Dell's Praise Through Imitation?

Many people view Microsoft as this all-mighty, unstoppable force in computing before which no competitor or partner can stand unmoved. Evidence this perception is wrong: Today’s Dell digital home announcements.

Just five days ahead of Microsoft’s Windows XP Media Center Edition launch, Dell drew a line in the sand and said, "Hey, world, we’re now a consumer electronics company." Dell, which according to news reports will ship a Windows Media Center PC, unveiled a LCD TV, music player, other gadgets and even an online music service.

The company also showed off the Dell Digital Media Experience software, which interface is remarkably similar to Windows XP Media Center Edition. For a look, click here and go to slide 10 or 11. The similarity between the interfaces definitely is worth a double take. According to slide 10, Dell developed the software, which, while similar in appearance, is not Windows Media Center.

You can be sure Dell’s announcement, which stole some thunder from the Windows Media Center launch event, took Microsoft by surprise. It’s interesting that Dell did not officially announce its Media Center PC, although the companion software kind of eliminates much of the doubt. Yet in skirting around that news and pushing out its own digital media software, Dell snatched the big, marketing bang from Microsoft. I have to sympathize with the Microsoft folks here; I know the eHome division has been working hard on this product launch.

If imitation is good praise, then Microsoft should be pleased with Dell’s Digital Media Experience software. Based on what Dell disclosed today, the company would ship the software--offering quick access to photos, music and other digital media features through a simple interface--on most PCs starting next month. This imitation of Microsoft’s art would allow Dell to offer a consistent digital media interface across the entire product line. Presumably, computers with TV tuners would ship with the heftier-on-features Windows XP Media Center Edition.

Traditionally, Dell has not been a risk taker, waiting for a market to mature before moving into it. That the company chose to imitate the Media Center experience across its entire consumer PC line is a real validation of Microsoft's entertainment OS strategy.

Posted by Joe Wilcox at September 25, 2003 10:05 PM