Archive for the ‘News’ Category

GM Will Ask Court Monday Tap Half Of Bankruptcy Loan

Monday, June 1st, 2009

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- General Motors Corp. (GM) will ask a bankruptcy judge Monday for permission to tap about half the $33 billion in bankruptcy financing being provided by the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Harvey Miller, an attorney for the auto maker, said at a court hearing that GM has just $2 billion in cash and that it has an “urgent” need to access the government loan.

The $33 billion in aid from the U.S. and Canada is intended to support GM during what it hopes will be a quick trip through bankruptcy. It plans to sell the bulk of its assets to a new company controlled by the U.S.

GM was in court Monday afternoon for the first time since filing for bankruptcy to ask Judge Robert Gerber of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan to approve routine requests, known as first-day motions, intended to allow it to continue operating.

Gerber approved GM’s request to make payments to troubled “critical” parts makers while in bankruptcy through a U.S. Treasury program for troubled parts makers and its own supplier-aid initiative.

The auto maker feared a collapse of any of its core suppliers would lead to a costly work stoppage. Top-tier suppliers Visteon Corp. (VSTN) and Metaldyne Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection recently amid turmoil in the U.S. auto industry. GM’s main supplier, Delphi Corp. (DPHIQ), has been in bankruptcy for almost four years.

Separately, the U.S. Trustee’s office, an arm of the Justice Department that monitors bankruptcy proceedings, announced at Monday’s hearing that GM’s unsecured creditors are scheduled to meet Wednesday at 10 a.m. EDT in New York. At that meeting, a committee will be formed to represent the creditors during the bankruptcy case.

The bankruptcy loan requires GM to win court approval for the sale of its assets by July 10. The financing comes on top of about $20 billion in loans provided to the auto maker by the U.S. Treasury Department.

The auto maker’s cash levels are now well below the amount it would need to operate on its own. Without the $20 billion in U.S. government loans GM received, the picture would be far worse.

GM had more than $24 billion in liquidity at the end of the first quarter a year ago, as the company’s non-U.S. operations helped offset multi-billion dollar losses in North America. At the end of March, GM had $11.6 billion in liquidity that was largely offset by federal loans.

Apple Releases iTunes 8.2 With iPhone 3.0 Support

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Apple is expected to release iPhone 3.0 out of beta at its upcoming World Wide Developers Conference.

By Antone Gonsalves From InformationWeek

Apple on Monday released iTunes 8.2 with support for iPhone 3.0, an indication that the latest smartphone operating system will be generally available soon.
While Apple has not made any official announcements, there’s been lots of speculation on the Web that Apple could release iPhone 3.0 out of beta at the World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco next week. The iTunes support makes that scenario more likely.

Apple has been gradually preparing the industry of iPhone 3.0. Last month, the company told developers it would only accept for the App Store programs compatible for the upcoming OS.
Apple introduced iPhone 3.0 in March. Currently in beta, the software introduces a number of consumer-oriented features, including cut and paste, multimedia text capabilities and a universal search function. In addition, it opens the door for more innovative and lucrative apps by enabling in-app purchasing, peer-to-peer multiplayer capabilities and apps with third-party hardware.

Along with the iPhone 3.0 support, iTunes 8.2 also includes bug fixes and better security. The latter involves improved bounds checking to prevent a stack buffer overflow that could result in application termination or arbitrary code execution, Apple said.

Along with iPhone 3.0, Apple is also expected to use the WWDC to focus on the new version of Mac OS X, Snow Leopard. Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs is not expected to participate in the opening keynote. Kicking off the San Francisco event will be a team of execs led by Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior VP of worldwide product marketing.

EMC’s $1.8 bln offer for Data Domain tops NetApp

Monday, June 1st, 2009

* EMC offers $30 per share/cash to buy Data Domain
* EMC’s offer a 20 percent premium to NetApp’s

* Data Domain shares rise in extended trade (Adds background, quotes, updated share prices)

NEW YORK, June 1 (Reuters) – EMC Corp (EMC.N) has offered to buy Data Domain Inc (DDUP.O) for $1.8 billion in cash, seeking to bolster its data back-up offerings and throwing a wrench into NetApp Inc’s (NTAP.O) plans to buy the data storage company for $1.5 billion.

