Dell introduced new notebook computers on Tuesday available in eight different colors with advanced features as it tries to grab a bigger slice of the consumer PC market. The world's second-largest personal computer maker also launched its first consumer PC to use flash memory instead of a traditional hard-disk drive to store data. The lightweight laptop comes with a modest 32 gigabytes of data storage space.

Dell's new notebooks come in colors with names such as flamingo pink, sunshine yellow, alpine white, ruby red, jet black, midnight blue and espresso.

An entry-level version of the notebook PC costs $749 and is available from Tuesday.

Dell also said it would phase out its Dimension brand, used for its desktop computers for more than a decade, and switch to the Inspiron name previously used only for its notebooks. The company will continue to sell Inspiron notebooks.

The new products are among steps Dell is taking to boost sales of notebook computers to consumers, the fastest-growing PC segment, as it tries to catch up with HP.

Dell this month started selling PCs in Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , breaking from a 23-year practice of selling directly via Internet or phone. The company said it planned to announce more retail partnerships in the coming months.