The sun'll come out tomorrow
But next year is where Dell predicts it will really see its fortune picking up, with Michael Dell declaring, "the momentum we're seeing in the enterprise customers around client has nothing to do with Windows 7 at this point. We are seeing a pipeline of Windows 7 that's starting to build for enterprise customers really next year."
Enterprise, which is Dell's bread and butter, is starting on the long road to recovery already, but SMBs, which are the main targets of Dell's efforts, are still finding it tough, with only marginal improvements to be seen on a global scale.
Dell, which now trails both HP and Acer in PC sales, has been trying to re-invent itself, modeling itself to become a hardware and services company instead of just a box maker.
Trouble is, HP has such a head start, it's hard to see Dell with much chance of gaining ground. Last week when HP released its financial results its earnings per share were up, despite revenues being down eight per cent.
Nevertheless, Dell is in position and is ready and waiting to catch the 2010 windfall it believes will be its saving grace as technology spending increases.
Dell's shareholders apparently don't share the firm's enthusiasm, however, as stock in the company dropped a painful six per cent to $14.87 in after-hours trading, after closing down about one per cent at $15.87 on Thursday.
