Dell timeline

By abgymnast101

  • Dell was founded

  • Period: to

    Dell

  • PC's Limited creates a 10-megabyte personal computer, the Turbo PC, with a pricetag of $795, undercutting IBM's(IBM.N) costlier machines. The business expands to set up its first international subsidiary two years later in Britain.

  • PC's Limited changes its names to Dell Computer Corp and goes public, raising $30 million and increasing its market capitalization to $85 million. Its shares debut at $8.50, or a cumulative split-adjusted price of 9 cents.

  • First laptop computer, the 316LT, goes on sale.

  • Dell opens a manufacturing center in Limerick, Ireland, to serve Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

  • Company debuts on Fortune 500, making Michael Dell the youngest CEO on the list at the time, at age 27.

  • Dell goes global, expanding to Asia, Japan, Europe and the Americas.

  • Dell.com launches, hits $1 million in daily sales in six months.

  • Second manufacturing center in Texas opens, ships its 10-millionth PC.

  • Dell.com's online sales hit $40 million a day.

  • Dell becomes No. 1 computer systems provider worldwide.

  • HP merges with Compaq to take No.1 spot in PC sales. Dell soon regains its top spot.

  • HP merges with Compaq to take No.1 spot in PC sales. Dell soon regains its top spot.

  • Michael Dell resigns as CEO but retains position as chairman to focus on his philanthropic foundation. Then-President and COO Kevin Rollins ascends.

  • Growth begins to slow and stock starts losing momentum.

  • A battery recall after a Dell laptop catches fire dents its image. After several quarters when its results missed Wall Street expectations, HP displaces Dell as No. 1 PC seller in the fourth quarter.

  • Rollins resigns and Michael Dell returns as CEO.

  • Dell acquires Perot Systems for $3.9 billion and launches Dell Services to drive its end-to-end IT services business. It also enters the smartphone market with the Mini 3i from China Mobile.

  • Acquires Secure Works, RNA Networks and Force10 Networks, rounding out its enterprise capability.

  • Makes another half dozen acquisitions including storage protection company Credant Technologies and software manufacturer Quest Software.Later that year, the world's No. 3 PC maker enters talks with private equity firms on potential buyout deal.

  • Dell agrees to be taken private for $24.4 billion, or $13.65 per share, in a deal that involves private equity firm Silver Lakes, Microsoft Corp, and its Chairman Michael Dell.