EMC, the world’s largest maker of corporate data storage, is offering $30 a share for Data Domain, which represents a 20 percent premium to NetApp’s cash-and-stock offer, the company said in a statement issued after market close on Monday.

Data Domain shares jumped to $30.51 a share in after-hours trading from $26.35 at the close of regular trading.

In a letter to Data Domain Chief Executive Frank Slootman, EMC CEO Joseph Tucci said their offer is a “far superior alternative” to NetApp’s.

It also offers better deal certainty since it’s an all-cash offer, Tucci said, compared with NetApp’s cash-and-stock offer.

NetApp announced on May 20 it would buy Data Domain for $1.5 billion, or $25 per share in cash and stock. The breakup fee for that deal is $57 million, according to a filing.

Tucci also took issue with Data Domain, saying that EMC was not given the opportunity to explore a combination before the NetApp deal was announced, “particularly since I believe you should have been aware of our interest.”

A combination of EMC and Data Domain would offer customers comprehensive data archiving and back-up software as this sector consolidates, Tucci later said on a conference call.

“This acquisition is all about accelerating growth,” Tucci said.

ThinkEquity analyst Rajesh Ghai said an EMC acquisition made sense, perhaps even more so than one by NetApp.

“A player larger than NetApp with ostensibly a larger distribution base, such as EMC, could potentially leverage Data Domain more effectively than NetApp,” he said.

EMC said it will commence a tender offer for all outstanding Data Domain shares. EMC did not specify the timing of the tender offer, but officials said it would happen soon.

The deal would be add to 2010 earnings, and be neutral to 2009 earnings, EMC said.

NetApp and Data Domain officials were not immediately available for comment.
EMC shares closed Monday’s session up 5.7 percent at $12.42 on the New York Stock Exchange, while NetApp shares closed at $20.69 on the Nasdaq, up 6.1 percent. (Reporting by Anupreeta Das, Jim Finkle and Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Carol Bishopric)

SC gov hints that stimulus fight may soon end

Monday, June 1st, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal judge dealt a major blow Monday to Gov. Mark Sanford’s monthslong fight to stop South Carolina from taking $700 million in federal stimulus money, and the governor said the battle may be nearing an end.

“It looks like we will be bound to spend that money,” Sanford told reporters. “I would say that would be a very plausible outcome given the foreshadowing that’s been done today.”

The Republican with possible presidential aspirations has railed against President Barack Obama’s $787 billion bailout package, penning op-eds for national publications and appearing on television talk shows. But he’s dealt with protests at home, where educators have predicated massive teacher layoffs without the money for already cash-strapped schools.

The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday in lawsuits filed by two students and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators that seek to force Sanford to take the cash. U.S. District Judge Joseph Anderson on Monday rejected Sanford’s efforts to get those suits into federal court.

“Hopefully we’ll get our answers now,” said Casey Edwards, one of the students who sued. She is to graduate from Chapin High School next week.

Sanford said he’ll go along with whatever the state court decides. He had sued state Attorney General Henry McMaster in federal court after the legislature overrode his veto of a budget that required him to accept the $700 million over two years. The judge made no decisions on that case, but Sanford said he’ll drop it if he loses the state Supreme Court fight.

“We’re not going to carry on with a whole series of legal appeals,” he said.

Kershaw County Schools Superintendent Frank Morgan said the news brought an “overwhelming feeling of relief. This has been such a long, long, long process. … I think we’ve put a lot of good people through a lot of stress and anxiety that I’m not sure was necessary.”

His district stands to get about $2 million of the $185 million slated to go schools around the state.

The news came the same day that thousands of would-be teachers packed a job fair where districts were only hiring 300 educators.

State Education Superintendent Jim Rex was glad there’d be no more legal delays.

“We need to resolve this fiasco in a way that doesn’t hurt kids. Every other state and governor is getting this done, and we need to get it done here, too,” Rex said in a prepared statement.

