Worldwide PC shipments totaled 73.4 million units in the first quarter of 2014 (1Q14), a decline of -4.4% year-on-year, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. Although still in decline and with continuing weakness in consumer and emerging market segments, the preliminary results are slightly better than a projected decline of -5.3%.

Similar to the latter part of 2013, the upside in the first quarter arose primarily from demand in mature commercial markets. Commercial refresh projects, which had already been protracted, received a last push from the impending end of Windows XP support, particularly in Japan. In addition, slowing demand for tablets seems to have helped constrain previously drastic cutbacks in notebooks. Nevertheless, emerging regions continued to post weak results, with growth in Latin America and Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan)(APeJ) falling even faster than recent declines as both economic conditions and continued tablet penetration stifled PC shipments.

Dell today announced the launch of both the Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme notebook and the Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme convertible notebook for customers who require powerful solutions that can survive unforgiving conditions.

"With new ground-up design and industry-first innovations, the Latitude 12 and 14 Rugged Extreme mark the beginning of a renewed and expanded commitment by Dell to the rugged space," said Kirk Schell, former officer, United States Navy and vice president, commercial PCs, client solutions group, Dell. "The Rugged Extreme line is backed by the Latitude promise of reliable, secure and manageable commercial PCs and can move easily from the boardroom to the battlefield or wherever the job takes you-an assurance unmatched by the competition."

Microsoft Corp. and Dell announced a patent licensing agreement allowing the companies to share technology and build on each other's innovations. It is the continuation of a nearly 30-year business relationship between Microsoft and Dell to deliver world-class technologies to consumers.

"Our agreement with Dell shows what can be accomplished when companies share intellectual property," said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of the Innovation and Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. "We have been partnering with technology manufacturers and vendors for many years to craft licensing deals, instead of litigation strategies."

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that its 1.6 terabyte (TB) NVMe (non-volatile memory express) solid state drive is featured in the new Dell PowerEdge R920 server. Together, Samsung and Dell are the first in the world to ship PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) SSDs using an NVMe protocol, enabling customers to get results faster.

"We have been working closely with Dell to optimize the storage capabilities of the PowerEdge R920, and believe that our NVMe PCIe SSD provides the best enterprise storage solution, offering ultra-low latency and surpassing the IOPS (input/output operations per second) performance of currently available SSDs," said Jim Elliott, corporate vice president, memory and SSD marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. "Samsung will continue to take the initiative in accelerating growth of the NVMe PCIe SSD market for green IT investment by providing NVMe PCIe solutions with high performance, density and scalability."

Total worldwide PC monitor shipments were slightly below 35.0 million units in the fourth quarter of 2013 (4Q13), a decrease of -0.4% compared to the previous quarter yet 2.9% more than forecast, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Monitor Tracker. The -3.8% year-over-year growth in 4Q13 was largely due to declining PC desktop sales.

"Dell and HP both saw increases in unit shipments for the worldwide PC monitor market for the second time in a down year," said Jennifer Song, Research Analyst, Worldwide Trackers at IDC. "At a regional level, EMEA experienced the largest positive growth during the fourth quarter, with Italy and Spain posting the biggest gains."

Dell today introduced a new mobile workstation category with the Dell Precision M2800, a 15-inch mobile workstation offering ISV-certified and optimized performance and dependability at a breakthrough price. Starting at $1,199, the lowest price available for 15-inch mobile workstation, the Dell Precision M2800 helps to bridge the gap between business-class laptops and mobile workstations by offering an affordable ISV-certified system with professional graphics and processors. Engineers, designers and video editors now have access to the right tool to perform their critical functions with the speed, accuracy and reliability of a Dell Precision workstation.

"Dell has found a way to disrupt the market and remove barriers for a certain set of customers who require a workstation experience yet are constrained by budget," said Jon Peddie, president, Jon Peddie Research. "The M2800 brings forth a tremendous opportunity to address a gap in delivering an entry-level workstation with strong performance and ISV certifications to run demanding, mission-critical applications, at a great value."

