Dell introduced a line of high-end computers for consumers on Wednesday priced from about $1,100 to more than $6,000 for desktops, and starting at about $2,700 for notebooks.

The XPS line is aimed at the affluent market of consumers who crave a combination of high performance and high style.

Dell is also launching two flat-screen high-definition TVs, including a 50-inch plasma TV, the W5001C, for $3,799, and a 32-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) model, the W3201C, for $1,799.

The product launch follows on the heels of the high-end gaming PC that Dell introduced in August (see Dell Debuts PC for Gamers), which competed with high-end gaming systems from companies like Alienware.

This time, the Round Rock, Texas-based computer maker seems to be going after Apple, which is well-known for stylish computers priced above the PC industry average.

“XPS has been around for quite some time and this is definitely an energized effort to target the high end of the market,” said Toni Duboise, senior analyst of desktop computing at the research firm Current Analysis.

Dell shares rose $0.25 to $34.22 in recent trading.

“It is a relatively new business for Dell in the context of our global business and global revenues,” said Chairman Michael Dell. “The PC is increasingly becoming the center of the entertainment experience in the home.”

All the machines come with a 17-inch flat-panel display, along with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, and a 15-month subscription to security, antivirus, and anti-spyware software.

Dell will offer McAfee’s security suite as standard, but will also allow customers to choose Symantec or Trend Micro instead, according to Mike George, Dell’s chief marketing officer.

Concierge Service

In addition, Dell will provide customers their own personal “concierges” who will help support the software from the initial sale forward and assist customers with making the computers interoperate with their other devices.

XPS customers will also have access to 24-hour chat support via a special Dell web site starting in October.

“They are actually trying to form a kind of XPS club,” said Ms. Duboise. “I would liken it to an American Airlines Admirals Club. It’s a creative way to target the affluent early-adopter customers. They’re creating a kind of a buzz about being an XPS owner.”

To promote the XPS as a gaming system, Dell is setting up kiosks in GameStop stores around the country. However, Dell wants to emphasize the high-end capabilities of its system for running all kinds of entertainment, in addition to games.

“Dell has definitely stepped up its efforts since the last XPS launch and this is an even more robust offering,” said Ms. Duboise. “Dell is trying to balance its foray into the low-end market with its $299 PC bundle.”

She also likes the fact that Dell is expanding the chassis options by offering the XPS in smaller form factors in addition to the regular tower. “They’re trying to branch out and capture a broader audience, trying to expand the XPS from a gamer PC to an entertainment PC,” she said.

Dell Details

The Dell XPS 600 desktop, starting at $2,699, will include two Nvidia 256-megabtye GeForce 7800 GTX video cards, dual-core Intel Extreme Edition and Pentium D 8xx processors, or single-core Pentium 4 6xx processors.

The XPS 600 also has up to 8 gigabytes (GB) of memory, and up to three internal drives offering 1.5 terabytes of storage.

The XPS 400, priced at $1,099 to start, makes the Nvidia GeForce graphics card optional and includes dual-core Pentium D 8xx processors, single-core Pentium 4 6xx processors, up to 4 GB of memory, and up to 1 terabyte of storage on the hard disk.

The Dell XPS 200 starts at $1,149 and provides dual-core Pentium D 8xx processors, single-core Pentium 4 5x1 processors, and up to 4 GB of memory, along with one internal hard drive. It comes in a slim 12- by 4-inch chassis.

Dell’s XPS M170 notebook, priced starting at $2,699, comes with built-in Wi-Fi, an Nvidia 256-megabyte GeForce Go 7800 GTX Ultra graphics card, and a 17-inch widescreen display.

The Dell notebook also includes a black and silver chassis with LED perimeter lights in 16 different colors that can be customized through the software.

Dell is also providing transparent personalization covers that snap onto the notebook’s brushed metal lid and feature imagery from several game titles.

However, the high-end market is still not the most popular for PC purchasers. Current Analysis has found that the vast majority of PCs sold are priced from $500 to $749.

Dell has divided its existing product lines into basic and entertainment oriented PCs. In addition, the company introduced a Dell Dimension E510 desktop priced at $729 to start. The machine includes Pentium 6xxx and 5x1 processors, 4 GB of memory, and up to two internal hard drives.