It was funny though.
techweb.com
Compaq and IBM rolled out low-cost PCs on
Tuesday that won't be wearing the "Intel Inside" label.
Compaq introduced 15 models, with almost half
running on K6 processors made by Advanced Micro
Devices. Compaq also announced its Presario 1200
Series notebook, which costs $1,999 and is based on
the 200-MHz integrated Cyrix processor.
IBM rolled out two Aptiva models that run on IBM
K6 266-MHz and 233-MHz MMX-enhanced
processors.
Staying the course, Hewlett-Packard introduced on
Monday its latest entry in the sub-$1,000 PC market
-- powered, as are 85 percent of the world's
computers, by an Intel chip. The HP Model 3260 uses
a 200-MHz Pentium processor with MMX
technology, at an estimated street price of $799.
The IBM or Compaq brand may sell computers just
as easily as the Intel logo, said John Dunkle, president
of Workgroup Strategic Services, based in
Portsmouth, N.H. So, those companies may not have
to work about using chips that aren't Pentiums, he
said.
"A strong vendor has phenomenal brand equity -- as
much as Intel," he said. "The top-tier companies have
brand equity. They say, 'We are going to sell our
brand. We succeed or fail -- not Intel.' "
But, he added, Hewlett-Packard has had a strong tie
to Intel and takes advantage of that relationship to
pass along price savings quickly when Intel cuts its
prices.
"They are really quick to take price action," Dunkle
said. "Even to the point where you sit around and ask,
'Can they really make money at that price?' " |