Dell today announced the appointment of Thomas W. Sweet as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Dell. Mr. Sweet, 54, currently vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting officer, succeeds Brian Gladden, who has served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Dell since 2008. Mr. Gladden, who has chosen to pursue career interests outside of Dell, will remain at the company through the end of February, working closely with Mr. Sweet to ensure a seamless transition.

"Tom has been a key leader in our corporate finance organization for 16 years. His knowledge of our business, versatility as a finance leader and his strategic insights are valued by leaders across the company," said Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive officer of Dell. "I am delighted that Tom will be joining our leadership team to help lead Dell through our next chapter and help me position the company for long-term success."

Worldwide PC shipments totaled 82.2 million units in the fourth quarter of 2013 (4Q13), representing a year-on-year contraction of -5.6%, a shade better than the forecast of -6.0% growth, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.

For the full year 2013, unit shipments declined -10.0% from 2012, a record drop reflecting the changes in mobility and personal computing affecting the market. While commercial purchases helped to prevent a larger decline, the consumer side remained weak.

Worldwide PC shipments totaled 82.6 million units in the fourth quarter of 2013, a 6.9 percent decline from the fourth quarter of 2012, according to preliminary results by Gartner, Inc. This is the seventh consecutive quarter of shipment decline.

"Although PC shipments continued to decline in the worldwide market in the fourth quarter, we increasingly believe markets, such as the U.S., have bottomed out as the adjustment to the installed base slows," said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner. "Strong growth in tablets continued to negatively impact PC growth in emerging markets. In emerging markets, the first connected device for consumers is most likely a smartphone, and their first computing device is a tablet. As a result, the adoption of PCs in emerging markets will be slower as consumers skip PCs for tablets."

Announced about a month ago, Dell's first 28-inch monitor with a 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) has now been confirmed to arrive in stores in two weeks' time (on January 23rd), priced at $699. Known as P2815Q, this Ultra HD display is said to feature an IPS LED-backlit panel and a stand allowing pivot and height adjustment.

Dell hasn't shared much in terms of specs but if it's similar to the company's other 4K offerings, the P2815Q should have an 8 ms response time, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and HDMI and DisplayPort (maybe even mini DisplayPort) connectivity.

Total worldwide PC monitor shipments were more than 35.0 million units in the third quarter of 2013 (3Q13), an increase of 4.5% compared to the previous quarter and 1.2 million units more than forecast, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Monitor Tracker. Year-over-year growth was -8.6% in 3Q13, largely due to the ongoing decline in PC sales.

"Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan)(APeJ), Western Europe, and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) outperformed the overall market in the third quarter and increased their regional market shares," said Jennifer Song, Research Analyst, Worldwide Trackers at IDC. "China and India were the top growth drivers within APeJ, while Germany and Russia were the leading country markets in Europe."

Dell today announced the expansion of its robust portfolio of next generation learning solutions with the Dell Chromebook 11, an affordable and highly-portable Chromebook designed to facilitate integration of technology in the classroom for teachers, students and administrators. Wrapping into Dell's end-to-end education portfolio, the Dell Chromebook 11 is a laptop that is fast, secure and allows easy-to-manage access to applications and content.

The Dell Chromebook 11 joins Dell's next generation learning solutions that deliver an optimal combination of platforms, education content and secure IT efficiency that schools and universities are seeking to personalize the learning experience and improve student outcomes.

Dell is on a roll. After announcing its 28-inch UltraSharp P2815Q and 24-inch UltraSharp UP2414Q, both of which feature Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels) display resolutions in the 16:9 aspect-ratio, the company is turning its attention to the newfound 21:9 ultra-wide aspect-ratio. Expreview unearthed plans for a new 34-inch display, with an unusually high resolution that could woo away some of the Ultra HD crowd. The new U3415W from Dell offers a native resolution of 3440 x 1440, which has the same Y-axis as WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels), albeit much wider. Basic math would tell you that it's still a staggering 40 percent lower pixel count than Ultra HD. The U3415W reportedly features an IPS LCD panel made by LG. The display should offer a decent middle-ground between currently $400-ish 27-inch WQHD monitors, and four-figure >30-inch Ultra-HD ones taking shape.

In addition to introducing the UltraSharp UP3214Q model, Dell is set to add two more Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels) monitors to its offer, a 24-inch model known as UP2414Q and a 28-inch display named P2815Q.

