Dell has reinforced its all-American reputation with the news of a major investment in Hyderabad, targetting export revenues of R220 crore in the first five years of operation, and also establishing a 100 seat tech support centre to deal with customers throughout the world.

Yes, we're glad you asked us that. A crore, Hutchinson Encyclopaedia informs us, is "ten million, especially of rupees" and then goes on to spoil it by adding "i.e. 100 lakhs." We don't propose to go there, but anyways, R220 crore equals $46.1 million, but we're sure to have got that wrong.

Earlier editions of the Financial Express, which proves a mine of interesting information, reveal that Dell is building a software development operation in India, and that Michael Dell's hunky good looks could well be just a tad misleading, when push comes to shove. As the report of his visit to Bangalore last year mentions: "Mr Dell was scheduled to visit the city last year but cancelled it due to the kidnapping of Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar by forest brigand Veerappan." Tut. ®