Degen.Net

The 31^st of January was a big day for both Microsoft and Dell.  Obviously with the launch of Vista there’s a lot on the line for each company as their mutual fortunes are quite intertwined.

But it was an especially significant day for Dell. Not just because they started shipping systems preloaded with Vista, but as it marked the end of Kevin Rollins stint at the helm, and the return of Michael Dell.

Now many of you might think, “So what? How does a returning CEO to a computer company effect me?” and for the most part – you might be right. In fact the same could be said a few years ago about a company that was faltering, taking mis-step after mis-step in the technology marketplace. Maybe you have heard of them, the name is Apple, and the CEO was Steve Jobs.

See much like the malaise that Dell finds itself in today, Apple was suffering similarly; eroding market share, diminishing customer satisfaction levels, and a general lack of innovation. Regardless of all the “how’s”, Steve Job’s return to Apple galvanized the company. Under his leadership, Apple pulled out from their slow decent toward becoming irrelevant; just another blip in the history of personal computing.  Instead, Apple has once again revived herself and is one of the most vibrant innovators on the computing and consumer landscape.    

Can all this be attributed to one man? Should it matter to every employee that the company’s founder has returned to rescue their corporate endeavor, akin to a noble knight battling a dragon for the love of his maiden? I honestly don’t know – but it is certain that just as Apple needed (and received) an injection of vitality, Dell is facing the same concerns.

This is not a bash Dell piece. I use Dell equipment on almost a daily basis, and have done so for many years. Based on this, it has become apparent that something has been amiss with the Dell experience in the last couple of years.

This is not just a subjective assessment due to press coverage about flaming notebooks, continual outsourcing of support call centers to India, or excessive system build/ship times; no there has been a tangible shift in the PC dominated landscape, and it has been bad news for Dell.

Last quarter’s market share numbers validate this, HP has pushed Dell aside for the number one spot. What does this say when HP, a company rocked by the “Dunn Debacle” and the seemingly endless fall-out from Carly Fiorina’s exit, can surpass the mighty Dell? It says there is a lack of positive feelings engendered toward Dell and their products, and it’s beginning to impact revenues!

 

To that end I’ll make a suggestion. Ben Curtis might be out of rehab by now, maybe it’s time roll with some retro commercials, Dude!