April 7 - Sunday Shopping Watch.
Weekly Comparison.
Notebooks - Prices have gone up on 1 GHz notebooks. After hitting
an all time low on March 24, 2001 of $699 (after rebates) the lowest
price we see this week is $999. Pentium 4 notebooks were advertised
at the same price, and prices seemed to stay about the same on Pentium
III and Athlon notebooks (no they have not gone down much in price
since the release of the Pentium 4).
Desktops - Pentium 4 desktops went down in price. Per today's
advertised prices, you can actually buy a name-brand Pentium 4 desktop
for less than a name-brand Celeron desktop e.g. CompUSA is advertising
a HP 1.3 GHz Celeron system with monitor for $899 and a HP 1.6 GHz
Pentium 4 complete system for $889 (both prices are after rebates).
Athlon desktops seem to be the same or a little lower.
This Sunday's Special Discounts and Financing.
In addition to sales on specific items, the following store-wide sales
are advertised this week. (Note that these
ads are for the Dayton,Ohio area. Prices or offerings may be different
where you live.)
BestBuy is giving away 6 months of free MSN with any computer
purchase. They are also offering 12 months of interest free financing
on all Pentium 4 desktops and on all notebooks over $598. Additionally,
they are giving $100 mail-in rebates on all desktop packages, and
all notebooks.
Circuit
City is offering a $200
rebate towards any purchase with a 2 year sign-up to CompuServe or
MSN. They are also offering 12 months of interest free financing on
all desktops and on all notebooks over $598. Additionally, they are
offering a $200 instant merchandise card with purchase of any Intel
processor based desktop package..
Office
Depot
is offering no interest, no payments, for 6 months on any computer
purchase over $298.
CompUSA is giving away 3 months
of AOL with any notebook or desktop computer purchase.
Staples no ad this Sunday.
Shopping Alert on Lower Priced
Desktops. Many lower priced Celeron desktops made by almost
all computer manufacturers should be carefully investigated before
purchase.
Most of these low priced desktops have no AGP video expansion slot,
no onboard dedicated video RAM, no CD-RW drive, and very few empty
PCI expansion slots. These computers will be very difficult to upgrade,
and they have poorer performance than other desktops that do not have
integrated audio and video chips on the motherboard.
Often by spending $200-$400 more dollars for a Pentium 4 or Athlon
XP based system, you can get twice the performance, more features,
and you will have an upgradeable computer that will serve you well
for another 3 years.
If you choose the $700 Celeron system to save a few bucks, keep in
mind that in a year or two you will probably want to replace it.
About Windows XP. It has been a little over 5
months since Windows XP began to be bundled with new computers. Windows
XP became available for separate purchase on October 25th. For more
information on Windows XP see our Windows
XP Upgrade Guide.
Internet Rebates. Most stores are no longer
advertising 3 year Internet rebates. Check with your local store before
you buy. Please see our article, What
You Need to Know About Internet Rebates and Free PCs, for an in-depth
discussion of Internet Rebates.
Definitions. A desktop system/package is defined
as a computer with monitor and printer or scanner.
A build-to-order system is customized at the retailer
and then ordered from a vendor's store. In addition to the computer's
stated price, you still pay sales tax and shipping charges (if you
order direct from the vendor without going through the chain store,
you may not have to pay sales tax and you could get a better warranty).
Caution about advertised prices.
When reading advertisements, read the fine print of the ad to make
sure you know what is being advertised and what it cost. For example,
many advertisers will show a complete system with computer, monitor,
and printer but advertise a price for the computer only.
* Prices discussed in this article. We report prices after
rebates and discounts are subtracted.
|
Best Deals this Sunday
|
|
Category
|
Product Description
|
Price* (see above)
|
Store
|
|
Best Celeron Deal
|
HP 1.1 GHz complete system
|
$599
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Low-cost Pentium 4
|
HP 1.6 GHz complete system
|
$889
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best High-end Pentium 4 System
|
HP 2.2 GHz system with 17" monitor
|
$1699
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Low-cost Athlon XP System
|
Compaq 1600+ complete system
|
$1079
|
Office Depot
|
|
Best High-end Athlon XP System
|
Compaq 2000+ with 17" monitor (build-to-order)
|
$1455
|
Office Depot
|
|
Best Low-cost Notebook
|
Toshiba 1.1 GHz Celeron with DVD
|
$999
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best High-end Notebook
|
Compaq AMD 1600+ GHz Athlon 4 with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1399
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best High-end Notebook
|
Sony Pentium 4 1.6 GHz with DVD/CD-RW
|
$2199
|
CompUSA
|
Additional Information. For additional technical
information, advice on how to buy a laptop or desktop, and vendor
and manufacturer links, please see our Computer
Buying Advice page.
About Sunday Shopping Watch. Sunday Shopping Watch appears
every Sunday (except some holidays like Easter and Christmas) in our
News and Rumors column. It is a review of local (Dayton, Ohio) computer
chain store advertisements. While we can not guarantee your local
chain store has the same items, this article should help you make
informed buying decisions.
Apr 5 - TDK Introduces 40X CD-RW Drive.
Today, TDK sets a blazing new pace in CD recording with the introduction
of its high-speed 40x veloCD (AI-401248) CD ReWritable Drive - the
industry's fastest recordable CD drive.
The TDK 40X veloCD burner is an internal ATAPI/E-IDE drive offering
the ultimate in recording, rewriting, and rip speed performance. With
40x audio and data write, 12x rewrite and 48x data read speeds, the
new veloCD is capable of burning an entire CD's worth of music in
approximately three minutes.
Equally important for today's music-passionate computer user, the
new veloCD is capable of ripping CD audio tracks at 48x (5 seconds
for a standard audio track) with bit-perfect musical accuracy. And
like all TDK veloCD burners, the 40x unit features Buffer Underrun
Protection, which eliminates buffer underrun errors for perfect recordings
every time--even during multitasking operations.
TDK Product Manager Randall Rosenbaum commented on the introduction
of TDK's 40x veloCD drive: "When TDK introduced our first veloCD
in 1999, we announced our intention to lead the industry in recordable
CD and all digital recording technologies. We have since followed
through on this commitment with a full line of unique, state-of-the-art
recording products, including both hardware and software."
"Our new 40x veloCD drive reaffirms our leadership role, and
provides consumers with the ultimate CD recording solution. Thanks
to its advanced high-speed recording capabilities and cutting-edge
software, users now have more flexibility than ever before, with the
proven reliability and performance of TDK veloCD."
