SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : Compaq -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: hlpinout who wrote (88926)1/18/2001 8:10:07 PM
From: hlpinout  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 97611
 
zdnet.com MP2800 Microportable
Projector
If you really need a portable projector, then
the Compaq Microportable Projector
MP2800 may just be the answer to your
prayers. Weighing in at under 3 pounds, the
$4,999 MP2800 still manages to offer bright
images in a tiny package. Throw in manual
zoom and a built-in laser pointer, and you
may have found the perfect traveling
companion.
By M. David Stone, ZDNet Reviews
January 18, 2001

What's surprisingly small, notably lightweight, and sure
to break the association in your mind between "lugging"
and "projector?" The Compaq Microportable Projector
MP2800. Weighing just 3 pounds and measuring 7.1 by
2.7 by 8.7 inches, the MP2800 doesn't weight much
more than a stack of transparencies; yet it projects an
impressively bright image, even in a fully lit room.

The MP28000 is based on Texas Instruments DLP
(Digital Light Processing) technology. DLP projectors
are built around the digital micromirror device (DMD), a
chip with hundreds of thousands of individual mirrors
that reflect red, green, blue and white light to create the
image. More importantly, it's the DLP technology, aided
by such touches as a lightweight magnesium case,
that lets the MP2800 achieve its combination of light
weight and bright image.

The projector's specifications
include 24-bit color, a native
1024 by 768 resolution and
the ability to scale up from
SVGA or a Macintosh at 832
by 624 or scale down from
1280 by 1024. Scaled
images appear remarkably
free of blocky text, with
relatively minor doses of the
artifacts that we expect to
see in scaling. The image,
rated at a hefty 900 lumens,
is bright enough so that a
70-inch image is easily
readable in a fully lit room.

Image quality on our tests,
including the test screens in
Sonera's DisplayMate, range
from acceptable to excellent,
with no flaws worth
mentioning. The 8-watt mono
audio system sounds marginally tinny, with a touch of
overmodulation at peak volume, but is easily loud
enough for a large conference room.

Setup is as easy as it can be. Plug in the power cord
and the cable to your computer's video, optionally plug
in an audio cable and optionally plug in a cable from
one S-Video or composite video source. There is one
important limitation, however: The audio and video
connectors, as well as the speaker, are in a multimedia
unit that plugs into the DVI connector. So if you use a
digital video connection to the PC, you can't have audio
or video.

There are also one or two other small annoyances,
notably the amount of heat and light that spills from the
sides towards the front. These are easily balanced by
such civilized touches as the manual zoom, the padded
case that comes with the unit and the remote control
with a laser pointer built in. All told, the MP2800
deserves a high ranking on your very short list.

Check prices: Compaq MP2800
Check prices: All Presentation Products



To: hlpinout who wrote (88926)1/19/2001 7:19:23 AM
From: hlpinout  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 97611
 
Friday January 19 5:02am

Gartner Dataquest Says Worldwide PC
Market Growth Was Less Than 15
Percent in 2000

BusinessWire


SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2001--Because of
slowed growth during the fourth quarter of 2000, the worldwide
personal computer industry posted moderate gains for the year,
according to preliminary results from Dataquest Inc., a unit of
Gartner Group, Inc. (NYSE: IT and ITB). Worldwide PC shipments totaled
134.7 million units in 2000, an increase of 14.5 percent over 1999
shipments (see Table 1). PC shipments in the United States grew 10.3
percent in 2000.
"The PC industry was hurt by a sluggish 2000 fourth quarter when
worldwide PC shipments increased just 10 percent and U.S. shipments
increased 6.4 percent," said Charles Smulders, principal analyst of
Gartner Dataquest's Computing Platform Worldwide group. "The downturn
in growth is concrete evidence that saturation in key segments is
playing an increasingly important role in overall market growth, with
new shipments unable to mask the effects of economic cycles on
replacement buying.
"The timing of the economic downturn was unfortunate for the
industry in the sense that it coincided with the largest home sales
quarter, a segment that is typically the fastest to respond to
economic uncertainty. However, preliminary estimates also point to a
weak professional market performance as well."

Table 1
Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2000
(Thousands of Units)
-0-
*T

2000 2000 Market 1999 1999 Market
Shipments Share(%) Shipments Share(%) Growth(%)
Company

Compaq 17,203 12.8 15,870 13.5 8.4
Dell 14,536 10.8 11,459 9.7 26.9
Hewlett-Packard 10,237 7.6 7,600 6.5 34.7
IBM 9,162 6.8 9,331 7.9 -1.8
NEC 5,848 4.3 6,045 5.1 3.3
Gateway 5,110 3.8 4,745 4.0 7.7
Others 72,642 53.9 62,577 53.2 16.1
Total Market 134,738 100.0 117,626 100.0 14.5
*T

Note: Data includes desk-based PCs, mobile PCs and PC servers.
Source: Gartner Dataquest (January 2001)

Dell and HP were the only top-tier vendors to experience growth
rates above the industry average both worldwide and in the United
States (see Tables 1 and 2). Some of Dell's success was attributed to
its aggressive pricing strategy during the quarter. Gartner Dataquest
analysts said HP continued to leverage its strong consumer franchise
and solid support of the retail channel.