The UP2414Q should be available shortly and will feature an IPS panel with 99% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB coverage and 178/178 degree viewing angles, an 8 ms GTG response time, a contrast ratio of 1,000:1 (dynamic contrast ratio is 2,000,000:1), a media card reader, a 4-port USB 3.0 hub, HDMI, DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort inputs, and a stand enabling tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustment. This one will cost $1,399. The P2815Q is scheduled to arrive early next year priced at under $1,000.

Thinking that there's too much of a green theme to its compact gaming machine, Dell has decided to mix things up a little and include an AMD graphics card option with the Alienware X51. The card chosen is the Radeon R9 270X and it is currently available only on the $999 X51 unit which comes with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS pre-installed and packs a Core i7-4770 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB hard drive.

The Radeon R9 270X option costs $100 more than the GeForce GTX 760 with 1.5 GB but is $100 cheaper than the 2 GB GeForce GTX 760 Ti (OEM card). The Alienware X51 (R2) is available here.

Dell has now released in its home market two UltraSharp Series monitors, the 31.5-inch UP3214Q and the 23.8-inch U2414H. Previously released in Hong Kong, the UP3214Q is Dell's very own IGZO-powered offering boasting a native resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. In addition to the Ultra HD picture, the monitor features 176/176 degree viewing angles, 99% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB color coverage, an 8 ms (GTG) response time, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio (dynamic contrast ratio tops 2,000,000:1), 350 cd/m2 brightness, a 4-port USB 3.0 hub, and HDMI, DisplayPort and mini DisplayPort inputs.

Dell has this week updated its Linux offering by releasing the new XPS 13 Developer Edition laptop running Ubuntu. Codenamed Sputnik 3, this new client-to-cloud solution comes with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS pre-installed and features a 13.3-inch (1920 x 1080) LED-backlit touch display, an Intel Haswell processor (Core i5-4200U or i7-4500U), 8 GB of RAM, Intel HD 4400 graphics, a 128/256 GB mSATA solid state drive, a spill-resistant backlit chiclet keyboard, an HD webcam, Bluetooth, 802.11ac WiFi, and a 55WHr battery.

The XPS 13 Developer Edition is currently only available in the US (starting at $1,249) but will expand its reach quickly - next week it will go on sale in Canada, and by the end of the month it will also be found in 9 European countries.

Dell has this week introduced a new OptiPlex business-ready desktop, a model dubbed OptiPlex 3020 that promises to offer 'industry-leading performance and best-in-class security in a budget-friendly package'.

Coming in two versions - Minitower (MIT) and Small Form Factor (SFF), this compact PC features a tool-free design and packs a 4th gen Intel Core processor, up to 16 GB of RAM, Intel HD 4600 graphics, either a hard drive or a solid-state hybrid drive (for up to 2 TB of storage on the minitower SKU), one PCIe x16 slot for graphics expansion, two USB 3.0 ports, and VGA and DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The OptiPlex 3020 starts at $499.

Showcased back in July, Dell's UltraSharp UP3214Q 4K monitor is now finally making its way to market, with Hong Kong apparently being the first country to get it, officially at least. The UP3214Q is a 31.5-inch model that features an IGZO panel with an Ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) and 176°/176° viewing angles, 99% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB color coverage, an 8 ms (GTG) response time, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and 350 cd/m2 brightness.

Dell's display also packs a media card reader, a 4-port USB 3.0 hub, HDMI, DisplayPort and mini DisplayPort connectors, and a stand enabling tilt, swivel and height adjustment. The UltraSharp UP3214Q comes with a three-year warranty and is priced at HK$41,899 (that's about 5,400 US dollars).

Dell today announced the completion of its acquisition by Michael Dell, Dell's Founder, Chairman and CEO, and Silver Lake Partners, a leading global technology investment firm.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Dell stockholders will receive $13.75 in cash for each share of Dell common stock they hold, plus payment of a special cash dividend of $0.13 per share to stockholders of record as of the close of business on Oct. 28, 2013, for total consideration of $13.88 per share in cash. The total transaction is valued at approximately $24.9 billion.

