The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
Bloomberg
To entice parents and students alike to go with one of its ultra-portable laptops or powerful desktops for September Dell is offering everything from price-matching to free Samsung TVs. Dell’s Back To School product line has clearly been put together to offer something for children of all ages and of all computational needs.
With a starting price of just $249.99, its range of Inspiron 2-in-1 laptops look set to be big sellers. Available in a host of bright colors, with an 11-inch touch-sensitive HD display the devices can be used as tablets or as notebooks and can flex and fold into several different shapes — from traditional clamshell to ‘tent’ mode.
Designed to cover the basics well — word processing, surfing, social media, multimedia communication and consumption — they’re also priced to fall well within the average parent’s back-to-school budget. According to the Deloitte 2016 Back to School Survey, US parents will be spending an average of $488 per child this summer. However, if that child is heading to college, this jumps significantly to $1,345.
And while tech isn’t top of every shopping list — 55% of parents with college age children and 29% of those sending kids back to school — those looking at laptops, smartphones and tablets are going to spend more.
For example, parents buying digital devices for children rather than college students will spend an average $456 on computers and accessories and $286 on items like tablets. Therefore it’s obvious how a “2-in-1” would appeal to the cost conscious.
For those looking for more power as well as mobility, the Inspiron 7000 range, starting at $749.99, dials up the processing while keeping the same form factor. Available with a 13-, 15- or giant 17-inch display, the computers support everything from gesture recognition to the latest wi-fi standards for the fastest wireless internet speeds.
For $50 more, there’s the ultra-light XPS 13 laptop. It tips the scales at 1.2kg and promises a 14-hour battery life. However, regardless of the high-tech kit that your kids will need, Dell’s killer offer is price matching. If you find a lower price advertised online for a Dell product or for an Apple, HP or Lenovo computer with similar or identical specs, Dell will match it.
So that parents don’t feel left out with all the spending, it’s also offering a free 32-inch Samsung TV on select PC purchases of $699.99 or more.