Bangkok--Jan 27--Dell
Dell Computer Corporation (Nasdaq:DELL), the world's leading direct computer systems company, won more than 200 awards in the United States during 1998, including many customer satisfaction honors.
"Our continuing goal is to provide the best customer experience in the industry," said Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive officer. "The accolades we have received from customers and reviewers this year are a testament to the quality of the products and services we provide. Customers benefit from Dell's direct model, which enables us to use their feedback in continually refining our technology, services and support offerings."
A complete list of Dell 1998 awards in the United States can be found on the Dell website at http://www.dell.com/awards98/.
In December, Dell secured the prestigious Fortune Technology Buyer's Guide "Readers' Choice" award for Personal Service and Reliability. Fortune declared that readers "overwhelmingly chose Dell as 'BEST OF BREED' in PCs, for overall service and reliability."
In the July issue of PC Magazine, Dell became the only systems vendor to win "Readers' Choice" awards for Service and Reliability for both desktops and notebooks two years in a row. Since 1993, Dell has won the desktop award seven times, more than any other PC manufacturer.
Dell came out on top with PC World readers as well, winning the magazine's "Reliability and Service Award" for work PCs, home PCs and notebooks in November. The October issue of Windows Magazine featured Dell as one of the winners of its Tech Support Survey, in which readers were asked to rate the reliability of their PCs and their experiences with technical support.
Computerworld subscribers in January gave evaluations for value, which resulted in "IT Leaders' Choice" awards for Dell PowerEdge( servers, OptiPlex( desktops, Dimension( desktops, and Latitude( notebooks. Dell also won the Computerworld PC Customer Satisfaction Survey this November.
Dell consistently was cited as a leader in Technology Business Research, Inc. (TBR) quarterly customer satisfaction surveys. In May, TBR announced that Dell was the leading corporate desktop vendor in its first-quarter Customer Satisfaction Rating. TBR's second-quarter Customer Satisfaction Rating, announced in July, showed Dell as the leading corporate notebook vendor. And in October, TBR announced that Dell had the highest Customer Satisfaction Rating for servers, desktops and notebooks during the third quarter.
In March, enterprise industry research firm Datapro published its first survey of PC server customers, in which Dell scored highest in overall customer satisfaction.
Dell's manufacturing excellence was also honored this year, as its Austin, Texas, OptiPlex manufacturing facility was a recipient of a Texas Quality Award in May. Based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria and process, the award is given by the Quality Texas Foundation to organizations that are role models for quality, customer satisfaction and performance excellence in Texas.
In addition to high marks from its customers for satisfaction and service, Dell products were acclaimed by product and technology experts throughout the industry.
Dell PowerEdge servers won two AIM Technology "Hot Iron" awards in 1998. In September, the PowerEdge 6300 server won the "Best of LAN Times" award in the Over $25,000 category. Network World gave the PowerEdge 2300 its "World Class" award in June. In December, Government Computer News named the PowerEdge 2300 the "Best Server of 1998." The Dell PowerEdge Cluster 6100 won the "Best New Product" award, in the Server/Large System category, at the Federal Office Systems Exposition (FOSE) trade show in March.
A Dell Precision WorkStation 410 won Cadence Magazine's "Editor's Choice" award in December, and an "Awesome" award from New Media Magazine in August. In July, PC Graphics and Video gave a Dell Precision 410 its "Highly Recommended" award. A Dell Precision WorkStation 610 made the Government Computer News "A-List" in August.
OptiPlex corporate desktops won a total of 27 awards in the U.S. in 1998, including the Government Computer News "Best Desktop PC of 1998" award in December. OptiPlex products also won nine PC World Power Desktop "Best Buy" awards and 14 Windows Magazine WinList awards from January to June.
In April, a Dell Latitude corporate notebook won the PC/Computing "Torture Test," marking the third win in four years for Latitude notebooks. Latitude notebooks won eight PC/Computing "A-List" awards during the year. Latitude also won five Windows Magazine "WinList" awards and a "Reviewer's Choice" award from Government Computer News in October.
Dell's Asia Pacific operations currently cover Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the rest of Asia Pacific. Dell opened its 238,000 square foot Asia Pacific manufacturing facility in Penang, Malaysia, in January 1996 and received ISO 9002 certification in July 1996. In November 1998, Dell officially launched its 135,000 square foot China manufacturing facility in Xiamen to serve the Chinese market. Dell's line of high-performance computer systems includes notebook and desktop computers, network servers and workstation products. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained through its toll-free number 088 006 006 or 088 006 009 or by accessing the Dell World Wide Website at http://www.dell.com/ap/.
Ranked No. 125 among the Fortune 500( companies and No. 363 in the Fortune Global 500, Dell Computer Corporation is the world's leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues of US$16.8 billion for the past four quarters ending November 1, 1998. Dell designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals.
Dell, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerEdge, Precision and Inspiron are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation. Fortune 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. * unless specified for Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia or Singapore, all other awards mentioned apply to the U.S.
For further information contact: Judy Low, Corporate Communications, Dell Asia-Pacific) Tel: (65) 871-3862, Fax: (65) 871-3800, Internet: judy_low@dell.com End.