Compaq unveils new, stylish desktops

Kanchana Suggu in Bombay

Compaq India Private Limited, leading designers, developers and manufacturers of computer hardware, software, solutions and services, launched a sleek new line of Compaq Presario desktops on Tuesday called the Compaq Presario 5000 and 7000 series.

'Add colour to your e-life', is the theme of Compaq's latest offering. Equipped with sizeable hard disk space, multiple expansion slots and multimedia solutions, the Compaq Presario 5000 and 7000 series lifestyle PCs have been designed keeping personalisation, style and an "e-hanced e-life" as key priorities.

"The 90s increasingly saw PCs become an integral part of our work and home lives. Compaq Presario 5000 and 7000 series provides a medium of expression for individual personality, attitude and style," says Balu Doraisamy, managing director, Compaq Computer (India) Private Limited.

Some of the noteworthy features that the Compaq 5000 and 7000 series pack are:

• Interchangeable front panel, keyboard insert and speaker grills. Colours available are emerald green, ruby red, amber orange, sapphire blue and amethyst purple.
• Sound system to create personal digit music library.
• A Web camera that allows you to send video and audio e-mails.
• Digital audio port that allows you to listen to music without switching on the computer.
• Memory that can be upgraded within 30 seconds.
• Video center enabling you to create and edit digital movies. Screwless panels that can be removed easily for upgradation of various storage devices.

"The Compaq 5000 and 7000 series are our biggest re-design. Our computers are all about style, passion and colours and colour itself is not news. It's colour done right," says Alex Gruzen, vice-president, Asia consumer group, Compaq Computer Corporation.

Gruzen is responsible for the sales, marketing and local product development for Compaq's Asia-Pacific and Greater China regions.

The new Compaq Presario 5000 series is priced from Rs 42,990 onwards and the 7000 series from Rs 89,990 onwards. The products will be available in the market from Wednesday.

Increasing emphasis on education by the government, willingness on part of the customers to pay a higher price for additional features and simultaneous announcement of the same products worldwide are some of the reasons why Compaq chose to launch the Presario 5000 and 7000 series in India.

"We have seen tremendous success in the last two quarters. So we decided we should launch the product right away in all areas. Our product is functional and addresses the entire family," Doraisamy told rediff.com. "India has this fundamental belief that Internet technology will improve children's lives. Asians at large believe that the Internet holds tremendous opportunities for all. This has helped a long way in the Internet boom," Gruzen said.

No figures on Compaq's performance so far this year, the current market share or expected market share were quoted, although Gruzen announced that Compaq is growing four times faster than the PC market itself. As for future plans, the company will see more alliances with ISPs and portals.

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