Dell’s plight in recent times is well documented: plunging demand, layoffs and factories closing down. For good measure, it has Acer breathing down its throat. Acer is currently the third largest PC manufacturer in the world, but its rise to the number two slot, currently occupied by Dell, is a mere formality now. Though Dell still doesn’t appear to have found a way to contain Acer, its CFO Brian Gladden believes the PC maker may soon be out of its sullen misery. He said that demand for Dell products, though still inconsistent, seems to have stabilized. He expects Dell’s earnings to be a bit better when it declares its second-quarter earnings in August.