Dell makes sub-$2K plunge

By Chris Barton

Dell has made its long-awaited entry into the sub-$2000 consumer PC market with a $1897 offering likely to set a new benchmark among brand PCs.

Despite the unusual price point and Dell's annoying policy of listing consumer model prices excluding GST ($1686), buyers will find Dell's Dimension L series models have much to commend them. They can be examined and purchased online at www.dell.co.nz. The cheapest L433c model comes with an Intel 433Mhz Celeron processor, 32Mb of memory, a 4.2Gb storage disk, 15-inch monitor, CD Rom, sound card and speakers.

For a little more - $2347 - buyers can get the L500c multimedia model featuring Intel's just-released fastest 500MHz Celeron processor, 64Mb of memory, 17-inch monitor and a 6.4Gb storage disk.

Dell is also one of the first PC manufacturers to offer multimedia PCs featuring Intel's top-of-the-line 600MHz Pentium III processor. But at $4147, the machine is strictly for the power user who wants it all and price is no object. As well as Intel's fastest processor, the Dimension XPS T600 features a whopping 13.6B disk and super fast Voodoo 3 graphics card -- a must for the serious PC gamer.

Meanwhile, Intel has delayed the next release of its Pentium III chip, codenamed Coppermine, and which will be made using Intel's super slim 0.18 micron manufacturing process. The design promises performance improvements for the Pentium III, including integrated Level 2 cache for desktop versions of the chip, lower power consumption for mobile chips and cooler thermals for small form factor PCs.

The new manufacturing process will also allow Intel to push the Pentium III to higher clock speeds on Coppermine, which was originally due for release next month, but is now due in late October or early November. Rumour suggests processor speeds of 667MHz and 700MHz will be possible. The 0.18 micron process will also allow a new socket design for small form factor PCs debuting at about 500MHz - the same speed expected for Intel's new mobile Pentium IIIs .

As well as bringing a range of new systems to the market, Intel's just-announced 600MHz Pentium III and 500MHz Celeron processors have brought price cuts to existing models using older chips. Previously, Intel's fastest Celeron ran at 466 MHz and the Pentium III topped out at 550 MHz. Intel has priced the 600-MHz Pentium III at $US669 in lots of 1000 and 500-MHz Celeron for $US167.

But Intel will not be able to claim it has the fastest processor on the block for long. Later this week competitor AMD will release its new Athlon processors - the fastest of which clocks in at 650MHz.