Angry Compaq challenges Dell claims: takes steps to ensure rival won't define its products. (Compaq Computer Corp.; Dell Computer Corp.)

Saying they aren't going to let competitors define their products, officials at Compaq Computer Corp. recently lashed out at Dell Computer Corp., accusing Dell of making unfair comparisons between the two companies' PCs.

The "Note to Editors," distributed last week, marked the second time in little more than a month that Compaq has blasted a competitor. In June, Compaq released a news advisory accusing AST Research Inc. of unfairly comparing its newest models with the graphics performance of an older Compaq machine.

"We believe positioning our product is our responsibility, not our competitors'," said Gian Carlo Bisone, Compaq's vice president of North American …