Rating: 
Summary: Good reading - good management at Dell
Review: I like the book. As expected, Michael Dell writes a lot about the direct model, but he also brings many good reasons why it has actually worked for Dell. For example, in chapter 10, "Learn, Direct from the Source" he explains how the direct model allows Dell to listen to the pulse of its customers – a trait that other PC manufacturers certainly could benefit from. Another element of Dell management that I found inspiring is Dell's way of "rewarding success by narrowing responsibility" (chapter 8). By systematically taking away responsibilities from people as the company grows, they can do a better job rather than get unfocused, which is what happens in most rapidly growing companies. Dell's management style is in line with what I found in "Survival of the Smartest," a recently published action-oriented guide to management in the Internet Age that shows how managing information and the way people use it makes all the difference in the world. Dell is a living example of this.
Rating:
Summary: Get real you 1-star people
Review: Of course he's hyping the company - what should he do - write a book that puts down a company (his company) that has returned over 22,000% to its shareholders in the 90's? No other company even comes close! Hello? Even his worst critics cannot slam DELL because the results speak for themselves. The moron who says you're an idiot if you get excited by this book and go buy the stock is the real idiot. As an investor in the market, I would have been better off buying stock in DELL instead of EVERYTHING ELSE I have invested in (even though those have done pretty well), even as DELL continued to climb to ever greater heights, it still would have beat the returns of the typical growth stock over the past few years. And I have no doubt this will continue. The one guy said it best - the losers putting down this book and putting down DELL are probably the poor slobs sitting on shares of Compaq or HP or some other sloppy computer company. Or worse, these losers are probably sitting in front of the mass-produced, off-the-shelf at Best-Buy, cookie cutter PCs from those other companies. It's your life, do what you want, but those other companies you choose to be loyal to don't even have a credible way to dispute the success of Michael Dell or his company - why should you? You're a nobody. You think Eckhard Pfeiffer gives a rats ass that you are putting down DELL? Think about it.
Rating:
Summary: Avoid "Stalled Thinking", Have it your way!
Review: The Dell story will be told many times over. Every once in a while we find a new way to serve a vast and hungry customer base. McDonalds may have been the last large revolution, but that formula can sell more than hamburgers. Dell has discovered how to deliver "fast-serve" computers and using the Burger King motto "Have it your way". Clearly the focus on customers has been the key strength, but the ability to control inventory, develop strong supplier arrangements, custom build and ship and use the "Lean Thinking" ideas, has created one of the most respected and successful companies of the decade. Will they continue to exceed all expectations in the next decade? I think so. First, using some of the ideas from "The 2,000 Percent Solution", by Donald Mitchell, Carol Coles and Robert Metz, Michael Dell asks the right questions. One can only succeed by asking the right questions (many of these questions may be found in "The 2,000 Percent Solution") Second, Dell has avoided the "stalls" that hamper progress in most companies: The Communications Stall (the message is not understood), The Disbelief Stall (We can't do it), The Traditions Stall (We've always done it this way), The Bureaucratic Stall (too many unproductive policies and procedures), The Misconceptions Stall ( based on poor assumptions) and The Unattractiveness Stall (not wanting to wade in murky waters). Dell should continue to soar directly upwards.
Rating: 
Summary: Buy the stock, not the book
Review: I know everyone who is a Dell computer fan was anxiously waiting this release, but do yourself a favor and invest in the stock, not the book. A rather borish attempt at giving us new insights into corporate strategy. There is nothing here that you can not get from a freshman business course. The book is written in two parts. The first part gives you an insight into Dell as an early entrepreneur. He should have stopped there. The second part, is an over simplification of business strategy; listen to your customers, strategic partnering is key, and information rules. Michael Dell is obviously a great CEO and deserves much acclaim for the success of his company, but the book not up to par. We have all heard this before. Yaaaawn!
Rating:
Summary: A Man of Vision
Review: I honestly must admit that I am a fan of Michael Dell and DELL Computer. I bought DELL stocks and options last year and my position has tripled. Michael Dell sells DELL stock every year - he will get it back from management incentive plan anyway (shareholders approved it last year) he has his own venture capital company, help out new, promising technology companies and now I understand why he does it as he describes the humble beginning of DELL. DELL's beauty is to quickly adapt to market conditions. In the book, Michael Dell tells you how he learnt the lesson the hard way. GigaBuys.com and IBM-DELL deal this week exemplify this spirit nicely. Micheal Dell may not be a genius, but he is definitely a man of vision. Probably CPQ and other PC makers can never catch up DELL's team. When others are still struggling to move from indirect to to direct, DELL has already expanded into the cyberspace, other geographies, etc, while maintaining quality products and service. Great book. Great company. Go Dell!
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic insight about America's greatest entrepreneur
Review: As a long time Dell fan (I've been tracking the company since 1990), I've been dying for this book to come out, and when it finally did, in typical Dell fashion it blew me away. Michael Dell is an inspiration to all the budding entrpreneurs in this country. His straight talk and simple no nonsense approach to this book makes it both readable and enjoyable while at the same time teaching some valuable lessons about business in a connected economy. It is refreshing to see a company like Dell. With its flat hierarchy, its meritocracy and its highly inclusionary policies (from employees to suppliers to customers) the company has captured the essence of relationship management. Given that Mr. Dell is only 34 years old, it is scary to think where he'll be in the next 10 to 20 years. As for me, it's time to stop admiring Dell from afar and pick up and move to Austin. Mr. Dell, can I get a job?
Rating:
Summary: Great book...a must read for anybody in the business world!!
Review: A great book that gives insight on how business will operate into the next century.
Rating: 
Summary: Mind behind the plan.
Review: Michael is perhaps the LUCKIEST Texan alive. LUCK is where Opportunity meets Preparation. He had all three! and knows how to execute! Good Book. I wouldn't quit your day job ... He won't! Now the challenge is to do it again. Most of all what this book does, is underscore the non-requirements for all of the dreams a person can imagine, while at the same time, shatters the requirement that a Diploma is a requirement to begin. This falsely restricts creativity. He is by far, in the realm of notoriety with: Abraham Lincoln -Famous Lawyer- NO Law School Thomas Edison; Mark Twain; Charles Dickens never finished Grade school. This is a good "101 guideline" to how a man created a Status; Not the Status a man.
Rating:
Summary: Mind behind the plan.
Review: Michael is perhaps the LUCKIEST Texan alive. LUCK is where Opportunity meets Preparation. He had all three! and knows how to execute! Good Book. I wouldn't quit your day job ... He won't! Now the challenge, is to do it again. Most of all what this book does, is underscore the non-requirements for all of the dreams a person can imagine, while at the same time, shatters the requirement that a Diploma is a requirement to begin. This falsely restricts creativity. He is by far, in the realm of notority with: Abraham Lincoln -Fameous Laywer- NO Law School Thomas Edison; Mark Twain; Charles Dickens never finished Grade school. This is a good "101 guideline" to how a man created a Status; Not the Status a man.
Rating:
Summary: Man, shut up! We really DO exist!!!
Review: That guy from Oklahoma City is a friggin' liar! We read DfD and it totally compares to The Angry Clam! "I think your reviews are totally fake"... shut the hell up, punk!!!
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