Michael Dell founded Dell in 1984 from his University of Texas dorm room.
The business began as PC's Limited, selling IBM-compatible personal computers built from stock components. Dell's direct-sales model let customers order computers configured to their needs, avoiding much of the retail markup and inventory risk faced by traditional manufacturers.
The company changed its name to Dell Computer Corporation in 1988 and later became Dell Inc. A common mix-up is confusing Dell's founding with the launch of its well-known Dell Dimension and Inspiron product lines, which came later. Michael Dell temporarily left university to develop the company and became one of the technology industry's youngest chief executives.