Sanford has refused to request the $700 million he controls unless it’s used to offset state debt. The White House twice rejected that approach.

Sanford thinks the federal stimulus law will devalue the dollar and saddle generations with debt. Judge Anderson was no fan of it either, saying it was poorly written. But he noted it was clear Congress intended to allow legislators to get around governors who didn’t want the money, citing the role that U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., played in amending it.

Dick Harpootlian, the Columbia lawyer representing the students, said Sanford’s legal efforts had amounted to delay tactics.

And Anderson noted the odd nature of the whole affair, quoting James Petigru, a former state attorney general who remarked when South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860 that it was too small to be a republic and “too big to be an insane asylum.”

Sanford noted the outcome likely weakens the powers of a governor’s office that’s already one of the weakest in the nation. Sanford’s limited role involves a Cabinet, appointments to boards, vetoes and whatever he can do with bully pulpit of the office.

He could have requested the money and avoided a court decision that could mean reduced powers. But he said one of his advisers dismissed the idea, saying “if you’re already naked, you’re naked. Just call an ace an ace and don’t try to pretend something is there that isn’t there.”

Sanofi has winning cancer drug, but short patent

Monday, June 1st, 2009

LONDON (Reuters) – Sanofi-Aventis may have bagged a winning cancer drug when it agreed to buy privately held BiPar Sciences for up to $500 million in April, but a short patent could limit the French group’s scope to cash in on sales.

BiPar’s BSI-201 has emerged as one of the most promising new products at this year’s ASCO cancer conference in Orlando, Florida, with positive mid-stage trial results helping lift Sanofi shares by more than 3 percent on Monday.

But there is a fly in the ointment. A Sanofi spokesman said on Monday that the main U.S. composition patent on the medicine was valid only until 2013, though this could be extended by five years.

In Europe, the patent runs to 2014 and Sanofi will have 10 years data exclusivity after approval.

“These facts probably explain the relatively modest agreed price for the BiPar deal,” analysts at Morgan Stanley said in a research note.

They estimate BSI-201 could sell between $1 billion and $4 billion a year to Sanofi’s 2016 revenues, with a U.S. launch as possible by late 2010.

On the face of it, that makes the price Sanofi’s new chief executive, Chris Viehbacher, paid for BiPar seem a bargain. The problem is the medicine could face generic competition in the world’s biggest pharmaceuticals market from 2018.

BSI-201 belongs to a new class of drugs that block a cell repair enzyme known as PARP.

It impressed doctors at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on Sunday by improving survival by 60 percent compared with chemotherapy alone for women with tough-to-treat “triple negative breast cancer.”

Patients with triple negative metastatic breast cancer have tumors that do not express the hormones oestrogen or progesterone, as well as the protein HER-2.

These women, who account for 15 to 20 percent of breast cancer patients, have a very aggressive form of disease and there are currently no treatments other than chemotherapy.

Citigroup analyst Mark Dainty said the data for BSI-201 was significantly better than the results with Roche’s Avastin in triple negative patients and the new drug could put 20 to 25 percent of Avastin sales forecasts at risk.

Citi currently forecasts 2011 Avastin breast cancer sales at 1.7 billion Swiss francs ($1.6 billion) and losing 20 percent of this would slice some 2 percent off Roche’s 2011 earnings per shares.

AstraZeneca also has an experimental PARP inhibitor called olaparib that is further behind in development.

联想集团出现巨额亏损

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

联想集团“教父”柳传志的重出江湖并未能立刻挽回联想的颓势。昨日,联想公布,其2008/09财政年度第四季亏损扩大至2.64亿美元,全年净亏2.26亿美元,为历来最大亏损,也是联想集团近10年来首次全年亏损。

财报显示,联想集团2008年全年销售额为149亿美元,同比下降8.9%,其中用于重组的费用支出为1.46亿美元,全年股东应占亏损为2.26亿美元,目前其现金储备为11.8亿美元,现金流状况尚保持正常。

