Dell's in the Doldrums

The downfall in Dell(DELL Quote) shares hit a new low Tuesday -- a 52-week low, that is.

For the world's largest maker of computers to hit that dubious level is bad enough, but perhaps more disconcerting is that the stock's plummet from its 2005 high in late July has been as rapid as it has been brutal.

What a difference a quarter makes; Dell shares rode a bullet train higher along with the Nasdaq from May to July on strong results in the first half of the year and high hopes about the second half. ...