The desktop PC has remained the same for many years, serving corporations faithfully in a dull box that took up the same amount of space, no matter which vendor produced it.
This is all slowly changing as PC vendors realise they need to build extra functionality, manageability and usability into their desktop systems if they want to retain customers.
"It`s not a matter of producing better looking systems, but systems that last longer, are easy to maintain and can be upgraded easily," says Mike Botes, GM, IBM Division, Tarsus Technologies. "The user market is demanding value, even from their desktop PCs, and IBM has risen to the challenge with a new range of PCs designed to offer users the widest range of choice, along with top-notch reliability.
The PC of the future will incorporate leading technologies to offer users a smaller footprint, but without any penalties in terms of quality, power or speed. In addition, the days of a technician running around with a screwdriver to upgrade or replace components are over. State-of-the-art equipment comes with specially designed cases that can be opened by hand and provide easy access to the components.
"The new IBM ThinkCentre series of desktops offers users the option of powerful, yet slim PCs, full multimedia capabilities as well as the ultimate in easy manageability and stability," notes Botes.
The IBM ThinkCentre A50p series offers extensive multimedia options. Features include advanced graphics and Intel Pentium 4 processors with Hyper-Threading on select models, as well as new core technology that supports fast dual-channel memory and Serial ATA hard drives up to 160GB in capacity.
The new IBM ThinkCentre M50 is one of the most advanced IBM business desktops, providing reliable manageability and stability features, as well as some of the industries latest performance technologies.
"The S50 series will deliver a new era of simplified PC maintenance," says Botes. "Almost every component is tool-less, from the flip-up optical drive and hard disk drive cradle, to the PCI slots and even the system board itself, making it a 100% customer serviceable system. And all this in only 38% of the space of a traditional IBM desktop."
All the models sport improved manageability features including data protection with IBM Rapid Restore Ultra, a preloaded one-touch recovery tool.
Botes adds that another benefit for enterprise clients is that IBM has designated specific workhorse and global models to help stabilise IT operations. These models will have no planned hardware changes for up to 12 months after general availability. "Users therefore will not have to customise software images and support for each new roll-out."
PCs should be easy to use, maintain and upgrade, concludes Botes. "The new IBM ThinkCentre series fits the bill and IBM is again destined to have the same impact on the desktop market as its leading ThinkPad laptop brand has had on the mobile world."
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Tarsus Technologies, the value-add distribution arm of MB Technologies, is rated by suppliers and channel partners as SA`s leading hardware distributor for its stability, service ethos, product knowledge, excellent support, competitive pricing strategies and channel focus.
Distributing a wide range of products from the world`s leading manufacturers, including Acer, APC, HP, IBM, OKI, Samsung, Tally, and supplementing this range with its own brand - the Tarsus PC - Tarsus focuses strongly on long-lasting partnerships with its suppliers and resellers. In line with this philosophy, Tarsus provides a comprehensive range of services to its resellers that enables them to add value to their own offering, and assists them in growing their business.
It is this service offering that has afforded Tarsus a number of Channel accolades. The latest include: Channel Executive Awards - 2002; Best Distributor Overall - 2002; Compaq`s "BDG Distributor of the Year" award - 2001 and CRN Outlook Awards - 2002.
More information about Tarsus is available at: http://www.tarsus.co.za.
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