去年第四季度,联想集团全球个人电脑销量同比减少8.2%,联想对此的解释是“全球商用个人电脑销量持续减少,以及期内集团在消费市场的参与度有限所致”。联想集团的销量下滑幅度超过市场同期的7%。与此同时,联想去年第四季度启动的全球重组计划也耗费了巨额资金,影响了全年财报表现。

虽然财报难看,但联想董事局主席柳传志依然坚信联想能够及时复苏。“ 过去的两个季度对全球个人电脑行业来说极具挑战,联想以果断的行动来抵御冲击,采取了重大举措以带领业务重回正轨。一直以来,集团矢志在全球走上盈利性增长的轨道,尽管第四季的表现不尽理想,我们深信联想拥有有效的条件朝着目标前进,使联想在市场复苏时成为一家竞争力更强的企业。”

柳传志还表示,“5年之内,联想会从业绩、股价、管理、文化等方面会有根本性的转变。联想每一个战略都有具体的步骤做支持,相信每个季度、每一年都有变化。”

柳传志还在财报发布会上表示,“希望联想能成为中国A股上市公司,并将为此不断努力。如果联想能够成为中国A股成员,我们的客户和投资人会感到非常高兴。”

联想CFO黄伟明随即补充道,公司虽然希望能登陆A股上市,但目前还没有确定的计划安排。

Mesothelioma

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart,[1] the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.[2] Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases risk of other asbestos-induced cancer.[3] Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

chest wall pain
pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
shortness of breath
fatigue or anemia
wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)
In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

abdominal pain
ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
a mass in the abdomen
problems with bowel function
weight loss
In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
low blood sugar level
pleural effusion
pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
severe ascites
A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

易建联拍摄深圳卫视最新宣传片

Thursday, May 21st, 2009



阳光大男孩易建联

青春、积极、阳光、向上,不断突破、勇往直前,这就是易建联!NBA大前锋的角色,让这个有些内敛的22岁深圳籍年轻人在国际赛场一路张扬。在阿联一路成长的背后,是一座先锋城市的身影—深圳,突破创新、敢为人先,这座城市自从诞生以来,始终一路向前。

深圳卫视,作为诞生在这座先锋城市的中国最年轻卫视,因为秉承了这座城市的特有气质,开播5年来,不断自我突破,努力向前。2009年5月,远在美国的易建联欣然接受深圳卫视的正式邀请,拍摄最新宣传片。

尽管与国际上的诸多大品牌有过影视方面的合作,影视对于阿联来说并不陌生,但为一家电视媒体拍摄宣传片,对于阿联来说,绝对是第一次。谈及此次拍摄宣传片,阿联使用的仍然是最质朴的话语。阿联说,从小生长在这座城市,每一座高楼,曾经走过的街道,还有这里熟悉的人,所有这些他都不可避免地怀有一种特殊的感情,而这,正是他为深圳卫视拍摄宣传片的理由。

为了顺利拍摄此次深圳卫视的宣传片,易建联专门从美国连夜飞抵深圳,并利用5月12日、13日整整两天时间,集中拍摄完成前期的相关内容。宣传片拍摄场景的选择主要集中在深圳、香港、澳门、台北以及海外,而深圳本土的拍摄则以中心区CBD、音乐厅、图书馆、华侨城和东部海滨为重点。



易建联在音乐厅与孩子秀篮球



易建联在音乐厅与孩子秀篮球



易建联在图书馆与读者秀篮球


易建联在华侨城创意园和游客秀篮球


易建联在华侨城创意园和游客秀篮球

“深圳,一直是前锋”,是此次易建联担任深圳卫视宣传片主角儿的理念语,正是在“前锋”的这个概念上,深圳、深圳卫视以及易建联实现了在精神气质上的高度统一。在为深圳卫视的最新宣传片中,易建联将运用他最熟悉的篮球,将这只球传遍深圳、香港、澳门、台湾以及海外。而这种代表着梦想与未来的“传递”,也蕴含着将“中国前沿 深圳卫视”的理念传播到四面八方。