The new TDK veloCD (Model: AI-401248) CD-ReWriter's estimated street
price is $149. For more information, visit www.tdk.com.
Apr 5 - Sony Develops First Megapixel
Three-CCD Mini DV Camcorder. In a move bound to make demanding
video buffs take a second look, Sony today announced the DCR-TRV950
Mini DV Handycam(R) camcorder, the industry's first three-CCD (charge-coupled
device) camcorder to include one million pixels per CCD imager for
high quality video recordings.
Designed for the "prosumer," the DCR-TRV950 uses Sony's
Advanced HAD(TM) three-CCD system to create professional-quality video
with unbeatable color clarity, detail and performance. Compared to
a single CCD imager found on most consumer camcorder models, a three-CCD
system, like the one with the DCR-TRV950 captures much more precise
results. Each of the megapixel CCD imagers are dedicated to a primary
color and separate the light that passes through the lens into individual
color components for noticeably sharper images and colors.
For more true-to-life results in darker settings, the three-CCD imagers
of the DCR-TRV950 use Advanced HAD technology, which allows more light
to reach the imager in order to reduce common video noise that would
otherwise affect video quality.
"In the TRV950, we've made a camcorder for the person who knows
their way around consumer video, but who craves a professional level
of quality," said Steve Haber, senior vice president of the Digital
Imaging Products Division at Sony Electronics. "While not a professional
camcorder, it produces results that are of a quality to be used by
consumers who want to take their video footage to the next level."
The 2-pound, 2-ounce three-CCD camcorder will be available in June
for about $2,500. For additional information about Sony products,
visit Sony's Web site at: www.sony.com/di.
Apr 5 - Other World Computing Introduces
160GB External FireWire Drive. Other World Computing (OWC), a
leading provider of products and services for the Macintosh marketplace,
Thursday introduced a new 160GB OWC Mercury external FireWire drive
that spins at 5400 RPMs and uses an Oxford911 chipset.
The company also announced that it has lowered its prices on all
OWC Mercury-brand external FireWire storage drives. Pricing for OWC
Mercury drives ranges from $149.95 for a 20GB 5400 RPM drive to $519.97
for a Mercury On-The-Go 2.5-inch portable drive, with the new 160GB
FireWire drive priced at $379.95.
OWC Mercury storage devices provide a fast and convenient way to
add significant plug-and-play storage to personal computers and notebooks.
OWC's FireWire drives feature transfer rates as high as 400 Mbps and
weigh as little as 11 ounces.
The drives are compatible with Macintosh- and Windows-based systems,
and feature the fastest Oxford911 bridgeboard technology available.
"OWC Mercury storage drives are specifically designed to provide
extra storage capacity at high transfer rates using the latest FireWire
technology," said Larry O'Connor, founder and president of OWC.
"The OWC Mercury 160GB 5400 RPM drive is one of the largest external
drives available, and at under $380, is one of the least expensive
as well."
Other World Computing can be found on the Web at www.macsales.com.
Apr 5 - Samsung Introduces Digital Network
Refrigerator. Samsung, one of the world's top refrigerator manufacturers
and a digital convergence leader, brings the power of convergence
to the kitchen with the introduction of the revolutionary Digital
Network Refrigerator, the SR-S75F.
A complete entertainment and information center, Samsung's intelligent
new side-by-side refrigerator features a 15.1" detachable LCD
screen/TV and Internet connectivity to keep today's kitchen connected
as never before. This cutting-edge marvel is also a state-of-the art,
27.0 cubic feet refrigerator that utilizes Samsung's patented Twin
Cooling System and Super Air Flow technologies along with intelligent
management control to ensure fresher and healthier storage of food
and beverages.
The SR-S75F offers an endless array of the latest communication,
entertainment and information features. It offers all the functions
of the Internet - such as e-mail, information surfing and online shopping
-- without the need for a PC. A special Messenger Function organizes
communication between family members with options for text, voice
or even video memos.
TV lovers can enjoy their favorite shows or news programs via the
big, bright built-in Samsung 15.1" LCD screen. External inputs
also allow hook up and enjoyment of a DVD Player or VCR for a complete
suite of viewing options. Samsung's Digital Network Side-By-Side refrigerator
puts a high-tech spin on the time-honored tradition of pasting family
photos to the fridge with a built-in digital photo album that stores
and shares memorable moments at the touch of a button. Favorite photos
can be sent over the Internet or even programmed as screen savers.
The SR-S75F's Information Center helps organize and control everything
from favorite menus to all refrigerator functions, to scheduling of
important dates. The Cook Helper offers special menus for great meals
and an advanced cook timing system. The Refrigerator Manger checks
and maintains key operating functions for optimum performance such
as temperature control, water filter indicator and other detailed
info. A food storage director even lets you know exactly what is in
the fridge! The built-in Schedule Manager helps keep everyone organized
via an alarm system reminder of important dates.
Samsung's SR-S75F Digital Network side-by-side refrigerator features
Samsung's latest technology, including the Twin Cooling system for
independent control of the refrigerator and freezer via dual evaporators
and fans. The system maintains optimum humidity, temperature and quick
cooling performance, and eliminates any mixing of odors between the
fridge and freezer. For consistent and optimum cooling throughout,
Super X-Flow sensors change air direction for quick cooling whenever
warmer areas are detected and Dynamic Multi Air Flow distributes cool
air with multiple outlets on every shelf.
Samsung's Digital Network Refrigerator will be available later this
year in a variety of sophisticated finishes. Pricing was not announced.
Visit www.samsungusa.com for more
information.
Apr 5 - JVC Revolutionizes Digital Cinematography
With Photon Vision Systems Image Sensor. Photon Vision Systems,
Inc. (PVS(R)), an industry leader in designing and delivering low
cost, high quality imaging sensors, supporting electronics and imaging
solutions to customers worldwide, today announced the integration
of its CMOS 8.3 million pixel QuadHDTV(TM) imaging sensor into JVC's
Ultra High Definition TV(TM) (UDTV) color camera.
This camera utilizes three of PVS's QuadHDTV(TM) sensors to deliver
25 million pixels and operates at 30 full frames per second (progressive
or interlaced, selectable). The resolution of PVS's QuadHDTV(TM) sensor
is four times that of High Definition Television (HDTV), with a resolution
of 3840 x 2160 pixels.
PVS's QuadHDTV(TM) sensor brings new levels of resolution and speed,
as well as quality, versatility and convenience to applications such
as digital cinematography, studio broadcasting, demanding security
and biometrics, scientific analysis, industrial quality inspection,
and others.
