Austin American-Statesman, Texas, Austin Inc. Column.

Oct. 26--FOR DELL, IT'S HARD TO BE HUMBLE: Michael Dell seized the spotlight at Microsoft Corp.'s coming-out party for Windows XP on Thursday to poke fun at his rivals in the personal computer industry.

Dell, along with the CEOs of Compaq Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Gateway Inc., was part of a panel discussion about the new Windows product.

When the panel was asked how XP would boost computer sales, Dell jumped in, saying, "I'll speak on behalf of those who are increasing their sales," a not-so-veiled reference to the fact that Dell was the only major PC maker to increase shipments during the past quarter.

MOVEMENT IN THE OFFICE WORLD: …