Dell runs out of low-end Intel CPUs

DELL IS KNOWN for unexciting boxes, Linux PCs and supply chain whip cracking. For the last few years, it was synonymous with the term efficient supply chain, so it is quite a shock to see it fall flat.

The story started with a client of mine ordering three laptops from Dell, HP was off the list due to unrepentant corporate malfeasance. The parts were nothing special, Latitude D520s with a Core Number Numeral T5500 (1.66GHz for those without a decoder ring), and the usual bundle of goodies and upgrades. Just what every growing finance guy needs.

They were ordered on June 26th and one showed up a few days ago. The other two were not in the box. Bovine excrement happens, and so the customer called up the friendly local Dell rep and asked what happened to the other 2/3rds of the order.

That was when it got weird, they were told Dell was out of CPUs, they had one, so that is why they got one laptop. To make matters more curious, they said there was no ETA on the CPUs coming in, and until they did, no laptop.

It looked like the much ballyhooed fumbles of last year might be making a comeback. The CPUs in question seem to be available at the other sites I checked, so why not at Dell? µ