Personal computers should be as easy to use as toasters or televisions. This was the consensus between Dell Computer Corp and five software companies, Borland International Inc, Lotus Development UK, Microsoft Corp, Wordperfect UK and Software Publishing Corp, at the launch of Dell’s Factory Installed Software Application programme, FISA, at the Dell European factory in Limerick, Ireland. The programme offers pre-loaded software across all Dell personal computers for European buyers. Customers order both simultaneously, with the software preloaded at no extra cost. Initially, 10 packages covering word processing, spreadsheets, business graphics and databses are offered. These include Microsoft’s Excel 3.0 and Word for Windows 3.0, Wordperfect’s Wordperfect 5.1 MS-DOS and 5.1 for Windows, each priced at UKP250, Software Publishing Corp’s Harvard Graphics 3.0, for UKP290, Borland’s Paradox 3.5, UKP300, and Quattro Pro 3.0, UKP190, Lotus’ 1-2-3 Release 2.3, UKP250, and 1-2-3 Release 3.1+ and 1-2-3 for Windows, both at UKP330. Dell will offer support for the software for 30 days, the software companies will take over thereafter. Dell Computer Corp UK managing director Martin Slagter says that the programme heralds a revolution in software distribution. Customers will have to deal with the software companies for upgrades, although Slagter says that Dell may move into this area in the future. Announcements will be forthcoming from the software companies involved on similar agreements with other hardware vendors.
