Don't Overlook Dell's Desperation in Retail Move

After quoting Harry as saying he is unsure whether Dell's profitability will be of help, and noting that he kept his "Equal-Weight" rating -- one of those only-in-Wall-Street verbal formulations that serve only to confuse investors and cover the backsides of analysts -- the article quotes a Morgan Stanley analyst, also via a client note, saying she's unsure about the deal.

Forbes, for its part, used no quotes in a story with at least a discernable negative bent.

The Wall Street Journal, interestingly enough, did it wrong one way and right the other. This earns it, for the first time in recent memory, both the dreaded Business Press Maven's "Back of the Hand" award and the coveted Business Press Maven "Nod of Approval."

In "Dell to Rely Less on Direct Sales: Wal-Mart Will Offer PCs as Computer Maker Seeks a Broader Retail Reach," the Journal's first quote is from -- you guessed it -- a press release. This go-round, it's a Dell release, all about how customers were asking for additional ways to buy products and how Dell was going to oblige, worldwide.

Get ready for some worldwide purchase response!

The article reaches back into history -- but only back a few months, when Michael Dell, a genius who might be meeting his match, came back as CEO, and a couple of years ago, when the company's troubles began.