Statements in this press release that relate to future results and events (including statements about trends relating to macroeconomic challenges, effects of our server business, and government demand) are forward-looking statements and are based on Dell's current expectations.

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But the Syrian government has access to all activity through that server "absolutely without any doubt, " Thakur said.

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Bartels points to the most recent government data released Friday that show a drop-off of around 2% in PC, server and peripheral sales for the third quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter last year.

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