Business Services Industry

Dell Ready for Microsoft Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007

Business Wire, Nov 30, 2006

Engineers Log More Than 100,000 Hours Testing, Validating Software for Customers

ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) today announced it is ready to help business customers adopt Microsoft[R] Windows Vista[TM], Office 2007[TM] and Exchange Server 2007[TM], based on a software migration strategy designed to reduce the time and complexity of managing the change.

Dell's latest server and storage products, desktops and notebooks are designed and optimized for the unique requirements of Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007. Microsoft's new software products are designed to help people work together, garner better business insights, protect customer environments and increase business productivity.

Dell has laid the foundation for an easy and fast transition to Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007 through engineering expertise, customer tools and tailored services. For example beginning tomorrow, a customer with a volume licensing agreement from Microsoft can send Dell its Windows Vista image and have Dell factory-install it through its standard imaging service.

Dell's people, processes and tools are in place to help customers successfully complete the transition. For example Dell engineers have invested more than 100,000 man-hours during the past two years testing and validating Windows Vista to help ensure that customers' customized hardware works as soon as they power up systems with the new operating system.

"This high degree of diligence exemplifies our commitment to put our engineering expertise to work for customers," said Brad Anderson, senior vice president, Dell Product Group. "Dell is taking the guesswork out of software transitions to help customers take back control of their information technology environments."

Tools Customers Need to Deploy Business-Critical Applications

With Windows Vista availability, Dell is enhancing its tool chest to help customers assess, upgrade and deploy desktops and notebooks in their networked environments.

Those tools include:

* The Windows Vista ROI Tool, gives customers quantifiable information that helps them plan and budget around their Windows Vista migrationacustomers can track their TCO for up to 3 years

* Exchange Advisor Tool, a blueprint to optimize and simplify customers email environments including system sizing, availability, data security, backup and recovery, and archiving

Many Dell customers who have been testing Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007 are seeing positive results. Esporte Clube Pinheiros, a network of athletic clubs in Brazil, needed tools to better manage its e-mail environment. It chose to migrate to Exchange Server 2007 to handle archiving, manage folders and maintain compliance.

"Dell Services got everything up and running so quickly," said Mario Cesar Corniani, supervisor of IT support at Esporte Clube Pinheiros. "Dell Services did an excellent job of deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and we hope to collaborate with Dell again on future projects."

The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) is transitioning to Office 2007 and so far users are impressed with how the enhanced features like faster email work on Dell products. The LACOE also is moving from Exchange Server 2000 to Exchange Server 2007.

"Transitioning from Exchange 2000 Server to Exchange Server 2007 has been seamless," said Robert Dotson, Senior Network Engineer, LACOE. "When we fully deploy the solution, I think it is going to be extremely well received."

Focused Infrastructure Services Based on Operational Excellence

Dell can help customers deploy Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange Server 2007 in complex IT environments with capabilities that span assessment, design and implementation services.

The company's unique approach to services capabilities is differentiated by a focused portfolio, operational excellence and single point of accountability. Dell offers training services to help customers plan, implement and manage Windows Vista, Office and Exchange environments. For more information, visit www.dell.com/vista.> About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its direct business model, Dell sells more systems globally than any other computer company, placing it No. 25 on the Fortune 500. For more information, visit www.dell.com. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.com/RSS.> Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.