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About a week or so ago, I was debating with my fiance about Dell’s recent launch of a new set of Inspiron Laptops that came in eight or so designer colors. I believed that people would see through this as nothing more than what I believed it was, window dressing. I could not believe that the deciding factor for people when choosing what laptop is right for them would be because they can get it in hot pink! It just seems mind blowing to me that someone would invest a $1000 dollars or more on such an important item like a computer and the color would be the biggest selling point. I told Leigh there was no chance in hell that people would fall for this.
Well, see Cord eating crow because from conversations that I had today with some of my ex-colleagues at Dell, the color Inspirons are selling like hot cakes. So much so, that several of the most popular colors are back ordered for several weeks. I keep on forgetting that the world is slowly coming to an end and more people are interested in what Brittany Spears is doing with her hair than who is running for the President of the United States.
So I am wrong, something as superficial as a pretty color plate on the front of a computer will actually sell more computers compared to a plain old black or white computer. Oh well, what can you do I guess, this is the world that we live in.
Today, I was emailing with a friend of mine who actually had ordered a pretty color Dell, but was very unhappy that her order was back ordered because her color was out of stock. My friend is a hard core techie who understands technology and computers. So I had to ask her, why oh why would you fall for paying more money for a computer just because it has a cute color? She responded very quickly and succinctly, “Because it matched my cell phone”. 
What can you say after that?
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Technorati Tags: Dell, Inspiron, Laptops
I can’t say I’m particularly surprised. Think about iPods. Or cars. Or fashion. Or virtually any other consumer product. People like being able to choose the colours they like. It’s just human nature
I would have to go with Pete on that one.
Dell is tapping into the Apple effect. Design first, do the rest second. Not to say that Apple doesn’t produce quality, as they most often do. But Apple has tapped into something more with most of their products.
Design. Fashion. Style.
If anything, I would venture to say the scale is flipped from what you suggested. I would say bigger ticket items people may be more inclined to purchase based on fashion or style as opposed to the other.
Sigh. I wouldn’t expect men to understand how to market to women.
I personally can’t wait for my pink Dell which will match my cell phone and my iPod. Although, it won’t match the inner lining of my laptop bag, which by the way looks like a big purse.
I did almost get green.
Anyway, I did my research and ordered the 1420. instead of the other sizes. That one got the best reviews. Another reason I ordered the Dell was for the built-in webcam.
Yes, i could get the cam on a Mac, but the macs don’t fit my budget and plus i’ve been using a powerbook since my gateway crashed and it’s driving me nuts!
You dudes should let go of the idea that color is superficial - or else you’ll never know how to market to women
Guilty as charged! In my defense I did some research to find the laptop that met my needs. It is an added bonus that I can choose my color. I got the blue one, at least I didn’t get pink
Not only is the “paint jobs” holding up shipment of these colorful computers but Dell says that he processors haven’t been shipped due to weather issues, a “typhoon hit Malaysia”. I can either cancel my order or wait another month. Decisions, decisions.
Kudos to Dell for figuring out something that increases sales costs them next to nothing. But I agree with you that it’s kind of sad that people care more about the color than the technology behind it.
So, here’s the million-dollar question:
If you compare a hot pink Inspirion and a hot pink [insert competing model here], who wins?
If I was going to buy an Inspirion anyway, choosing a personalized color might seal the deal. But if the technology was better with another brand, the color of the machine wouldn’t even enter into the equation.
“I keep on forgetting that the world is slowly coming to an end and more people are interested in what Brittany Spears is doing with her hair than who is running for the President of the United States”
Brittany is changing her hair???!!! Oh my god!! Give details, my man! Where’s the LINK????!!!!! GAHHHH!!!
;) 
Red, can I find a red one?
Computers take up space in the corner of my home - give me a color anyday over drone grey or that awful puke ivory Dell used to use before it found out black was a color.
Besides, colored laptops are a great sales tool, because anything that attracts attention when one is walking into an office to make a sale, then generates conversations is a great tool.
I think technicians (technology companies) often forget we women use technology, and like we do with men, we often want to make them over to pretty.
Catherine, the redhead
I can understand people doing that, I spent 100 to customize my macbook with the PenguinArmy logo and would have gladly paid more.
People like uniqueness, and apparently are willing to pay for it.