Dell Returns to Store Shelves -- Sort Of

Dell has forged a deal with Costco that will put its personal computers on store shelves for the first time in 15 years. The leading PC manufacturer left the retail market in 1990, but has decided to sell a handful of older Dimension 4700 desktops and Inspiron 2200 laptops through Costco.

Costco had previously offered Dell systems on its Web site, but never in actual brick and mortar stores. Although the deal is a departure from the company's usual sales methodology, don't expect to see Dell systems in other stores anytime soon. Dell officials say the Costco deal is designed to offload older inventory, and it has no plans to return to retail.