Cashing in on the latest home entertainment buzz, Dell has set its sights firmly on the high-end desktop segment with its XPS range of desktop systems.

To be sure, they did have the XPS range before, but Dell’s prime target then were the gamers who had the financial resources to afford one and wanted the best frame rates at the highest quality settings.

With Media Center PCs catching up, it makes sense for Dell to want to cater to users who are looking for a seriously powerful system to run all their myriad of media requirements. Most people who can afford such expensive gaming systems don’t really have the time to search and buy components to assemble a system for themselves. Plus, Dell promises excellent support, which would be tough to get from local vendors.

If you are curious what the support is like, it’s something similar to what you get when you buy a Lexus. Dell gives you a pretty nicely laminated card with your machine code (unique) and a telephone number which puts you directly in contact with a Microsoft Certified Professional and bypasses the irritating IVR that otherwise plagues most technical support lines. Dell is also offering remote maintenance, which would allow the call center executive to control your PC remotely and fix any problems you might be experiencing.

Of course, all of this doesn’t come cheap and a midrange XPS (Dell 600) will set you back a solid $2800.00. How many units is Dell expecting to retail is anybody’s guess, but this could be the start of a trend that has waited ever since Alienware came out with customised solutions for performance seekers. It is indeed surprising that the success of Alienware did not inspire this kind of a strategy from a top player earlier.

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