With `s announcement of a revamped PC line, the concept of a disposable PC has been brought a step closer to realisation. That`s according to Adrian Delport, business manager for Hewlett-Packard at .
Delport says Hewlett-Packard is to combine its e-Brio and e-Vectra brand of corporate PCs into a single range with the simple name of e-PC. "More than just a brand change, this strategy also gives HP the advantage of a reduced number of configurations to manage," he says. Planned are four e-PC models, which will be further differentiated by the software and services offered, effectively resulting in eight different packages.
"The new machines are small and inexpensive and relatively resistant to upgrades; this configuration is in accord with the trend to replace IT equipment rather than upgrade," observes Delport. Analysts have noted that small and relatively inexpensive machines are rapidly replacing traditional PCs - the Gartner group predicts that up to 60% of PCs will be small models within two years.
Delport says the smaller PCs offer adequate graphics, networking and other components integrated on the motherboard. "There is little that can be done to add value to the basic e-PC box - a corporate machine generally does not require blistering graphics and sound performance," he notes.
Delport says HP will now focus more on services, software and other extras attractive to the small-business market.
The entry-level small-business e-PC will come with a 633-MHz Celeron processor, 128MB of RAM, a 10GB hard drive, a CD-ROM drive, an Internet keyboard, a USB modem, Word 2000 and Windows 98.
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