FREQUENT BUSINESS FLYERS CHOOSE COMPUTERS OVER CONVERSATION; Survey Shows
Nearly Half Now Use Portable PCs In Flight

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 5, 1994 -- Keeping company with a personal computer
seems to be more popular among frequent business travelers than spending
time in flight with their boss or CEO, according to a nationwide survey
released today by Dell Computer Corporation.  The Dell "Techno-Traveler"
survey -- which looks at how American business travelers work on the road
-- was conducted last month in conjunction with the company's introduction
of its new long-life Latitude XP notebooks.

According to the random survey of 500 frequent U.S. business travelers,
nearly one-half of all traveling executives today use portable computers
on planes to write memos, modem documents, and send faxes -- keeping their
productivity soaring, even at 30,000 feet.  And productivity is clearly on
the minds of most business travelers, most of whom prefer to read or
prepare for the day's business instead of talking or sleeping in flight.

In a society where getting ahead is a preoccupation for many, a surprising
number of executives seem to prefer to work alone while traveling.  When
it comes to jockeying for position on a plane, a majority of all business
travelers opt for the tranquillity of sitting next to an empty seat rather
than sitting next to -- and schmoozing with -- their boss or CEO.

As Americans go back to work after Labor Day -- but not necessarily back to
an office -- portable computers are becoming increasingly critical to
keeping productivity high on the road.

"Baby Boomers are emerging as key members of a new generation of mobile
users as mobile technologies become more advanced and more empowering,"
said John Medica, Dell's vice president of portable systems.  "Our goal in
conducting the survey was to build on our first-hand knowledge of the
unique needs of mobile computing users in keeping with Dell's commitment
to staying closest to the customer," he said.

Through the survey, Dell has identified a new and sizable market segment
known as "Techno-Travelers," who take portable computers with them when
traveling for business.  According to the survey, 58 percent of all
frequent U.S. business travelers fall into this category.  These mobile
computing executives are predominantly male, 42 years old and are managers
or professionals who take an average of 28 business trips by plane
annually.

Techno-travelers join Dell's list of techno-types introduced last year.
These market segments, based on independent research and on information
collected by Dell from more than 35,000 calls a day, form the basis of the
company's customer-centered approach to designing and marketing computers
to match individual needs and preferences.

Dell's portable computing products and services are specifically designed
with techno-travelers in mind, who are bullish on using computers to
maximize uptime away from the office.

Six out of ten (60 percent) frequent business travelers say that using a
portable computer increases their productivity on the road. And although
straightforward correspondence is still the most common use for notebook
computers in the field, the list of applications is quickly growing.

According to the survey, 88 percent of computer commuters say they use
their portables to write memos and reports.  More than half (54 percent)
of these executives say they use a notebook to modem documents, while 41
percent use a portable PC to fax.  Moreover, if you suspect that person
across the aisle is really playing solitaire, think again.  Only six
percent of business travelers say they play games on their computer when
they travel.

While techno-travelers may not agree on a favorite application or game, 73
percent of all U.S. business travelers agree that portable computers will
be very important, if not essential, to productive business travel within
the next five years.

A FORTUNE Global 500 company, Dell Computer Corporation (Nasdaq: DELL)
designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports a complete
line of personal computers compatible with industry standards. Dell is one
of the top five personal computer vendors in the world with annual
revenues of nearly $3 billion.  Information on the company and its
products can be obtained through its toll-free number:  1-800-BUY-DELL
(1-800-289-3355).

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