New Intel chips to drive notebook prices down in 1999 - analyst
Notebook buyers in 1999 will gain more choices, higher performance, and lower prices as Intel introduces new Pentium II, Celeron, and even Pentium MMX mobile CPUs.
PC and Components: News
News
Logitech snaring more OEM mice
Following its decision earlier this year to try to snare more of the local OEM business, Logitech has announced an extension to its line of OEM mice -- a wheel mouse complete with USB port connection. But it's the two-button, three-button and regular scrolling wheel mice that Logitech and its OEM distributors, BJE Enterprises and Focal Point, have been promoting with some degree of success.
IBM introduces new hard disk drive
IBM has recently announced a hard disk drive with a disk platter about the size of a large coin.
Compaq to compete with locals in German home PC market
Compaq yesterday unveiled its strategy to compete head to head with local brands in the home PC market in Germany by working with local assemblers and buying components on the spot market to produce cheaper machines.
Optima resellers face direct sales, outsourcing dilemma
Optima Computer Technology's Australian resellers have been put on notice by the PC manufacturer to restructure their business to fit with the organisation's bold five-year plan which involves a combination of direct selling and outsourcing.
Lexmark aims for its blind side with Synnex
Lexmark has confirmed the appointment of Synnex Australia as a national distributor of its range of inkjet printers, entry-level laser printers including the Optra E Plus and Optra K, and associated consumable products.
Quantum sacks local chief in reaction to drive chaos
Quantum has sacked its Australia-New Zealand country manager, Paul Kruss, and recalled the management responsibilities for the local office back to regional headquarters in Singapore. Quantum's decision is in reaction to the crisis which has ravaged the Australian low-end hard disk drive market and follows hot on the heels of arch-rival Seagate Technology's decision in March to control its Australian subsidiary from Singapore.
3Com cuts modem prices to boost market aspirations
Continuing its bid to secure a 30 per cent share of the Australia modem market, 3Com yesterday revealed it would slash a further 10 per cent off the price of its entire modem product range. The new pricing structure will see the 3Com US Robotics 56K V.90 external Voice Faxmodem priced at $249 (inc tax) compared to $259 (inc tax).
Introducing Compelson's security solutions
Just about every business would have some sort of sensitive data on computer systems which is why the PC security issue is emerging as yet another potential cash cow for resellers. A new supply option for the Australian market comes from Czech Republic-based company Compelson Laboratories who are introduced to Australian markets via start-up distributor, All PC Securities (APCS).
Asia-Pacific printer market falls 8.7 per cent in Q2 1998
The printer market is not immune to the financial crisis in Asia-Pacific, according to Dataquest, which has reported a fall in the overall number of printer shipments for the second quarter of this year. Shipments in Australia were down by 6 per cent.
Gateway product wrap-up
Former direct-only vendor Gateway recently announced a hybrid direct/channel model. Currently, Gateway claims the split between its revenues from major accounts (corporates, government and larger medium-sized businesses) and the consumer market (including SOHO and very small businesses) is about 50-50. But the company is ambitiously shooting for one-third of its business to go through resellers by the end of next year.
Socket 7 alive and well . . . and here comes Super7
Just when Intel devotee PC assemblers thought it was safe to go back into the water, and chart a course for a purely Slot 1 desktop future, CPU manufacturers AMD and relatively new chum IDT have announced products and roadmaps that will stick in the chipmaking giant's claw.
Asian crisis hurts server shipment revenues
In the first half of this year, revenue from server shipments in the Asia-Pacific region dropped 20 per cent year-on-year as the region's organisations and governments cut back on IT spending, according to a report released this week by IDC Asia-Pacific. However, the only bright spots were Australia, where shipments grew 7.3 per cent.
IBM intros Microdrive for portable electronic devices
IBM this week announced a hard disk drive the size of a matchbook. The Microdrive, which at 20 grams is equivalent in weight to four credit cards and can hold around 200 times more data than a floppy disk, is aimed for use in portable electronic devices including digital cameras and handheld PCs.
Intel launches mobile Pentium 300MHz chip
A mobile Pentium II 300MHz processor was rolled out this week by Intel and, as is typical with such launches, PC makers quickly followed the announcement with word that they have new machines built around the chip available or due out soon.
Tektronix resellers off to see the Cup
Tektronix jumped on the promotional bandwagon this week with the printer vendor giving three of its top resellers an all-expenses-paid trip to the Melbourne Cup in November.
Asia-Pacific printer market on the skids
The printer market is not immune to the financial crisis in the Asia-Pacific, according to Dataquest, which has reported a fall in the overall number of printer shipments for the second quarter of this year. Shipments in Australia were down by 6 per cent.
Acer, Siemens Nixdorf PC negotiations collapse
German PC maker Siemens Nixdorf (SNI) and Acer have broken off their talks to sell SNI's PC manufacturing division to the Taiwanese company. The two vendors signed an agreement in April that called for Acer to take over SNI's PC production facility in Germany. The deal would have given SNI the necessary volume it needed to produce PCs more cheaply on a global scale.
Epson's inkjets kick off Christmas blitz
Epson last week released its new colour printer line up, featuring its variable-sized droplet technology in the Stylus Colour 740. Variable-sized droplet techno-logy is said to deliver a combination of small, medium and large ink droplets, which Epson claims gives greater detail and smoother halftones.
New Intel CPUs drive PC rollouts
Following the launch of the Pentium II 450MHz processor and the new Celeron processors running at 300 and 350MHz, the usual range of PC vendors have announced new products based on the new technology.
