Avoiding the new product frenzy at PC Expo, Dell Computer and Hewlett-Packard announced new commercial desktop systems last week.
Dell is refreshing its OptiPlex line by adding the G1 and E1 families to its existing high-end GX1 line and phasing out GXa and Gn lines.
The OptiPlex E1 is Dell's first system based on the controversial new low-end Celeron chip. According to Dell, the E1 will be designed to replace terminals and old 386/486-based machines for single-task users - the same market the NetPC failed to address one year ago.
The OptiPlex G1 will address the "suite spot" of the corporate market with Pentium II-based systems for prices starting at $US2000. It will retail in Australia for $3543 while the E1 will retail for $2644. The systems will be available from mid-June.
Meanwhile, HP will unleash the new Vectra VL Series 8, a highly manageable corporate system based on the Pentium II processor, according to sources. It will be available in July but pricing has not been set.
The system will sport several Desktop Management Interface-compliant features, including a chassis intrusion detector and remote WakeupOnLAN, sources said.
