R&D throughout the industry has led to significant steps in innovation this year. VARBusiness Tech Innovator Awards recognize the most innovative of these offerings from several different sectors.
Vendors submitted hundreds of entries for the 2008 VARBusiness Tech Innovator Awards, but only a handful emerged as purveyors of unique, groundbreaking products. Here's a look at the winners.
HP's first touch-screen notebook for consumers has plenty of options for work and play.
Dell Launches Product Return Program For Certified Partners
6:04 PM EDT Thu. Sep. 11, 2008
The return policy program, which took effect Aug. 18, says, "Product can be returned within 21 days of Dell shipment for a credit (excluding S&H charges) for the following reason: Any reasons covered under Dell's Limited Warranty, or End-user order cancellation or modification (requires documentation from end-user.)"
The return policy is available only to the approximately 500 U.S. Certified Partners. Dell's Registered Partners, those that have simply a reselling agreement with the vendor, are excluded from the program.
The return policy applies to mainstream Dell PC, server and notebook products. Dell/EqualLogic and EqualLogic branded products, Dell/EMC and EMC-branded products as well as PowerVault ML6000 tape libraries are among the products excluded from the new return program, according to Dell.
"We wanted to roll this out to our Certified Partners as an additional benefit to partners who are investing in Dell through certifications," said Greg Davis, Dell's vice president and general manager of Dell's Americas Channel Group.
Davis said the return policy came out of discussion Dell had with its channel partners at an advisor council meeting in May. "This is also a benefit to any partner who is looking at certification and trying to make that decision of do I invest in Dell?" Davis said.
He called the initial return policy "a great first step" and said Dell may include more products in the return program in the future.
"The return policy excludes some products but it looks pretty good," said Chris Ferry, executive vice president of Technology Integration Group, a San Diego solution provider. "It does give us some options where some of the other vendors we don't have very good options. [The other vendors] work with us, but you have to bend their arms. They don't have a very good return policy."
Ferry said because many other vendors don't have a formalized return program, "we end up eating stuff and writing stuff off. This is a positive change from Dell. It's a help in doing business."
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