Dell just announced a 22 percent drop in consumer sales as part of its Q2 earnings report, so with Windows 8 set to shake up the PC market in a matter of months you'd hope the company would have a solid strategy. Worry not, stressed CFO and senior VP Brian Gladden in the investors call, as there'll be a comprehensive lineup of Dell products running Microsoft's latest OS towards the end of the year.

"You'll see new Windows 8 ultrabooks, all-in-one tablets and converged devices in the fourth quarter and headed into next year."

We're not exactly sure what Gladden might mean by "all-in-one tablets," or for that matter what Dell's take on a "converged device" would look like, but it seems a safe bet that we'll see both traditional slates and Surface-style hybrid devices from the company. Then again, anything's possible considering the variety of Windows 8 devices seen so far, not to mention Dell's unorthodox approach to the ultrabook.

Speaking of the Surface, Gladden was happy to give his thoughts on Microsoft's entry into the Windows hardware market. Like executives from Lenovo and HP, Gladden doesn't seem worried by the prospect of the software giant's offering and claims that Dell will be able to stand out with its own products. Acer remains the only major OEM to speak out against Microsoft's plans.

"As you think about Microsoft entering the space, clearly, as we think about it, we've spent time talking to Microsoft and understanding sort of how they're thinking about it. There clearly are opportunities for us, as Windows 8 comes through, in having differentiated products. And I think at the same time they have announced the Surface product that would be in the space, we will have products in there, and I think you'll see a diverse set of offerings that take advantage of what Windows 8 brings to market."