"We chose PVS's CMOS 8.3 million pixel QuadHDTV(TM) sensor to
bring its unique imaging capabilities to our Ultra High Definition
TV (UDTV) camera now under development because of PVS's notable technology
and quantifiable competitive advantages," said Clark Yoshida,
President, JVC Laboratory of America.
"Of all the available sensor technologies, PVS's proved superior
and helps to ensure that we continue to deliver the latest innovations
in presentation, broadcast, and professional equipment."
Within digital cinematography, high-resolution digital technology
is replacing film as the medium for motion pictures. Movies can now
be shot digitally for the big screen, digitally post- processed, and
even screened digitally. Digital movies do not degrade like film,
so the 1,000th viewing will be as crisp and clean as the first.
Digital moviemaking dramatically lowers production and distribution
costs and speeds up post-production work. As an added benefit, digital
movie cameras are lighter, more mobile and allow a higher frame rate,
eliminating the familiar flicker at the movie theaters.
Prior to the introduction of QuadHDTV(TM), moviemakers and studios
had to take a step backwards in resolution when choosing to transition
from conventional film to the more flexible digital cameras. First
generation digital movies are currently being captured with a resolution
of only 1280 x 1024 pixels, enough for viewing on a computer monitor,
but clearly deficient when displayed on the big screen or home theatre
system.
Television is another medium that benefits from QuadHDTV(TM) technology.
In a broadcast of a soccer game, for example, the entire field can
be shot digitally in real time with the QuadHDTV(TM) sensor. Any action,
no matter where it occurred on the field, can be recorded and played
back in "instant zoom replay." This feature adds tremendous
flexibility to the broadcast of the game, and, as an added benefit
for producers, the QuadHDTV(TM) captures all of the action using fewer
cameras than traditional filming methods.
Another exciting feature for television spectators is QuadHDTV(TM)'s
ability to provide extreme "zoom" close-ups of the players
and action on any part of the field. This is possible because the
QuadHDTV(TM) sensor has 32 times the resolution of standard television.
From the comfort of their own homes, sports fans can now view the
entire field of play, and recall instant replays and "zoom"
close-ups in high definition clarity. An improvement over being present
at a live game, the viewer can see more of the field, in greater detail
than they could see from the stands.
Additional information on PVS and its products is available through
the PVS Web site www.photon-vision.com.
Apr 5 - ADS Technologies Announces DVD
Authoring Kit. ADS Technologies, a leader in consumer video editing
solutions, today announced its latest digital video solution boasting
professional DVD-authoring capabilities, PYRO(R) ProDVD.
As the prices of DVD recordable drives and DVD media have dropped,
the popularity of DVD as a means of sharing and distributing video
has soared. To meet the demands of this ongoing trend, PYRO ProDVD
offers a professional DV-to-DVD solution including many features only
available in other systems priced at $1000 or more.
Featuring ADS Technologies' PYRO IEEE 1394/FireWire card and cable
for digital video capture, PYRO ProDVD also includes powerful, professional
DVD authoring software, Ulead DVD Workshop, as well as Ulead Media
Studio Director's Cut for video editing. With such dynamic and leading-edge
technological tools at a suggested retail price of $299, this complete
DV-to-DVD solution will benefit both professional videographers and
hobbyists alike.
"Creating videos on DVD is a several-step process," said
Mike McCoy. "First, the video must be transferred from the DV
camcorder, edited on the PC then converted to MPEG-2. The finished
production is authored with DVD menus and chapters then output to
disc. PYRO ProDVD is designed as an all-in-one solution with the most
advanced and flexible DVD-authoring features available, such as real
time DV-to-MPEG-2 encoding, motion menus and selectable chapter point
thumbnails."
For more information, visit www.adstech.com.
Apr 4 - Dell Reaffirms First-Quarter Earnings
Forecast. More and more customers, including purchasers of server
and storage systems, are choosing Dell (Nasdaq:DELL) for computing
products and services.
Customers are increasingly responding to direct, one-to-one relationships
and the value from leading efficiency and quality.
Those will be primary messages to investors, analysts and reporters
Thursday at Dell's spring analyst meeting here. Meeting remarks start
at 8:30 a.m. (ET) and will be accessible through a "live"
audio Webcast, with supporting material, at www.dell.com/investor/.
Dell will reiterate its earnings guidance of 16 cents per share for
the fiscal first quarter, which ends May 3. Dell said in mid-February
that Q1 unit volumes and revenue could be down 3 to 5 percent sequentially.
The company now believes revenue might be down only about 2 percent,
reaching about $7.9 billion.
Kevin Rollins, Dell's president and chief operating officer, said
the company is using broad, fundamental operating advantages to profitably
win and deliver value to customers in the midst of industry softness
and change.
"Component costs fell at an unprecedented rate last year, and
we gained significant new business from passing those declines to
customers more rapidly than anyone," said Mr. Rollins. "Supply
costs have flattened somewhat, but our competitive advantage has not.
"We've stepped up our pursuit of internal cost reductions through
still-higher levels of quality and efficiency. The total opportunity
to lower costs -- in areas such as product design, warranty expenses,
manufacturing and call-center management -- is even greater this year
than last."
Information on Dell and its products can be obtained at www.dell.com.
Apr 4 - Micro Solutions Announces Mini
USB 2.0 CD-Rewriter. Micro Solutions, Inc., the industry leader
in parallel-port-attach mass storage technology, has started shipping
a USB 2.0 cd-rewriter ideal for road warriors and other mobile users
- the backpack bantam USB 2.0 triple play cd-rewriter.
This 16x10x24x drive includes Hi-Speed USB 2.0, parallel and PC Card
connection options conveniently in one box and is a simple and practical
way to add CD-R and CD-RW capabilities to a laptop or desktop computer.
It also comes with SpeedyCD disc creation software developed by Micro
Solutions for optimal performance with its backpack cd-rewriters.
Extremely Portable Drive
With a weight of only 20 ounces and dimensions of 1 inch (h) by 6
inches (w) by 8.5 inches (l), the backpack bantam triple play USB
2.0 cd-rewriter gives road warriors and other mobile users extremely
portable, Hi-Speed CD-RW capability. The drive, which is small enough
to fit in the palm of a hand, can be easily packed with a notebook
or carried between home and work. "The bantam triple play is
a true slim CD-RW. At only 1 inch thick and weighing in at 20 ounces,
the bantam is the perfect traveler to fit in a briefcase or carry-on
luggage," said Pat Barron, vice president of sales at Micro Solutions.
