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It seems that Dell will be replacing Microsoft’s built-in wireless setup wizard on all of its upcoming notebooks with SingleClick HomeNet Manager - which of course, will be rebranded as Dell Network Assistant. You can even download a trial version over at Dell’s website.

This looks like a step in the right direction given that HomeNet Manager feels much more robust compared to what most of us would have been using so far. I’ve to admit, however, that it’s a bit of a surprise that Dell is switching away from one of its major partners, Microsoft, even if it’s for something as insignificant as this.

After all, we’ve already seen Microsoft being dealt a blow with Google Pack being preinstalled on Dell PCs. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come?

[News via eWeek]

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(Source: PC World)

I’m sure that most of you would have noticed by now that both of Dell’s new mobile XPS offerings will come with Skype and some very useful communications peripherals - at least if you opt for Dell’s Audio/Video Communications Package.

Whether or not this move was planned to combat Acer’s own communications package (which contains a Bluetooth VOIP phone and a 1.3 megapixel camera, the Acer Orbicam), we do not know.

But even if Skype itself is easily downloadable, consumers will no doubt find the additional peripherals useful, especially the integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam (which is also part of Dell’s new Communications Package).

Other components of Dell’s Communications Package include the Dell Wireless 5700 Mobile Broadband package and premium noise-isolation ear buds.

More information and reviews on the Dell XPS M1210 and M2010 here and here, respectively.

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This is not a recap, but rather, a summary of news that didn’t make it into individual posts.

1. Virtualisation on PCs
   Dell’s CTO touted virtualisation - technology allowing you to run multiple OSes on a single PC - during a recent keynote presentation. While the technology is normally used on servers, Dell believes that multi-core processors, storage virtualisation, and integration of the technology by Intel and AMD has driven and will continue to drive the adoption of virtualisation - even on desktops.
2. Dell and Apple Lead in Brand Trust
   In a telephone survey of 4,700 American adults, Bose, Dell and Apple emerged among the top of 22 companies in brand trust. Microsoft, on the other hand, was placed 20th.
3. Dell Sees Growth In Developing Markets
   Dell aims to meet growth forecasts this year by expanding into developing markets such as India and China. It also has high hopes for its peripherals businesses, including its three-year-old printer business.
4. Dell to Triple Recycling Volume by 2009
   By 2009, Dell hopes to be able to recycle three times the amount it can recycle today. This move comes in the wake of significant complaints from consumer and environmental groups.

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Judy Chavis, Director of Business Development for Dell’s enterprise product group, recently announced that while Sun Microsystems’ Solaris operating system (OS) now runs on Dell’s x86 servers, official Dell support for the Unix-based OS will not come until Solaris becomes “…the next industry standard around operating systems.”

Apparently, Dell evaluated Unix-based OSes years back and found them wanting. Dell therefore stuck with Linux, and have not budged since then.

[News via CNET News.com]

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Dell recently announced a system management tool - Open Manage Client Administrator (OMCA) 3.0 - that allows Dell hardware and software to be managed from a single console. Collaboratively developed with Altiris, OMCA 3.0 covers a wide range of Dell products, including Dell Precision workstations, Latitude notebooks, and OptiPlex desktops.

The software allows system administrators a means to deploy system images, modify key settings (e.g. BIOS), and distribute software on a network-wide basis. Nothing new or special really, but it provides system admins of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) a simple means of handling their tasks without resorting to more advanced (and more expensive) system management packages.

[News via Dell]

Dell currently ships around 20% of its servers worldwide with pre-installed Linux. That’s a resonable percentage, but considering the growth in the Linux market in recent years, Dell’s Linux business could very well be larger. So, with the substantial growth potential of India’s Linux market (it grew 34% in India), it is little surprise that Dell has announced that growth in its Linux business will depend strongly on its presence there.

Dell attributes its potential growth in the Indian Linux market to the fact that “…software development and financial services companies are evaluating virtualization and are now in the process of finalizing the buying decision.” Of course, besides engaging in the rapidly growing Linux market in India, Dell is also exploiting the talented Indian workforce for “…testing, certification and sustaining work of Linux systems.”

[News via CIOL]

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It has been reported that Google and Dell are close to an agreement that will see the Google Pack being available on all new Dell PCs. According to analysts, this move could very well signal the end of Microsoft’s reign of our PCs, at least for those produced by Dell.

While I see the Firefox browser being the most likely component of the Google Pack to replace “built-in” Microsoft software (i.e. Internet Explorer), I’m sure the rest of its components (from Picasa to Google Desktop) will be well received by PC users all over the world. Microsoft should indeed be afraid, really afraid.

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Dell Computer’s UK division will be shipping the Mozilla Firefox browser with new Dell PCs, according to Firefox developer Blake Ross. While he has edited his statement since then by stating that he is not an official spokesperson of either Dell or Firefox (and therefore, not qualified to speak on such issues), there is much hope that this piece of news will be realised.

No specifics on the agreement are known at the moment.

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