eMachines boasts new line

eMachines simplified its desktop PC line by slimming down to two models, whereas in the past users were able to purchase a desktop PC at one of three levels of features and performance, reports PCMag.com.

The more basic T3646 is priced at $299.99, with an AMD Sempron LE-2150 processor, 160GB hard drive, DVD burner, integrated nVidia GeForce 6100 graphics, and 1GB of system memory.

The more "expensive" T5254 is priced at $399.99, with a dual-core AMD Athlon X2 BE-2350 processor, 320GB hard drive, 2GB of memory, and the same DVD burner and integrated nVidia graphics.

Hewlett-Packard India has released the Compaq dc7800, claimed to be the industry's first desktop PC incorporating a solid state hard drive (SSD), coming in an ultra-slim form factor, says Techtree.com.

Meant for business users, the dc7800 has new environmentally-friendly features to comply with stringent environmental requirements of the EPEAT Gold registry.

The included SSD allows for superior performance and durability in the form of near-instant access to data and elimination of moving parts that typically cause a lot of wear and tear. There are other advantages too, including faster boot times, improved power efficiency, shock improvement, and a smaller overall footprint.

The annual growth in the desktop PC market improved from the fourth quarter in all regions with Europe and Asia/Pacific (except Japan) showing the biggest improvements, says Smarthouse.

The global growth of 10.9% was up from the single-digit growth experienced over the previous three quarters and was up on the forecast growth of 8.5%.

IDC believes that peak growth in 2004 and 2005 had more to do with slower growth at the end of 2006 than users waiting for the new operating system - particularly as vendors such as HP, Acer, Toshiba, and Apple saw strong retail and portable PC growth through the end of the year.