BTX design. For these reasons is why i only buy the OptiPlex product line. If Dell went back to the BTX design for the Dimension lineup (the new Inspiron desktop naming convention is stupid and confusing for non technical people) , and began implementing these features into the consumer lineup I'd be more willing to go back to the consumer lineup. Ideally I wish Dell would go back to the way things were back in 2004-2005 when the Dimension towers looked identical to the OptiPlex towers, or at least bring back the BTX design.
jackie_c
May 15		 Changed status to **UNDER REVIEW**.
jervis961
May 17		 I can't wait to see the complaints that Dell is looking into a negatively voted idea. I think its a good idea.
joyscant1980
May 17		 IMHO, i think with desktops what is important is what is inside of them and not what they look like. If Dell can design fewer enclosures that can accommodate the different lines, I do not see a problem. Although, those people who want an unique look to their desktop should also have the option but should know that it would incur an additional cost to them.
jervis961
May 17		 Any more promotes? We need to get this idea back to the positive side.
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