Exclusive Advantages
The backpack bantam triple play USB 2.0 cd-rewriter offers exclusive
advantages over other manufacturers' external CD-RWs. With its Hi-Speed
USB 2.0, parallel and PC Card connection options standard, it is the
only mini drive that works out-of-box with all Pentium-based notebook
and desktop PCs.
It also is the only drive that provides a complete, hassle-free solution
for users to attain the maximum write speeds available in a drive
this small on both their notebook and desktop PCs.
The backpack bantam USB 2.0 triple play cd-rewriter (model number
186100) has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $249.
Shipping now, the drive is sold at major retail outlets, through mail-order
catalogs and Web sites, and through distribution. Visit the company's
Web site at www.micro-solutions.com.
Apr 4 - Worldwide PDA Shipments May Increase
18 Percent in 2002. After several years of rapid growth, the worldwide
PDA market slowed considerably in 2001 and this more moderate level
of growth is expected to continue in 2002, according to Dataquest
Inc., a unit of Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT and ITB).
Gartner Dataquest projects 15.5 million PDAs will be shipped in 2002,
an 18 percent increase from 2001 shipments of 13 million units. In
2001, the industry experienced a similar growth rate of 18.3 percent.
This was considerably below 2000 shipment growth of 114 percent.
Vendor inventories were at reasonable levels entering 2002 and Gartner
Dataquest expects the first half of the year to continue to be impacted
by the continuing economic slump. The PDA market is expected to regain
some of its strength in the second half of 2002 and growth will be
even stronger in 2003 as the economy recovers and business purchases
increase.
"Roughly three-fourths of all PDAs purchased worldwide in 2001
were sold to individuals who bought them with their own funds, and
the remainder were purchased or reimbursed by enterprises," said
Todd Kort, principal analyst for Gartner Dataquest's Computing Platforms
Worldwide group.
"The increasing capabilities of these devices and the growing
availability of wireless technologies are beginning to stimulate large
corporate purchases as solid productivity gains are realized, based
on applications such as wireless e-mail or accessing corporate databases
from remote locations."
The market continues to shift toward devices with color displays,
more powerful processors, and more storage capacity, and Gartner Dataquest
forecasts end-user spending to increase more than 20 percent in 2002,
to $4.6 billion, up from $3.8 billion in 2001. In addition, wireless
technologies such as Bluetooth, WLAN, and WAN are either being built-in
or added-on to an increasing proportion of handheld computers.
Competition within the PDA industry will intensify in the second
half of 2002 as Palm OS 5 licensees migrate their product lines to
more powerful ARM-based processors to create more head-to-head battles
with Microsoft Pocket PC licensees.
"Palm OS licensees appear to have the greatest upside potential
in the second half of 2002," said Kort. "Many of the more
than 14 million current Palm OS users may be enticed to upgrade to
new devices following the launch of Palm OS 5 if the launch is well
executed and the new OS and associated devices deliver sufficiently
enhanced functionality." Gartner Dataquest expects that the smaller
enterprise PDA market will continue to favor PocketPC devices, but
OS 5 should help Palm, Inc. become more competitive in this arena.
"At the same time, the build-out of packet-switched data networks
such as GPRS and CDMA 1x will focus attention on wireless data devices
and the growing competition between PDAs and smartphones," Kort
said. "However, smartphones probably will not overtake PDA shipments
until late 2002 or early 2003. We expect 2003 to be a strong year
for growth in the PDA market, but from 2004 onward, sales of PDAs
will be increasingly impacted by competition from smartphones."
The growing number of PDA vendors and a wider variety of handheld
devices will stimulate demand. Considerable erosion of prices, particularly
at the high end of the market will occur if Japanese vendors take
advantage of the weak yen to exert downward pressure on prices, further
stimulating demand.
Gartner Dataquest can be accessed on the Internet at www.gartner.com.
Apr 4 - Subscription-Based Video-On-Demand
Generating 10 Times The Usage Of Pay-Per-View. The upcoming Kagan
VOD (Video on Demand) Summit; April 17-18 at the Helmsley Park Lane
Hotel in New York City, will bring together over 35 leading industry
executives from the programming, technology and distributor sectors
to explore the key issues confronting the on-demand future and to
decode the economic models which underpin them.
Foremost on the agenda will be Subscription-based Video-On-Demand
(SVOD).
SVOD has become one of the hottest new programming concepts in television
and is generating in excess of 10 times the usage of traditional pay-per-view
offerings. Not only are premium and basic cable networks transitioning
some programming to SVOD, entirely new "virtual channels",
which exist solely on cable headend servers, are being launched.
In general, on-demand delivery of audio and video--whether by cable,
satellite or broadband connection--is at the core of the most fundamental
revolution in the history of entertainment and information programming.
A host of services, ranging from SVOD to movie downloads to hard disk
drives imbedded into home servers and digital set top boxes (popularly
known as PVRs and DVRs) are challenging everything from the way viewers
interact with commercials to program length to prime time scheduling.
For more VOD Summit information visit www.kagan.com.
Apr 4 - WLAN Chip Usage Predicted to Remain
Strong. Despite a slow economy, wireless LAN (WLAN) chips were
a bright spot in an otherwise dismal 2001 worldwide chip market, according
to In-Stat/MDR (www.instat.com).
The high-tech market research firm reports that the number of WLAN
chips sold worldwide in 2001 managed to top 8 million chipsets, up
more than 23 percent from 2000. Early indications illustrate that
device sales, and resulting chipset demand, are already up sharply
this year when compared with the end of 2001.
2002 chipset units are forecast to exceed 14 million units, an increase
of 75 percent from last year's depressed numbers.
"The incredible journey for WLAN chips is just beginning,"
said Allen Nogee, a senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR. "For many
years, the use of WLANs has been limited to a very few specialized
vertical applications. However, as new standards like 802.11a and
802.11g are introduced into both the home and the enterprise, the
market will move in a new direction, gaining even greater momentum."
While the enterprise will account for the largest consumption of
wireless LAN chipsets in 2002, it's the home market that will experience
the largest growth rate. Not only are home users adopting WLAN devices
for their conventional computer connectivity needs, but other residential
uses for WLAN chips, such as wireless video pads, are starting to
become popular, especially in Asia.
In-Stat/MDR also found that:
-- Despite an increase in units shipped in 2001, chipset revenue
decreased 4 percent from the previous year, to $216.9 million,
as a direct result of rapidly eroding WLAN chipset prices.
