The product announcement includes the 11th Generation PowerEdge servers and Precision workstations based on the next generation of Intel 's Xeon processors. The new PowerEdge portfolio features virtualization , system management, and usability. The servers include the new Dell Lifecycle Controller that delivers integrated manageability through a single access point.

"Today's economic realities are placing a premium on value and efficiency from technology. We are unlocking customers from proprietary technology and services, and yesterday's IT economics," said Steve Schuckenbrock, president of Dell Large Enterprise. "Whether through next-generation blades with onboard systems management or modular services, we're putting them on the path to today's Efficient Enterprise."

Taking a Holistic View

Gunning for its competition, Dell also rolled out a new M-series blade architecture it said has 27 percent lower acquisition costs and delivers 17 percent lower total cost of ownership over five years per rack compared to Hewlett-Packard 's c-Class. Meanwhile, Dell launched the ImageDirect Server to simplify transitions and image management for servers.

The new Dell Precision T7500, T5500 and T3500 tower workstations aim to bring efficiencies to the engineering, media, entertainment and biosciences industries.

Dell is also challenging HP 's proprietary management framework with the introduction of the Dell Management Console, a software solution powered by Altiris from Symantec. The solution is designed to unite systems management across IT environments into a single console.

Dell also announced new EqualLogic PS6000 storage arrays that it said offer customers increased performance and advanced virtualization capabilities. On the service front, Data Center Consulting seeks to improve data-center performance and reduce costs for customers. And new Systems Management Consulting and tools aim to improve data-center operations.

"Data-center operations require a holistic view to reduce overall operational costs, whether that is people, time or money, over a technology life cycle," said Michelle Bailey, a vice president at IDC. "Dell is focused on how it integrates and aligns the enterprise technologies across its product portfolio to help companies simplify and manage their organizations' IT infrastructure ."

The Long-Term Benefits

Historically, IT product marketing has emphasized immediate and short-term benefits, observed Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT, but a confluence of global events has helped make IT customers much more receptive to hearing about longer-term benefits. Some companies are better able to make those arguments than others, he added, and Dell's new Efficient Enterprise computing portfolio puts the Round Rock, Texas-based company among them.

"Overall, we find Dell's Efficient Enterprise computing portfolio both intriguing and promising," King said. "The company obviously understands the financial, technological and organizational pressures its business computing clients are under. Most importantly, Dell's mix of enhanced new technologies, extended services, and innovative partnerships could be just what the doctor ordered for companies suffering painful economic constraints."