Dell's onwards and upwards continues unabated. The company's first quarter 2000 results, ended 30 April, posted yesterday, centred on profits of $434 million on revenue of $5.54 billion. The figures represent increases of 42 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively, on the same period last year. Back then, Dell recorded revenues of $3.92 billion and profits of $305 million. Earnings were in line with Street expectations, so clearly CEO Michael Dell's analyst briefings, carried out earlier this year to allay fears of below par results, seem to have done the trick. Dell also claimed to lead the industry in asset management, pointing to its six-day inventory. This contradicts Apple's claim to have beaten Dell on inventory management for three quarters in a row. The direct vendor would presumably say that what it actually means is that it stands out among Wintel PC companies, and since Apple isn't Wintel, it doesn't count. Still, when Apple achieves Dell's growth rate, maybe then it will have a right to complain. ®