5月28日,深圳卫视将全面改版,以《直播港澳台》、《深圳新闻》和《解密》“三驾马车”为主导的“1+1+1”版面付诸实践,届时,易建联担任主角儿的深圳卫视宣传片也将正式发布。

此次深圳卫视5.28大改版前,拍摄宣传片,正是要突出“中国前沿 深圳卫视”的频道传播理念,从而全新启航,将深圳卫视进一步打造成中国电视媒体的先锋前沿。
宣传片拍摄花絮:


易建联


拍摄休息中易建联表现了对孩子的极大关爱,耐心地为孩子签名


易建联和宣传片导演、主摄影在看画面回放


《南京南京》主摄影 曹郁 此次担任宣传片的主摄影

Dell Delivers Industry Firsts with 10.1-inch Netbook Designed for Education

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

Round Rock, Texas
Dell believes every child should have access to the world of knowledge beyond the classroom
The new Latitude 2100 is influenced by the needs of K-12 students – ‘student rugged’ design offered in five colors with wireless connectivity that can be monitored by educators with a network activity light
Optional touchscreen is a first for education netbooks
Custom-built Mobile Computing Station equips classrooms with a cart to store, manage and network up to 24 netbooks with one Ethernet and power cord
The Latitude 2100 will also appeal to other public-sector and enterprise customers looking for a netbook for uses from employee training to order fulfillment, or wanting secondary systems for their workforces
Backed by Dell’s award-winning business-class service and support – including optional onsite services
Dell believes every child should have the opportunity and tools to learn the skills necessary to succeed in the digital world. Critical to this is the availability of technology designed for the unique needs of K-12 students, teachers and school administrators. Today, Dell set a new standard in education technology with the launch of a netbook influenced by the needs of K-12 students, the Latitude 2100. The Latitude 2100 is also ideal for any business or public institution that needs affordable, durable, Internet-ready devices for e-mail and collaboration.

Inspired by close cooperation with hundreds of students, teachers, parents and administrators, Dell designers created a purpose-built education netbook that focuses on what’s most important – learning. The Latitude 2100 is part of Dell’s connected classroom ― innovative technology products, services, software and training that make learning in the digital age a reality. With the Latitude 2100, students can access enhanced learning resources and digital content on a school network or via the Internet. As a result, the Latitude 2100 blends into student life, from lesson plans to homework, increasing time spent learning versus managing technology.

The Latitude 2100 has unique features for schools like bright primary colors and a more rugged, ‘rubberized’ design that is easier for children to carry and use safely. It also offers wireless connectivity that can be monitored by the teacher with a Network Activity Light on the netbook lid. An optional touchscreen is a first for an education netbook and makes the Latitude 2100 a perfect choice for enhanced student interaction, assessment, and for special education teaching. The Latitude 2100 also offers administrators a range of services making it easier to deploy and manage.

Additional options include: a keyboard featuring antimicrobial protection (U.S. only), solid-state drives, quick-connect handles and shoulder straps for carrying, and a webcam. The Latitude 2100 is backed by Dell’s award-winning business service and support.

The Latitude 2100 extends Dell’s Latitude range and joins the Latitude XT tablet and fully rugged Latitude E6400 XFR as systems designed to meet the exacting needs of customers across a range of private and public-sector organizations with specific mobile computing requirements. Enterprises and public-sector customers looking for a business-class netbook will be attracted to the Latitude 2100 for activities ranging from employee training to order fulfillment or when a secondary system is required by their workforce.

The News:

The “student-rugged” Latitude 2100 is designed to absorb the daily bumps and bruises of a crowded playground or backpack. Offered in five colors – School Bus Gold, Chalkboard Black, Ball Field Green, Blue Ribbon and Schoolhouse Red– the Latitude 2100 comes with a 10.1-inch screen and a unique “four-square-ball-style” rubber casing, making it easy for little hands to grip the netbook.
The system is available with a personalized window on the back of the battery pack where the school logo or name can be displayed, allowing schools to personalize or easily identify systems.
Equipped with a wireless communication suite and optional webcam, the Latitude 2100 enables productive days filled with collaboration, exploration and easy uploading of assignments. A Network Activity Light on the lid helps teachers monitor network use and identify students who may be surfing the Internet.
The Latitude 2100 also includes:

