Why are Latitudes/Precision/(Vostro?) not under "Home" on Dell's Website?

I've been on a rampage through every laptop manufacturers' websites and Dell's may be among the most confusing.

For example, why are the Precision, Latitude, and I believe Vostro lines not listed when you select "Home", but is available under Small Business, Federal, Higher Ed, etc.?

The default site is "Home", and I would have never guessed that "Small Business" had a different line of laptops. If I were not an NBR member, I would not have known about the precision and latitude lines.

I also noticed while going through the laptops that the site filter not only requires me to sift through all 11 to 14 inch laptops for the 13 inch laptops that I'm looking for, but there are a ridiculous number of "repeats". I saw Vostro 3350 come up maybe 15 times. In addition, the specifications are often outdated.

My impression is that Dell is not doing well competitively at the moment, and I must say that their website is not helping

 

They are targetted for business customers. They tend to be more expensive and you get a different level of service.

 

but why do they want to limit their business notebooks to business customers? i would imagine that advertising only their lesser quality notebooks to the individual consumer would create a stigma of lesser quality associated with dell, whereas dell obviously makes extremely well built machines such as their workstations

 

They don't limit them to business customers. You are free to buy one without owning a business. Imagine that!

 

yes, but by including their business notebooks to every section but the default Home section suggests that they want to limit their business notebooks to business customers, government, etc.

i would have to assume that most consumers who visit the dell website would not be aware of the business notebooks

 

Because Dell wants to keep consumers buying consumer grade? It was by luck for me I saw Dell's business page when I ordered my Vostro. I found a link online and it brought me to Dell's business page. I saw the prices on a D630 and nearly fainted so I went for the Vostro 1500.

 

The average consumer is pretty tech-dumb. It is easier to give them a default of consumer line laptops which are cheaper and are more clear about what you are getting.