Michael Dell, right, chats with Mark Anderson at the FiReGlobal conference in Seattle.

Dell Computer CEO Michael Dell today spoke at the FiReGlobal conference in downtown Seattle, chatting about the future of computing, the rise of China and the ongoing economic recession.

Dell didn't say anything too controversial, and our attempts to pin him down after he left the Four Seasons Hotel were unsuccessful.

Some of Dell's most interesting comments revolved around netbook computers, a market which he said is leveling off at about 12 to 15 percent. Dell said there's a certain level of consumer "disenchantment" that often tags along with the smaller, lighter and cheaper netbooks, a disenchantment which often leads computer users to wishing that they had their bigger desktop computer screens back.

"We've been getting pretty excited about Windows 7, Office 2010 and if you look at those products, they kind of tell you that you want more screen area, not less screen area," Dell said. "And if you put that on a netbook, you won't be real happy with it."

Dell -- who only made passing remarks about Microsoft and the release of its upcoming operating system -- said that people are still buying desktops.

"Mobility is absolutely the theme. But let's not forget, if you want the least expensive computer you buy a desktop. If you want the most powerful computer you also buy a desktop," he said.

But pressed by moderator and conference organizer Mark Anderson about the future of desktop computers, Dell noted that the business "continues to be cannibalized by mobile." That's particularly the case as long-term evolution and fourth generation wireless technologies allow people to take computing devices with them.

As part of that trend, Dell sees more and more people working remotely.

And there are times when Dell often wishes he was one of them, with the high-tech entrepreneur saying he'd choose China.

"Every time I go, I am thinking things are so good here, maybe I'll stay," said Dell. "China, you wouldn't really know that there was even an economic problem. When you look at the depth of the opportunities and the changes going on there, it is just really, really strong."

As to the economy in the U.S., Dell said that things "are a lot better than it was six or seven months ago" and it has now gone from "stabilization" to signs of improvement.