According to reports in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) and elsewhere, Dell is planning to slim down its XPS line of high-performance desktop and notebook systems by stripping out systems specifically aimed at high-end gamers. Instead, Dell will cede the performance gaming business to its in-house boutique subsidiary Alienware, which Dell acquired in 2006 as a way to bolster its then-sagging reputation for offering high-performance systems.
Many industry watchers have wondered at Dell’s strategy in regard to Alienware and the XPS line, since gaming-centric XPS systems seemed to compete directly with Dell’s own Alienware products. (Similarly, many have wondered at the wisdom of HP producing high-end gaming rigs that compete with its own VoodooPC subsidiary.) Dell offers extensive support programs with the XPS line designed to make non-technical users feel comfortable that they’ll be supported if they buy high-performance systems; however, those programs aren’t wildly popular amongst the power gaming crowd, who are likely to tweak their systems to wring the last bit of LAN party performance out of them regardless of whether it voids a warranty.
According to reports, Dell will not be killing off the XPS line entirely, just eliminate gamer-focused offerings. XPS systems aimed at mainstream computing users—like the M1550 notebook—have proven to be strong sellers. No dates have been given for when gaming-centric XPS systems might be phased out, or if Alienware rigs will be granted more prominent placement on Dell’s site and retail efforts.
