Dell talks up PC migration service

Dell plans to unveil a data migration service later this year that allows PC buyers to move their existing documents to a new PC.

"Users will be able to get a new computer with all their information loaded on it. We will set all that up for them," Dell chairman and founder Michael Dell said in a keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Buyers of a new Dell computer can choose to have their existing data loaded onto the new system in the factory, or can manually perform the migration when they receive the new unit.

A wizard guides users through the process, allowing them to pick the kind of data that they wish to migrate such as music, Outlook data and Word documents. Dell said that the service will be available later this year, but did not reveal pricing.

The computer maker also unveiled a series of new products that mostly target high-end gamers.

The firm's XPS 710 H2C desktop, for instance, is priced at US$5,499 and uses a new cooling technology to allow gamers to overclock the processor.

Overclocking is a process in which the processor is forced to run at a faster speed than that for which it was designed. But the speed boost causes the chip to run at higher temperatures.

The new cooling technology uses a liquid-to-air heat exchanger similar to a car's radiator and fan system.

In a second step, the heat is guided through ceramic-based thermoelectric cooling modules. The system is designed to run at temperatures slightly above room temperature to prevent condensation.

Gamers are also the target for Dell's 27in flat-panel LCD widescreen monitor that is capable of resolutions up to 1,920 x 1,200 pixels and boasts response times of no more than six milliseconds. The monitor is available immediately for US$1,399.

In an effort to further boost its environmental record, Dell is planning to launch a service dubbed 'plant a tree for me'. Consumers and businesses purchasing a new computer will receive the option to pay for a new tree to be planted.

The tree's oxygen production is intended to offset the carbon that is emitted to generate the power for the system during its lifespan. PC buyers can make a voluntary contribution of $6 and laptop buyers are asked to contribute US$2.

The programme will launch in the US in February and is slated for global availability by April. Chipmaker Via unveiled a similar programme last year.

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