However, WLAN chipset revenue is expected to increase to
$324.5 million in 2002, an almost 50 percent increase from the
year earlier.
-- Currently in the enterprise, as in the home market, 802.11b
accounts for almost all the WLAN chipsets sold to date.
However, this will be changing very quickly. The enterprise
has anxiously awaited a faster technology to become available,
and that is currently happening in the form of 802.11a and
802.11g. Both standards offer data rates up to 54 Mbps, but
actual throughput is likely to be approximately half of that.
-- Over 13 million 802.11a chipsets will be sold into the home
market in 2006.
Apr 3 - Intel Introduces 2.4 GHz Pentium
4 Processor. Intel today introduced the Pentium(R) 4 processor
at 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) -- or 2.4 billion cycles per second. Intel
is now producing Pentium 4 processors using new smaller circuits and
large 300mm wafers.
The Pentium 4 processor is the world's highest performance desktop
processor and the highest-volume shipping microprocessor in the world.
Intel now ships well over 10 times the number of Pentium 4 processors
compared to its first full quarter of Pentium 4 processor production
in the first quarter of 2001.
"The leadership performance and higher density of the 2.4 GHz
Pentium 4 processor are the results of continuous improvements in
design and process technology," said Sunlin Chou, senior vice
president and general manager, Technology and Manufacturing Group.
"We have enhanced our 0.13-micron process with faster transistors,
smaller feature sizes, and 300mm manufacturing efficiencies, while
we continue to ramp up production in multiple factories. This is part
of our ongoing effort to deliver the best computing capabilities to
our customers in volume."
The Pentium 4 processor is built on Intel's industry-leading 0.13-micron
process technology, which has the fastest and smallest CMOS transistors
available in high-volume production. Intel is also now building the
Pentium 4 processor on 300mm wafers. After further optimizing the
manufacturing process, Intel has begun production of Pentium 4 processors
with 10 percent smaller die area. The combination of larger wafers
and smaller die size will lower manufacturing cost and raise output.
Intel has five fabrication facilities in 0.13-micron production now,
four running 200mm wafers and one running 300mm wafers. With improved
0.13-micron technology and 300mm wafers, Intel can provide more than
five times the amount of product on a single wafer compared to that
of the initial Pentium 4 processor that was shipped in November 2000.
Each Pentium 4 processor chip has 512K of performance-enhancing level-two
cache, 55 million transistors, and advanced (SSE2) multimedia instructions.
This processor contains the fastest and smallest (60 nanometers) CMOS
transistors in mass production. This leadership in manufacturing technology
results in desktop microprocessors with the highest clock rates and
performance in the industry. Intel's design and manufacturing improvements
will help the company as it seeks to meet its target of shipping Pentium
4 processors at 3 GHz by year's end.
Performance, Pricing and Availability
The Pentium 4 processor at 2.40 GHz delivers the world's highest
Windows desktop processor performance as measured by SPEC CPU 2000
with a SPECint_base2000 score of 819 and a SPECfp_base2000 score of
806.
The Pentium 4 processor at 2.4 GHz, with 512KB level-two cache, is
available now and priced at $562 in 1,000-unit quantities. Intel is
also shipping boxed Intel Pentium 4 processors up to 2.4 GHz to Intel
authorized distributors for system integrators worldwide. Additional
information about Intel is available at www.intel.com.
Apr 3 - DIRECTV Broadband and Texas Instruments
Collaborate to Deploy DIRECTV DSL. DIRECTV Broadband, Inc. and
Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE:TXN) today announced they
are working together to deploy voice-enabled DIRECTV DSL(TM) gateways
to DIRECTV Broadband's residential DSL customers. Deployment of the
gateways, which will begin in late 2002, provide DIRECTV Broadband
with the ability to launch Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services
to its customers. DIRECTV Broadband is a nationwide provider of integrated
broadband services and is a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation
(NYSE:GMH).
DIRECTV Broadband is working with TI to integrate TI's AR5V10 DSL
gateway solution into a complete third generation DIRECTV DSL(TM)
gateway for consumer deployment throughout the United States. TI technology
will provide the data routing, support for two digital voice lines
and home networking interfaces -- enabling DIRECTV Broadband to offer
subscribers the delivery of voice and DSL services through the DIRECTV
Broadband residential gateway. (For more information on TI's AR5V10
visit www.ti.com/sc/dslgateway.)
The gateways will also be equipped with home networking technology
to allow the sharing of broadband content and services throughout
the home.
"DIRECTV Broadband has built a foundation of enabling our customers
to take advantage of innovative solutions without an additional investment
in extra hardware or technician visits," said Ned Hayes, president
and CEO of DIRECTV Broadband. "The ability to offer convenient
and high-quality voice services utilizing a broadband connection will
be a turning point for the DSL industry. By incorporating the voice
service feature provided by Texas Instruments, we will soon be ready
to launch a Voice over IP solution that our subscribers can use with
a regular telephone. Our work to be one of the first providers to
offer such a service is exciting for our company and our customers."
"The future of DSL is the addition of value-added services,
such as voice, to the data network to which we are accustomed. By
working with DIRECTV Broadband, we are enabling the next generation
of DSL equipment and deployments to deliver voice and data over DSL
with home networking to consumers," said Joseph Crupi, vice president
of TI's Broadband Communications Group. "Providing customers
with affordable, integrated voice and data solutions for their next-generation
DSL products is enabled by TI's silicon and software portfolio and
the system-level knowledge and support required to get their products
to market quickly."
"Voice over Broadband can offer providers a means of expanding
their service portfolios and increasing revenues," said Pat Hurley,
DSL analyst with TeleChoice, Inc. "While Voice over Broadband
has been deployed as a business service, deployments to residential
customers have been limited due to the lack of customer self-installable
equipment. The service enabled by DIRECTV Broadband and TI, which
can be installed by the user without the need to bring technicians
into the home, is on the cutting edge, and should be well received
by customers looking for additional phone lines for home offices,
teen lines and other uses."
DIRECTV Broadband can be found online at http://www.ti.com/sc/broadband.
Apr 3 -U.S. Cable TV Operators Continue
to Jump on the Digital Bandwagon. Faced with stiff competition
from Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) pay-TV services, the cable television
industry is fighting back by focusing on its ability to deliver a
"package" of digital services, to include digital video
service, cable modem service, and even cable telephony service.
