Joining the ranks of Apple and Motorola locally, and Converse, American Express, Emporio Armani, Gap and Hallmark overseas, Dell Australia and Microsoft Australia have pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from specific products to The Global Fund, an organisation that contributes to the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa by channelling funds into appropriate causes.
Any Dell XPS M1330, XPS M1530 or 948 all-in-one printer sold under the (Product) Red brand will contribute a donation, an initiative started by Bobby Shriver of Debt AIDS Trade in Africa, and Bono of U2.
The Australian companies will match their US counterparts, donating US$50 from every XPS M1330 and M1530 laptop sold, and US$5 from the 948 printer -- a move that interestingly puts the Australian companies at the mercy of exchange rates.
The US goes one better by donating US$80 from all XPS One sales, however that particular product is not yet available in Australia.
"We'll evaluate both the XPS One when it comes out later in the year and the corporation will be looking at the 1730 as we go on", Evan Williams, General Manager of Dell's consumer segment for Australia and New Zealand said.
The (Product) Red laptops will come with Windows Vista Ultimate pre-installed, which will feature six (Product) Red wallpapers, a screen saver, two new sidebar gadgets and a Windows DreamScene animation.
"We're really proud," said Williams. "This is really a great step for a country like Australia to be able to participate in a global initiative like this, and we feel really good that we're going to be able to position our best line of products in this program, and look forward to the success in Australia."
So far (Product) Red partners have donated over US$50 million to The Global Fund. Dell and Microsoft Australia's (Product) Red models will be available from 1 February.
Lazymonkey44
29/01/2008 04:41 PM
Hey, when will the product red laptops be out?
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Craig Simms
30/01/2008 05:16 PM
February 1, as the article says :)
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