New Dell client portfolio maximises workforce management, productivity

As today's workforce becomes increasingly dispersed and mobile and organisations work to balance data protection with mobile access for its' end-users, Dell today unveiled a series of new solutions and service capabilities that enable customers to simplify desktop virtualisation deployments.

Dell's enhanced Flexible Computing Solutions help customers simplify virtual image management so they have increased application access and performance and heightened IT control to improve security. In addition, the new capabilities allow for work in flexible environments to encourage a more mobile and productive workforce.

“Today's workforce has become more globally dispersed and highly mobile with the expectation of 24/7 access to critical data and applications,” said Llewellyn Chame, Product Manager: Commercial Client Dell Africa. “We are committed to providing innovative and flexible virtualisation solutions that help customers reduce costs, increase security and improve manageability. This approach to flexible computing also has the ability to enable choice and flexibility to help boost productivity within our customers' workforce.”

In collaboration with its Flexible Computing strategy, Dell supports the new Citrix XenClient technology introduced today. Dell is working with Citrix to validate its Dell Latitude laptop and Dell OptiPlex desktop client systems for the new XenClient technology. XenClient extends desktop virtualisation to corporate laptop users while addressing customers' needs for security, flexibility and performance.

Dell's portfolio of Flexible Computing solutions and services extends the reach of virtual desktops and focuses on granular application and profile options. This approach gives customers outstanding flexibility to centralise and control desktop management while enjoying the uncompromised experience of a full PC. As a result, organisations can now more than ever maximise workforce management and productivity.

* Dell Managed Virtual Client: Dell's cloud-optimised, virtual desktop managed service is now available as a comprehensive Dell solution (formerly offered by Perot Systems, now part of Dell Services) in the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands. As part of the service, Dell manages the data centre infrastructure providing the virtual desktops. The data centre can be held on or off premise, depending on the customer's requirements.

* Application and Profile Virtualisation: Dell extends its service capabilities to focus on application and profile virtualisation options that address customers' specific use cases with more granularity than ever before.

* Application virtualisation provides new delivery models, either virtualised or streamed, for customers who are looking to reduce the management of application deployment.

* Profile virtualisation enables IT to deliver an experience where the user has the ability to change their desktop environment to suit the way they work.

* Virtual Remote Desktop: Dell's Virtual Remote Desktop enables users to work with a virtual desktop on a remote server, with the virtualisation software (VMware View or Citrix XenDesktop) emulating a local, desktop-computing experience. For the Virtual Remote Desktop solution powered by Citrix XenDesktop, Dell now provides end-to-end optimised reference architecture that uses our strong relationship with Microsoft and our expertise in Server 2008 Hyper-V and Microsoft System Centre management infrastructure.

Dell also today launched new additions to its portfolio of Latitude E-Family laptops, giving users an enhanced security and mobile experience.

* Dell Latitude E4310: the ultra portable Dell Latitude E4310 is built for the executive and frequent traveller and combines sleek looks with remarkable durability and advanced wireless connectivity. The 13.3-inch Latitude E4310, available now, starts at ZAR 21 706.28.

* Dell Latitude E5410 and E5510: the14.1-inch and 15.6-inch Dell Latitude E5410 and E5510 professional laptops, respectively, are designed to help simplify IT by reducing cost, deployment time and maintenance with an emphasis on stability, inter-compatibility, global support and business-class control. The new systems, available now, start at ZAR 14 480.14 and ZAR 14 612.38 respectively.

Enhanced features of select new Latitude laptops include:

* A new Fast Response Free Fall Sensor and StrikeZone shock absorber that can help prevent data loss from drops;
* Latitude ON - Reader and Flash Version, available with the Latitude 4310, for instant access to access to e-mail, calendar, contacts and virtual desktops without booting the system;
* New architecture includes Intel Core i technology, Windows 7 and WiMax support;
* Three-year limited hardware warranty battery for reduced total cost of ownership during laptop life cycle;
* Inter-compatibility across every E-Family system with one dock to 15 laptops and counting, and five-year assurance on dock, adapters and optical drives;
* Advanced security and systems management that offer flexible and secure data protection, asset monitoring and remote management while allowing for fast IT response to business threats; and
* Select configurations offer Energy Star and EPEAT certifications.

Dell Latitude 2110: Building on the success of the 2100 at high schools and elementary schools, Dell now offers the 2110 to customers to help solve a growing need for an affordable secondary computer for training workstations or desktop users. The Latitude 2110, starting at ZAR8 924.92, allows easy collaboration, quick connectivity and versatility while at the office or on the road.

Enhanced features of new Latitude netbook include:

* Battery life of up to 10 hours;
* Collaboration tools, including advanced audio, state-of-the-art microphone and optional Webcam; and
* Anywhere connectivity options such as WiFi, mobile broadband and WiMax.

Additional information:

* Images of the new systems can be found on Dell's Official Flickr Photostream
* Dell YouTube Channel
* Direct2Dell Blog
* Dell Enterprise Inside IT Blog
* Dell Flexible Computing Page
* Dell Latitude Page