A posting on the official Windows Vista Team Blog suggests that that Dell and Microsoft will launch a product supporting Product (RED) later this week. It certainly sounds appealing:

"Wouldn't it be incredible if, through the simple act of choosing a PC, and at no extra cost to you, you could put someone living with AIDS in Africa on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for more than six months?  Windows, Dell and (RED) are proud to introduce our (PRODUCT) RED products later this week."

Time will tell exactly what Microsoft and Dell have in mind, but it's not certain to please everyone. In fact, despite backing from enormous companies such as Apple, American Express and Gap, the scheme, notably supported by celebrity philanthropist, sunglasses aficionado and occasional singer Bono, has come in for some criticism.

Product (RED) licenses its brand to partner companies, in return for which the partners pledge a portion of the profits they make from (RED) products to the The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. However noble this cause may be, though, critics have alleged that the amount of money raised by the project could be less than that spent on marketing it.

In any case, there's no need for would-be philanthropists to wait for the Microsoft and Dell announcement: the Global Fund accepts donations online.