Editing Dell (section)

===Founding and start-up===
[[File:PC's Limited Turbo PC.jpg|thumb|242x242px|The first PC model, manufactured by Dell (known as PC's Limited at the time), the Turbo PC.]]
Michael Dell founded Dell Computer Corporation, doing business as ''PC's Limited'' in 1984 while a student at the [[University of Texas at Austin]],<ref>{{cite book | last = Dell | first = Michael |author2=Catherine Fredman | title = Direct from Dell | url = https://archive.org/details/directfromdellst00dell | url-access = registration | publisher = [[HarperCollins]] | year= 1999 | page = [https://archive.org/details/directfromdellst00dell/page/13 13] | isbn = 0-88730-914-3}}</ref> operating from Michael Dell's off-campus dormitory room at [[Dobie Center]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.Dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2003_05_17_msd_commencement.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040324192416/http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2003_05_17_msd_commencement.pdf |archive-date=2004-03-24 |url-status=live|title = Computers, Monitors & Technology Solutions &#124; Dell USA}}</ref> The start-up aimed to sell [[IBM PC compatible]] computers built from stock components. Michael Dell started trading in the belief that, by selling personal computer systems directly to customers, PC's Limited could better understand customers' needs and provide the most effective computing services to meet those needs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aajads.com/listings/dell-inspiron-n5010-15-6-laptop-pc-core-i5/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117203802/http://www.aajads.com/listings/dell-inspiron-n5010-15-6-laptop-pc-core-i5/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |title=Dell &#124; Dell |website=aajads.com |date=November 12, 2018 |access-date=November 12, 2018}}</ref> Dell dropped out of college upon completion of his freshman year at the University of Texas in order to focus full-time on his fledgling business, after getting about $1,000 in expansion-capital from his family.<ref name="delltimeline">{{cite web |title=Our Timeline |url=https://corporate.delltechnologies.com/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/timeline.htm |website=Dell Technologies |access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref> As of April 2021, Dell's net worth was estimated to be over $50 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=50000000000|start_year=2021|r=-7|fmt=eq}}).<ref>{{cite web |last=Stupples |first=Benjamin |title=Michael Dell's Fortune Soars to $51 Billion With Spinoff |year=2021 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-15/michael-dell-s-fortune-surges-to-52-billion-with-spinoff-plan |website=Bloomberg |access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref>

In 1985, PC's Limited launched its first computer, the "Turbo PC," priced at US$795 ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=795|start_year=1985|r=0|fmt=eq}}).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Koehn |first=Nancy Fowler |title=Brand New: How Entrepreneurs Earned Consumers' Trust from Wedgwood to Dell |publisher=[[Harvard Business Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-57851-221-8 |page=287 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7j8VefeqUk4C |access-date=October 14, 2008}}</ref> The Turbo PC featured an Intel 8088-compatible processor with a maximum speed of 8&nbsp;MHz.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Benj |title=The Golden Age of Dell Computers |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-golden-age-of-dell-computers |year=2017 |website=PC Magazine |access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref> PC's Limited marketed these systems through national computer magazines, selling directly to consumers while custom-assembling each unit based on a range of options. This approach allowed them to offer competitive prices compared to retail brands, coupled with the convenience of pre-assembled units, making them one of the early success stories of this business model. The company grossed over $73 million in its first year of operation.
The company dropped the ''PC's Limited'' name in 1987 to become Dell Computer Corporation and began expanding globally. The reasoning was that this new company name better reflected its presence in the business market, and also resolved issues with the use of "Limited" in a company name in certain countries.<ref name="ferrell198708">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-08-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_087_1987_Aug#page/n15/mode/2up | title=CES And Comdex: A Tale Of Two Cities | work=Compute! | date=August 1987 | access-date=November 10, 2013 | author=Ferrell, Keith | page=14}}</ref> The company set up its first international operations in Britain; 11 more followed within the next four years. In June 1988, Dell Computer's market capitalization grew by $30 million to $80 million ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=80000000|start_year=1988|r=-4|fmt=eq}}) from its June 22 initial public offering of 3.5 million shares at $8.50 a share on [[NASDAQ]] under the ticker symbol DELL.<ref>[http://www.Dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/investor/en/faqs?c=us&l=en&s=corp Frequently Asked Questions]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105181347/http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/investor/en/faqs?c=us&l=en&s=corp|date=January 5, 2009}}.</ref> In 1989, Dell Computer set up its first on-site service programs in order to compensate for the lack of local retailers prepared to act as service centers.