Dell today launched the thinnest and lightest 15-inch true mobile workstation, the Dell Precision M3800, to its family of the world's most powerful mobile workstations. Merging beautiful design in an ultra-thin form factor with workstation-class performance, Dell has delivered an uncompromising system for digital content creators and engineers looking for portability, power and stylish design to match their image and environment.

"Dell has a long history of delivering leading-edge performance workstations for customers in engineering and digital content creation," said Jon Peddie, President, Jon Peddie Research. "After seeing the new Dell Precision M3800 ultra-thin mobile workstation it's like falling in love all over again. It has everything I want in a power notebook including a super processor and GPU, high-resolution and big screen, light weight, lots of I/O, great speakers and camera. What's not to love? With the M3800, I no longer have to sacrifice performance for mobility and beautiful design."

Worldwide PC shipments totaled 81.6 million units in the third quarter of 2013 (3Q13). In year-on-year terms, the market contracted -7.6%, ahead of a projected decline of -9.5% for the quarter, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. While shipments remained weak during the early part of the quarter, the market was somewhat buoyed by business purchases, as well as channel intake of Windows 8.1-based systems during September.

A slight uptick in business volume contributed to shipments. The top three vendors (Lenovo, HP, and Dell), which all have an important presence in the enterprise and public sectors, each saw modest positive year-on-year growth during the quarter. Conversely, consumer sentiment remained lukewarm at best, as evidenced by the continued struggles of Acer and ASUS.

Dell today took a bold step in unveiling a new family of tablets and new laptops, including a 2-in-1 Ultrabook. The Dell Venue line of tablets is comprised of four new ultrathin models designed to address the changing way people live and work today. Dell's "damned sexy" tablets, as described by leading Enderle Group analyst, Rob Enderle, deliver leading performance and quality, backed by Intel processing technology. With compact designs that make it easy to stay connected on the go, the Dell Venue tablets have an exquisite fit and finish.

In addition to the versatile new Dell Venue tablets, Dell is introducing new XPS laptops, each with breakthrough displays for a phenomenal viewing experience with vibrant, crisp images in any available screen size. The new XPS 11, the thinnest, most compact 2-in-1 in the world, also features the first Quad HD (2560 x 1440) display on an 11.6-inch 2-in-1. The XPS 15 multimedia powerhouse boasts a stunningly thin design, and offers as an option the first 15.6-inch Quad HD+ (3200 x 1800) display in the world, which is the highest resolution available on a laptop of that size. Dell is also refreshing its award-winning XPS 13 Ultrabook with faster processors, touch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display and improved battery life. With these three laptops, Dell is leading the industry with the highest resolution displays possible.

Dell today announced its updated Inspiron portfolio with a range of new laptops and an all-in-one PC that will be on everyone's wish list. The new touch-enabled systems offer savvy buyers dependable technology that keeps them connected, from the upscale, feature-rich Inspiron 7000 Series laptops - Dell's thinnest and strongest Inspiron line ever - to the ultraportable Inspiron 11 3000 Series, featuring a slim design with exceptional battery life so it can keep up with you, wherever you are.

For those looking for a space-saving PC without sacrificing on performance or style, the Inspiron 23 all-in-one features a full articulating stand and 10-finger capacitive touch display. Continuing the Inspiron tradition of delivering technology that's accessible and easy to use, these new additions to the portfolio significantly raise the bar on stylish personal computing that won't break the bank.

Dell moved ahead of Samsung in the worldwide PC monitor market for the first time since 2007, shipping more than 5.0 million units in the second quarter of 2013 (2Q13). Total PC monitor shipments for the quarter were 33.5 million units, which was 1.6 million units more than forecast but still represented a year-over-year decline of -0.7%, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Monitor Tracker.

"Dell grew its unit shipments by 12.7% compared to the first quarter of 2013, which vaulted the company into the number one position worldwide. However, Samsung continues to be the worldwide revenue leader, despite its declining shipment numbers," said Jennifer Song, Research Analyst, Worldwide Trackers at IDC. "On a geographic basis, China remained the largest market for PC monitors with 29.2% share, followed by the U.S. with 18.4% share. The number three market, Brazil, trailed by some distance with 4.3% share."