In order to provide these digital services, U.S. cable TV operators
have spent over $30 billion in the past two years to upgrade their
hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) network infrastructure.
According to In-Stat/MDR (http://www.instat.com),
while some leading cable multiple systems operators (MSOs) have succeeded
in upgrading the majority of their cable systems, cable industry capital
expenditures are still forecasted to exceed $15 billion in 2002.
"Although the cable industry has never been known for rapid
innovation or for embracing cutting-edge technologies, it has done
an admirable job of provisioning digital cable services to households
across the country," said Mike Paxton, a senior analyst with
the high-tech market research firm.
Based on data from In-Stat/MDR's annual U.S. cable operator survey,
some areas of growth, particularly digital cable TV services and cable
modem services, have been extremely strong.
In-Stat/MDR has also found that:
-- The past year has seen significant growth in the number of 6
MHz channels available on cable TV systems. In early 2001,
less than one-third of all U.S. cable systems offered more
than 70 channels. By February 2002, the number had almost
doubled.
-- Most cable operators are using these additional channels to
introduce new analog and digital video services, with a
secondary priority of broadening their cable modem service
capacity.
-- Even as digital cable services become more widely available,
there is still plenty of room for U.S. digital cable service
subscriber growth. The survey highlights that the current
median penetration rate for digital cable service subscribers
(voice, video, and/or data) is only around one-quarter of all
cable TV system subscribers.
Apr 3 - Epson Lowers Prices on Stylus
Photo 785epx and PhotoPC 3100z. Epson America Inc. announced today
that it has reduced the price of two of its award-winning products:
the EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX ink jet printer and the EPSON PhotoPC®
3100Z digital camera. These products were Epson's first to offer PRINT
Image Matching technology, which is a breakthrough technology that
helps photographers easily produce the best possible prints by ensuring
that digital cameras and printers work perfectly together.
The EPSON Stylus Photo 785EPX was developed for digital camera owners
and delivers convenient photo printing with and without a computer,
as well as compatibility with popular digital camera memory cards
and Epson's patented BorderFree™ photo printing. This printer
is now available for an estimated street price of $199, a reduction
of $50 from its original price.
The EPSON PhotoPC 3100Z is a compact, three megapixel digital camera
that offers several advanced features, as well as easy-to-use print
tools that bridge gap between digital capture and digital output.
With the new price reduction, this camera carries an estimated street
price of $599, which is a $200 reduction.
"Epson has built a solid reputation with photographers of all
levels by providing digital photography products that offer superior
technology, convenience and ease of use," said Lisa Graham, product
manager, photo imaging, Epson. "With these price reductions,
we are able to offer an even greater value without compromising the
level of quality our customers have come to expect."
More information about Epson and its products is at www.epson.com.
Apr 2 - IBM, Sony, SCE and Toshiba to
Jointly Develop Chip-Making Technology. In a unique collaboration,
IBM, Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Toshiba
Corporation have signed a multi-year agreement to jointly develop
advanced semiconductor technologies based on silicon-on-insulator
(SOI) and other IBM materials advances.
This will lead to the development of high-performance, low-power chips
necessary for a wide range of future electronic products - - from
digital consumer applications to supercomputers.
The team will spend several hundred million dollars over four years
to develop new process technologies for building chips with features
as small as 50 nanometers on 300 mm wafers. Smaller features mean
more can be packed on a single chip. The parties plan to use this
technology to create system-on-chip (SoC) designs, integrating processor,
memory and communications functions, which normally are found on separate
chips within a device.
The new processes are expected to be the world's most sophisticated,
incorporating advanced chip-making materials pioneered by IBM, such
as copper wiring, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistors and "low-k"
insulation. The use of new designs and materials will be guided by
the applications requirements of Sony, one of the world's largest
consumers of semiconductors. Toshiba will contribute its high-volume
manufacturing capability and SoC technology expertise to meet targeted
performance and quality levels.
"The PC is no longer the driving force in semiconductor innovation,"
said John Kelly, senior vice president and group executive for the
IBM Technology Group. "Networking and consumer electronics applications
are driving the evolution of a new semiconductor industry -- one based
on closer collaboration with customers. This alliance is powerful
because of the talents and technologies involved; it is unique in
the depth to which the customer is involved, not just in the design
of chips for their products, but in the very way they are manufactured."
"Having IBM and Toshiba's technologies with Sony's vast experience
and knowledge of the consumer market, truly makes this alliance a
winning combination," said Ken Kutaragi, president and CEO, Sony
Computer Entertainment and director, Sony Corporation. "Incorporation
of these cutting-edge process technologies into various audio, visual
and IT products as well as to the computer entertainment system, is
expected to bring even higher competitive power to the entire Sony
Group."
"Technologies like SOI are essential for high-end and low-power
SoC," said Takeshi Nakagawa, corporate senior vice president
of Toshiba Corporation and president of Toshiba's Semiconductor Company.
"We expect collaboration on SOI process technology to advance
joint-development of the next generation broadband processor, and
to provide a strong underpinning to our development of leading-edge
products. We will apply SOI process technology to broadband processor-based
LSI for such applications as a high-speed home gateway and future
low-power mobile products."
In a separate agreement, IBM will transfer the latest SOI technologies
to Sony and Toshiba. The development work will be conducted by a team
of scientists and engineers from all parties at the IBM Semiconductor
Research and Development Center (SRDC) in East Fishkill, N.Y. Each
party then will have the ability to build the advanced chips in its
own manufacturing facilities, products and applications, and for its
own semiconductor business customers. A significant portion of IBM's
soon-to-be-completed, 300 mm wafer manufacturing facility in East
Fishkill will be dedicated to these new processes.
The new alliance framework enhances Sony and IBM's existing collaborative
structure by adding the strengths of Toshiba's versatile manufacturing
expertise, as the second largest in the semiconductor industry. Integration
of the strengths of the parties will facilitate achievement of advanced
process technologies for a broad range of products and applications.
More information about the companies can be found at: www.chips.ibm.com,
www.world.sony.com, and www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.
Apr 2 - Adtron Corp. Announces SCSI PC
Card Drive. Adtron Corp. now offers a PC Card drive as a replacement
for the popular and recently discontinued Iomega(R) Jaz(R) Drive.
The versatile Adtron SCSI connected PC Card drives use hot swappable
flash or disk PC Card media offering the same SCSI read/write removable
media functionality as the Jaz drive. Internal 3.5-inch floppy drive
bay mounted versions and external desktop versions are available.
