• Austin American-Statesman, Friday, June 25, 2010 10:45 AM

Kirk Ladendorf tells us that Dell Inc. has laid out plans to shift to more cost-competitive computer designs, cut manufacturing costs, line up longer-term sales deals with retailers and save money by shipping more products in ships rather than by air freight.

Company officials spoke at an annual briefing Thursday with financial and industry analysts, some of whom have criticized Dell's consumer operations as a drag on the company's financial performance.

"Consumer has struggled over the last 18 months, and we have been very clear that we have been disappointed in it," said Brian Gladden, Dell's chief financial officer. "That is our biggest opportunity, and we have a plan that we feel very good about in terms of getting to 2% and beyond that."

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