This week in Dell news

Dell is set to roll out its PowerEdge 1855 blade server line, a home-grown design, this month. The company, which historically has been criticized for a lack of engineering innovation and expertise, is expected to use a chassis that can accommodate 10 dual-processor blades in a 12.25-inch tall box, said sources familiar with the design. Sixty servers can fit in a single rack with Dell's blades, whereas today only 42 conventional dual-processor servers could be accommodated.

The PowerEdge 1855, Dell's second-generation blade server, will be joined by a successor model, the PowerEdge 1855, in February.

And how does this stuff all come together? Dell recently offered a peak into one of its manufacturing plants in Texas, where a parade of desktop computers ride a series of conveyor belts and elevators through the 300,000-square-foot plant.

Dell's chief executive, Kevin Rollins, offered his views of the company's progress and the challenges ahead during CNET News.com's Dell tour. Rollins has managed to boost growth records, race past rivals and extend the box maker's reach to printers and beyond. He talked with News.com about whether he'll be able to maintain his Midas touch.