Choice of XP Home, Vista Home Basic and Linux Ubuntu
Intel Atom processor N270
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity coupled with a full suite of wireless communication options
2.91lb* (1.32kg) starting at weight with 3-cell battery
Hard or solid state drives for increased durability
Three-cell or six-cell battery
Three-in-one Media Card Reader
Optional External DVD+/-RW via USB
VGA port
Clean bottom is vent-free to avoid any intrusion from spills
Options: webcam and a keyboard featuring antimicrobial protection (U.S. only)
Key management features can allow IT administrators to lower overall ownership cost and speed up deployment:

More durable design that means a longer product life
Remote management for easier administration
Dell ImageDirect where systems can be delivered with pre-installed software and the school’s specific network image (U.S. only)
Hardware Customization helps reduce deployment time by configuring software straight from the factory (U.S. only). This reduces the need for the administrator to physically touch the system and speeds up getting it in the hands of the students.
Coming soon in the U.S., the Latitude 2100 is available with a Mobile Computing Station that equips classrooms with a cart to store securely, manage and network up to 24 netbooks with one Ethernet and power cord.

Quotes:
By partnering with Dell we’ve seen first-hand how technology access can transform the learning environment and impact student achievement,” said Michael Taylor, Director of Technology, Avon Community Schools, Avon, Indiana. “The ability to connect students, teachers, parents, and administrators is critical to learning in the digital age and the Latitude 2100 is designed specifically to meet these needs.”

“The Latitude 2100 shows that Dell thinks about, cares about, and designs products with education in mind,” said Paul Bell, president of Dell’s global public sector division. “This system is an extension of our efforts to support educators as they transform technology access in classrooms worldwide. We will continue to respond quickly to their needs and work with governments to deliver technology that modernizes education, excites students and arms them with the skills they need to succeed in the digital age.”

“Dell is setting a new standard for netbooks with the Latitude 2100.” said Todd Forsythe, vice president of product marketing. “The Latitude 2100 is a purpose-designed netbook for students. In addition to being popular with education institutions, we also expect the business-class design features of the Latitude 2100 to interest other public institutions and private enterprises as it delivers a unique offering to the netbook market.”

The system is available today, and starts at $369. More information is available at www.dell.com/latitude.

About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value.

*Weights vary with configuration and manufacturing variability

香港全球竞争力排名第二

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

瑞士洛桑国际管理学院(IMD)将于20日公布的2009年全球竞争力报告,美国在57个经济体中依然位居首位,得分为100分;香港坐上第2,首度挤下新加坡;中国大陆则排名20,较去年排名17位有所回落;台湾滑至23名,创下在该排名史上最差的记录。

IMD指出,全球竞争力报告的评比,不是仅关注一国的经济表现,而是该国与企业如何运用总体性的能力,来达到更大程度的繁荣,因此“软性因素”(softfactors)亦被考虑到,包括环境永续、生活质量、科技发展与知识水平等。

该报告的评比衡量标准多达329项,三分之二为确实经济数据,以2008年的历史数据为主,三分之一为意见领袖的问卷调查,终而汇整为总体经济表现、政府效能、企业经营效率、基础建设等四大项。

IMD全球竞争力中心主任贾雷利(StephaneGarelli)指出,全球经济急冻,改变很多国家的竞争力面貌,像爱尔兰从2000年的第5、到08年排名还有第12,今年则掉到第19;因此今年在例行年度报告之外,新增“压力测试”的各国排行,分析各国因应金融危机,以及改善未来竞争力的应变能力,评比项目以今年的经济预测、意见评估为主,结果得出许多的不同,如丹麦高居第1,新加坡居次,中国大陆排名18,中国台湾排21名,美国并没有超越亚太各国。

调查显示,美国排名与去年报告相同,位居首位。香港得分98.1分排行第二,新加坡得95.7分排名第三名。中国大陆则得分76.6分,排名20,中国台湾以总分1点多的些微差距落在后面。韩国上升四名至27名。