A Conversation with Michael Dell

Michael Dell drew a crowd of more than 700 to yesterday’s NVTC Titans luncheon. Fresh from Davos, Dell was optimistic about current opportunities for the technology sector, including mobility, virtualization, cloud computing and bioinformatics. He has also endorsed the technology components of the President’s stimulus package, which include healthcare technology, broadband access, alternative energy and technology in schools among other things. In particular, Dell is bullish on the healthcare market, which he describes as the ripest segment for technology penetration. Dell summed it up with his best quote of the day, “you’ll find more technology in grocery stores than in some doctors’ offices.”

Dell also reconfirmed his commitment to the green movement with a quick overview of the company’s initiatives – everything from green power, to product recycling, carbon neutrality, packaging and measurement of suppliers’ carbon emissions.

Lastly, Dell did nothing to dispel the rumors that the company is coming out with a cell phone in the fall of 2009. Though Dell described the cell phone and computer businesses as “distinctly different,” he did suggest that Dell is working on additional mobile devices in a variety of form factors, including some devices with screens much smaller than the current 9” mini laptop offering.

- Katie Hanusik
(Photo by NVTC)