computer maker

Dell Inc. plans to keep investing in Asia even as its sales growth in China slows, the computer maker's regional president said Friday.

"We will continue to invest" in Asia, said Steve Felice, president of Dell Asia Pacific and Japan, adding that Dell would likely expand its research and development and call center facilities in the region, but currently has no plans to expand manufacturing capacity.

"We're going to have to see how the world grows. That will determine where we put resources," he said in a conference call with reporters.

Dell is not hearing the music. The Round Rock, Tex.-based computer maker is squashing any rumors reported in recent weeks about plans to release an MP3 player.

The speculation has centered on Zing Systems, a California-based startup Dell acquired last year. Observers suggested Dell might use Zing to release a new version of its DJ Ditty, a music device offered in 2006.

Seagate on Monday announced what it called "sweeping advances" in its efforts to secure laptop information. Its solution is self-encrypting laptop hard drives with up to 320GB of capacity. The company said 500GB models are coming soon.

Dell will be the first computer maker to ship a laptop with Seagate's 160GB self-encrypting hard drive. And McAfee will provide software for enterprise-wide management of laptops with Seagate secure hard drives.

A Laptop Stolen Every Minute

Sales of personal computers didn't live up to expectations over the summer, and now analysts predict shoppers will cut spending even more drastically in the all-important holiday quarter.

So far, PC prices appear to be holding steady. But buyers may get better deals soon as computer companies try to avoid getting stuck with a pile of unsold inventory on Dec. 31.

Computer makers are betting consumers want a product that's more than a smart phone but less than a full-featured laptop. Lenovo, the Chinese company with worldwide headquarters in Morrisville, N.C., is the latest to enter the burgeoning market for netbooks -- also known as Internet PCs. This month, Lenovo announced plans for a 1-inch-thick IdeaPad netbook with a 10-inch screen. Starting price: $399.

Dell Inc. unveiled four low-cost computer models for China, India and other emerging economies Wednesday in a new bid to tap the potential of high-growth markets outside the United States.

The two notebook and two desktop PCs are the first Dell models designed especially for emerging markets, said Steve Felice, the U.S. computer maker's president for the Asia-Pacific. They are meant for small-business users and are to be sold in 20 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Dell announced its Studio Hybrid desktop Tuesday -- with an emphasis on small and stylish. The Round Rock, Texas, computer maker set a list price for the stock system at $499 with an Intel TZ390 dual-core processor.

The form factor for the Studio Hybrid, according to Dell, is 80 percent smaller than standard desktop models. It comes in an array of seven removable color sleeves, including bamboo.

What's Under the Hood?

Personal computer maker Dell Inc. announced Tuesday that it will lay off 250 workers in Ireland as part of its global cost-cutting plan, a decision economists said reflected the rising expense of doing business there.

The approximately 4,500 employees at Dell's two locations in Ireland were told of the layoffs when they arrived for work. The cuts are expected to begin in July.

Dell, the No. 2 computer maker worldwide and No. 1 in the U.S., is Ireland's largest exporter and its biggest technology company.

Personal computer maker Dell Inc. announced Tuesday that it will lay off 250 workers in Ireland as part of its global cost-cutting plan, a decision economists said reflected the rising expense of doing business there.

The approximately 4,500 employees at Dell's two locations in Ireland were told of the layoffs when they arrived for work. The cuts are expected to begin in July.

Dell, the No. 2 computer maker worldwide and No. 1 in the U.S., is Ireland's largest exporter and its biggest technology company.