Microsoft and Dell on Wednesday said they will team up to release a Product Red computer and donate $80, for every computer sold, to Global Fund for AIDS medication in Africa.

On Friday, Dell will start selling two laptops and one desktop running Microsoft Windows Vista as part of the joint program, Product RED, donating $50 and $80 for each laptop and desktop sold.

RED was founded in 2006 and has since raised $53 million for the Global Fund but it is expected to exceed the figure by the end of 2008.

I guess you can criticize even life-saving activities, said Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman. I don't know how, but if somebody has a better idea than RED to save more lives, we are all ears.

The Dell products under the RED brand will be XPS One desktop, costing $1,599 and XPS M1330 and M1530 laptop computers, costing $1,149.

They will be available in 30 countries including the United States by Jan. 31.

Bill Gates Electronics Microsoft Dell