Adtron's SCSI PC Card drives operate just like Jaz drives with the
added benefit of a wide selection of PC Card manufacturers, capacities,
performance and prices. Compatible PC Cards include ATA flash cards
up to 2GBytes from SanDisk, Hitachi, SimpleTech and others; and hard
disk cards up to 5GBytes from Toshiba; and IBM microdrives with a
CompactFlash-to-PC Card adapter.
OEM pricing for the internal SCSI PC Card drive (SDDS-03) is $225
and the external drive (ASPC) is $195. Adtron also offers PC Card
drives with VME, cPCI, PCI and serial RS232 interfaces.
You can find more information about Adtron at www.adtron.com.
Apr 2 - GenPhar Announces Novel Vaccines
for HIV and Hepatitis. GenPhar today announced it has developed
a promising genetic vaccine platform that it has adapted to create
vaccines for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Marburg virus and other
agents causing infectious diseases of public health and biodefense
importance.
This versatile platform has been demonstrated to induce potent and
long-lasting humoral and cellular immune responses in mice and monkeys
with a single vaccination. GenPhar has developed partnerships with
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and with the United States
Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
for further testing including additional preclinical trials of new
genetic vaccines developed with this groundbreaking universal vaccine
platform in guinea pigs and monkeys.
Unlike other HIV vaccines currently in testing phases, GenPhar's
multivalent vaccines have demonstrated immunogenicity for different
subtypes and mutations of HIV and hepatitis B. The vaccine for hepatitis
C is currently being tested by GenPhar internally. The NIH has agreed
to fund and perform its own trials for GenPhar's multivalent HIV-1
vaccine in rhesus monkeys. USAMRIID signed a formal collaborative
research and development agreement (CRADA) with GenPhar to procure
and test a multivalent vaccine for Marburg virus in animals. Prior
to securing these partnerships, GenPhar induced a full range of immune
responses in mice and monkeys against viruses that cause immunosuppressive
diseases.
"The prototype products which are being developed based on this
platform are unprecedented," said Dr. John Dong, chief scientific
officer of GenPhar. "GenPhar's vaccine platform is efficient
and versatile. It constitutes a significant enhancement over existing
vaccine technologies. The science underlying the vaccines makes it
highly likely that results in mice and rhesus monkeys will be replicated
in humans. We also believe that these vaccines will prove to have
important therapeutic properties."
The vaccine platform was developed upon novel scientific concepts
that resulted from years of innovative laboratory research by members
of the GenPhar scientific team. The scientific approach differs substantially
from those that provide the basis for existing vaccines.
GenPhar's vaccines consist of a complex vector system as a "transport
vehicle" that carries genetic fragments of an infectious disease
agent inserted in such a way that allows the vaccine virus to effectively
mimic the disease, which in turn, triggers the body's natural immune
response, but without actually causing the disease. This method allows
vaccines to be created that cause the immune system to generate a
strong, fully natural immune reaction to an infectious disease agent,
and thereby provides natural, lifetime immunity against the targeted
infectious disease agent.
Virtually no immune response is generated against the "transporter"
adenovirus, allowing it to be used as the basis for many different
vaccines. No other vaccine technology demonstrated to date has shown
itself capable of inducing strong natural production of both highly
specific neutralizing antibodies and a potent cytotoxic T-lymphocyte
(CTL) or cellular immune responses.
GenPhar can be found online at www.genphar.com.
Apr 2 - Smarthome Offers Gadgets for Mom
This Mother's Day. For sons, daughters and husbands looking for
an alternative to the usual cards and flowers this Mother's Day, Smarthome
Inc., based in Irvine, today announced its recommendations for gadget
gift ideas for the 21st-century Mom this May 12.
"Traditionally, high-tech gadgets for the home have been Dad's
domain," said Leo Soderman, director of marketing for Smarthome.
"We believe the time has arrived for mothers to get equally innovative
gifts."
The following are available from Smarthome's special Mother's Day
online gift guide.
Auto-Measure Spice Carousel -- Need a quarter-teaspoon of cayenne
pepper? Save Mom valuable counter space with this innovative spice
carousel that doubles as a highly accurate dispensing tool. This fully
stackable unit maximizes storage space by fitting easily in cupboards
or on counters. Measuring spoons and messy pouring is no longer needed.
It can also be mounted under a cabinet or shelf and comes with 50
preprinted spice labels. Price: $29.95
Safety Turtle Wristband -- Ease Mom's mind this summer with this
unique way to protect young children from swimming pool hazards. Adults
are alerted with a loud alarm if a child wearing the wristband falls
into a pool. The wristband is designed to withstand rugged play and
can only be removed with a key. It is easily transportable from residence
to vacation home or campsite. Price: $99.95 (base station), $49.95
(wristband).
Litter-Free Cat Toilet -- Mom will never have to scoop the cat box
again with possibly the most sanitary automated cat box on the market.
The box connects to the laundry room drain pipe, removing waste material
without any intervention. The cleaning cycle washes, flushes, deodorizes
and dries the included cat litter crystals, leaving the cat's litter
box clean, fresh and odor-free. Price: $299.95
Wireless Car Theatre System -- Keep kids entertained -- and Mom
relaxed -- on road trips. This portable video system straps to the
back of a headrest and plugs into the car's cigarette lighter. There's
no built-in wiring, so it can easily be swapped between cars. Watch
any VHS video through the included video cassette player on a 5.6-inch
color LCD screen. Price: $699.95
Mini-Home Security Monitor -- Let Mom know who is at the door from
any room in the house. Compact 1/3-inch black-and-white camera connects
directly to a TV or VCR. Sixty feet of cable is included. The low-profile
design keeps the home from looking like a fortress, and a built-in
microphone lets the user hear as well as see what's going on outside.
Powered by an adapter, it never needs batteries. Price: $69.95
Smarthome's online catalog can be found at www.smarthome.com.
Apr 2 - Prevent Your Phone Service From
Being Switched. Don't be an April fool. Check your phone bill
this month to be sure you haven't been slammed.
Slamming is switching consumers from their preferred long distance
company without their consent. It has become one of the biggest industry
problems plaguing consumers. Janis Burenga, speaking for AT&T,
has more on how to prevent this common phone fraud.
Three ways to avoid being slammed are, read the fine print in any
sweepstakes or drawing entry form before filling it out. By signing
the form, you may unintentionally authorize being switched to another
long-distance company.
Tell telemarketers who contact you about changing your telephone service
that you're not interested. You also have the right to ask that the
telemarketer remove your number from the solicitation lists. Check
your telephone bill each month. Be sure that it displays the name
of your long-distance company to ensure that it hasn't been changed.
