[illumin8]

I agree with your speculation; it seems likely, however, I don't understand why laying off staff at VMware would help make the company stronger - is it just supposed to make the balance sheet look good in the short term?

Short-term results oriented layoffs like this decimated HP under Carly Fiorina, and I don't have a good long-term outlook on VMware, if Dell decides to take a similar approach.

[wcarss]

My understanding is that it is purely to improve the short term outlook on paper.

I agree that it does not seem wise for the actual health of the entity.