Table 2
Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2000
(Thousands of Units)
-0-
*T

2000 2000 Market 1999 1999 Market
Company Shipments Share(%) Shipments Share(%) Growth(%)

Dell 9,430 19.1 7,263 16.2 29.8
Compaq 7,615 15.4 7,234 16.1 5.3
Hewlett-Packard 5,641 11.4 3,939 8.8 43.2
Gateway 4,271 8.6 4,021 9.0 6.2
IBM 2,674 5.4 3,290 7.3 -18.7
Others 19,800 40.1 19,065 42.5 17.4
Total Market 49,432 100.0 44,811 100.0 10.3
*T

Note: Data includes desk-based PCs, mobile PCs and PC servers.
Source: Gartner Dataquest (January 2001)

"While lower growth rates during the fourth quarter last year made
for a disappointing quarter for the industry, it does help allay some
of the fears of inventory overhang going into the first quarter of
2001, particularly in the U.S. retail market," Mr. Smulders said.
"This is better news for the industry, both because it suggests that
vendors were able to take some action to stem and reduce the build up
evident in the early part of the quarter, and the anticipated sell off
of excess finished goods' impact on 2001 first quarter shipments
should be less pronounced."
These results are preliminary. Final statistics will be available
soon to clients of Gartner Dataquest's PC Quarterly Statistics
Worldwide by Region program. This program offers a comprehensive and
timely picture of the worldwide PC market, allowing product planning,
distribution, marketing and sales organizations to keep abreast of key
issues and their future implications around the globe. To subscribe to
this program, please call 800-419-DATA, or 408-468-8009.
Gartner Dataquest is the recognized leader in providing the
high-technology and financial communities with market intelligence for
the semiconductor, computer systems and peripherals, communications,
document management, software, and services sectors of the global
information technology industry.
Gartner provides unrivaled thought leadership for more than 10,000
organizations, helping clients achieve their business objectives
through the intelligent and efficient use of technology. Additionally,
Gartner helps technology companies identify and maximize technology
market opportunities. Gartner's technology content and strong brand
reach IT professionals globally through Gartner Research, its research
and advisory unit; Gartner Services, its custom consulting unit;
Gartner Events, including Gartner's renowned Symposia; and, at
www.gartner.com. Gartner subsidiary TechRepublic Inc.
(www.techrepublic.com) is the leading online destination developed
exclusively for IT professionals by IT professionals. Gartner, founded
in 1979 and headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, achieved fiscal
2000 revenue of $859 million. Gartner's 4,600 associates, including
1,400 research analysts and consultants, are in more than 80 locations
worldwide. For more information about Gartner's industry-leading
products and services, please visit us on the Web at www.gartner.com.

Table 1 Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment
Estimates for 2000 (Thousands of Units) -0- *T

Contact:
Gartner Group, Inc.

Tom McCall, 408/468-8312

tom.mccall@gartner.com

²²²²



To: hlpinout who wrote (88926)1/19/2001 7:23:25 AM
From: hlpinout  Respond to of 97611
 
January 19, 2001


Tech Center

Domestic Growth in PC Market
Hits Slowest Rate Seen in 7 Years

By PUI-WING TAM
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

The U.S. personal-computer market experienced its most sluggish
quarterly growth in at least the past seven years, new figures suggest,
walloped by PC saturation and a stock-market downturn.

According to a widely watched report from research firm Gartner
Dataquest, of San Jose, Calif., PC shipments in the U.S. in 2000's fourth
quarter grew by just 6.4%, or 13.2 million units, over the 1999 period, the
worst showing since Gartner started keeping quarterly records in 1993.

Meanwhile, world-wide PC shipments only
rose 10.1%, or 37.9 million units, hampered
particularly by weak buying in the U.S. and
Europe. Gartner had expected world-wide
growth of 17% in the fourth quarter.

"It's a very unusual set of numbers," said
Gartner research fellow Martin Reynolds, an
author of the report. "Growth for PCs was
even slower than we had expected. There is
saturation going on -- everybody already has a
PC."

In addition, the stock-market downturn affected consumer-buying habits,
including PC demand, the report said.

The report is the latest disappointing news to hit the beleaguered computer
industry, which is experiencing maturing growth and suffering the effects of
a market downturn. Last week, Gateway Inc., of San Diego, reported
worse-than-expected fourth-quarter results and announced layoffs. This
week, Apple Computer Inc., of Cupertino, Calif., also missed earnings
expectations.

In the report, Gartner Dataquest noted that the unit growth of different PC
makers in the U.S. was wildly inconsistent compared with previous
quarters. While Dell Computer Corp.'s fourth quarter 2000 growth rose
37.7% and Hewlett-Packard Co.'s growth jumped 20.7%, for example,
other vendors fared far worse. Compaq Computer Corp.'s growth, for
instance, dropped 8.7%, while Gateway fell 7.1% in the fourth quarter.
"This indicates there is a lot of market-share shift going on," said Mr.
Reynolds. "We've seen growth disparities before, but never of this scale."

Mr. Reynolds said the PC cycle was reaching its low after a banner 1999,
when companies and individuals rushed to purchase new PCs to avoid the
year 2000 bug. The surge of buying in late 1999 contributed to a saturation
of PCs. PC penetration of U.S. households exceeds 63%, he added.

Write to Pui-Wing Tam at pui-wing.tam@wsj.com