Dell Computer, the world's second largest personal computer maker and one of the Republic's largest employers, warned yesterday that revenue and earnings would fall short of expectations for the second quarter in a row, amid parts shortages and a sales slowdown tied to Year 2000 fears.
Dell said it expects revenue of about $6.7 billion (€6.8 million) for the fourth quarter ending January 28th, up about 30 per cent from the prior-year period, but well below its prior year growth rate in the high 30 per cent range and a historic 50 per cent plus rate.
"The bottom line issue is that we just misjudged when large corporations would begin their post-Y2K installations," Dell chief financial officer Mr Tom Meredith told analysts in an impromptu conference call held after the earnings warning.
"We did position January as a wildcard. . . in terms of Y2K," Mr Meredith said. "The rebound in January simply did not happen," he said.
But while some analysts had warned over the past two months of possible shortfalls by the Round Rock, Texas company, Dell cautioned that its higher rates of growth were unlikely to return in the year ahead, once Y2K issues subside.