Burenga says if you've been slammed, immediately contact your chosen
long distance company and ask to be switched back. Then, contact the
company responsible for the switch and ask them to reimburse you for
any excess charges they've billed you.
Learn more ways to protect yourself by visiting the AT&T website
on slamming at www.att.com/slam.
Apr 1 - HP Board Does Not Nominate Walter
Hewlett as Director Candidate. Hewlett-Packard Company's (NYSE:HWP)
Board of Directors today announced its candidates for nomination to
the HP Board of Directors, which will not include Walter Hewlett.
The board's decision not to nominate Walter Hewlett is based on his
ongoing adversarial relationship with the company, as evidenced by
his recent litigation against HP, as well as concerns about his lack
of candor and issues of trust.
"With the encouragement of our chairman, Carly Fiorina, I met
with Walter Hewlett immediately following the shareowner meeting in
an effort to re-establish a constructive working relationship,"
said Sam Ginn, chairman of the board's nominating and governance committee.
"The nominating committee, the full HP board and an executive
session of independent directors, which included Walter Hewlett, met
on March 27 to continue the discussion. Based on these deliberations
and representations made by Walter Hewlett in these meetings, the
HP Board unanimously determined to re-nominate him.
"My fellow board members and I were therefore shocked when just
hours later Walter Hewlett filed a spurious lawsuit against the company,
continuing his assault on the integrity of the HP Board and management
team. His recent actions have again violated basic principles of trust,
and his ongoing adversarial relationship with the company undermines
the board's ability to effectively conduct business."
"This board has always operated on the important governance principles
of independence, deliberation and respect for a diversity of views,"
said Carly Fiorina, HP chairman and chief executive officer. "The
board recognizes the importance of shareowner voices. We will reach
out to shareowners, including our institutions and foundations, to
determine the best way to assure they continue to be heard."
Commenting on Walter Hewlett's complaint, the board said, "The
allegations that HP bought votes from Deutsche Bank or improperly
coerced it to change its votes are false. In addition, Walter Hewlett's
allegations that HP shareowners were misinformed about integration
are without basis. There is more information about this merger in
full view of shareowners than for any other merger in corporate history."
HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.
Apr 1 - Nextel Expands Java Phone Line
to Include New Rugged Design. Mobile professionals who want to
take their important business Java programs with them, but need a
piece of equipment that can withstand tougher working conditions,
have an answer with the new rugged Java(TM) technology-capable i55sr
handset from Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL) and Motorola
(NYSE:MOT). The Internet-ready Motorola i55sr is pre-loaded with several
Java applications, meets military standards for shock and vibration
resistance, and is Nextel's smallest, fully-featured durable phone.
"Our customers are accustomed to taking their important business
applications with them in their phones, and we are expanding our line
of phones to meet the specific needs of particular customer segments,"
said Blair Kutrow, vice president of product management for Nextel.
"The i55sr handset is for the mobile professional who understands
the power of wireless Internet and Java in a phone, but needs a phone
that will hold up to an outdoor, rougher work environment."
In addition to Nextel's 4-in-1 technology, including digital wireless
cellular service, Nextel Direct Connect(TM) two-way radio service,
wireless Internet service and Nextel Two-Way Messaging(TM), that is
available in all Nextel phones, the i55sr includes:
Advanced phone book - store up to 250 entries, with up to seven different
numbers for a single name.
Datebook - input important appointments into the phone, and it will
alert you when meetings are about to begin. During the meeting, the
phone automatically silences the ringer and sends all calls to voice
mail. After the allotted time, the ringer turns back on.
Menu Customization - set up the main menu to meet your daily needs,
with your most-used features appearing first.
Speakerphone - for hands-free dialing and for impromptu on-site meetings
or conference calls.
VibraCall(R) - silent notification for the noisiest of work environments.
The i55sr also includes a large screen display for easy use, last
20 numbers received/sent list, three-way calling, a two-button keypad
lock to avoid inadvertent dialing of numbers, and Caller ID so you
don't miss important calls.
The 6.5-ounce i55sr is available in gray or yellow and has easy-to-grip
rubber over-molding. It expands Nextel's rugged phone portfolio, which
also includes the r750plus, r750plus FM and the i700plus handsets.
Beginning April 1, the i55sr phone will be offered at a promotional
price of $179.99. It comes with a high performance battery which provides
270 minutes of talktime and 125 hours of standby time, a rapid travel
charger that enables the battery to go from no charge to fully-charged
in just a few hours, a clip-on carrier and a printed User's Guide.
For more information visit www.nextel.com.
Apr 1 - NEC Solutions America Launched Today.
NEC Solutions (America), Inc. today began operations as the newest
addition to the NEC family of companies in North America.
The newly formed company is the result of the combined resources of
NEC Computers Inc., NEC Technologies, Inc. and NEC Systems, Inc. Norio
Tanoue, former president and CEO of NEC Technologies, has been selected
to lead NEC Solutions America as president and CEO.
Chartered with enhancing NEC's solutions business, NEC Solutions America
blends the expertise of each of the companies, which includes hardware
platforms, software development and systems integration. Closer working
relationships between the divisions will ensure that customers' unique
technological needs are satisfied quickly.
Over the next few months, the focus will be on delivering highly specialized
business solutions for commercial customers in specific market segments,
including information security, enterprise mobile computing, high-end
media, business-to-business (B2B) software and systems integration,
and professional services.
"We have already taken the first steps of integrating the operations
and service aspects of the company," said Norio Tanoue, newly
appointed president and CEO of NEC Solutions America. "By NEC
divisions working side by side in the United States, we will now be
able to leverage sales channels, product portfolios, and core technologies."
Apr 1 - SONICblue Expects to Exceed Revenue
Expectations. SONICblue(TM) Incorporated (Nasdaq:SBLU) announced
today that it is experiencing strong demand for its products and expects
to report revenues for the first quarter that are ahead of consensus
expectations of $58 million. The Company has also withdrawn its current
plan to pursue a private equity-financing based on current market
conditions.
"We continue to be encouraged with the demand for our products,"
said Ken Potashner, chairman and CEO, SONICblue. "We are also
optimistic that our newly announced digital audio and video products
will receive similar, positive, customer receptivity."
SONICblue confirmed that it's on track to file audited fiscal year
2001 results this week, as previously planned.
About SONICblue Incorporated (www.SONICblue.com)
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