Hewlett-Packard SA is extending its Top Value PC sales and distribution programme to include two of its lower-end server ranges, the E-series and LC-2000 series.
"Last year at this time, only 56 dealers bought HP PCs; last month we had 900, according to our Top Value partners," says Thierry Boulanger, HP SA`s PC manager. "This is a dramatic increase considering that the company has only been back in the country for just over 24 months."
The E-series servers are entry-level desktop servers, certified for six of the major operating systems including NT and Linux, while the LC-2000 series includes additional features like hot-swappable drive bays for increased reliability.
"Local assembly will be done from five base units, as with the PC range, and a total of 50 different models from the two lines will be available within 48 hours of the order being placed," says Boulanger. "We will be guaranteeing the same level of quality as would be expected from a fully imported machine."
The move should bring the reality of HP`s third place global market share in servers (according to the International Data Corporation) to bear on the local market.
Boulanger adds that HP internationally sees SA as a stepping-stone into sub-Saharan Africa. The Top Value programme is already supplying a dealer in Kenya.
A planned third wave for the programme will be rolled out in the third quarter. It will add a range of the company`s notebooks to complete the suite of solutions available.
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