Tosh tucks desktops in behind Compaq, IBM
After an 18-month run up, notebook PC market leader Toshiba today finally made its official entry into the desktop market with a range priced at the blue chip end of the market. The Japanese giant's Equium brand squarely targets business users after the company recently U-turned on its original plan of entering the market with its Infinia consumer line.
Instead, Tosh will launch with a four-strong PC line embracing 166MHz and 200MHz Pentium MMX, 200MHz Pentium Pro and Pentium II processors. Prices start at £1,149 + VAT for a 166MHz MMX system with 32Mb EDO RAM, 2.07Gb hard drive, ATI Rage II graphics, Sound Blaster audio and Ethernet.
An interesting option is Toshiba's own Microfilter Monitor which the firm claims is 30 per cent brighter and offers a 30 per cent higher contrast ratio than standard CRTs.
"The market is very crowded but there is room," said Howard Seabrook, desktop business manager for Toshiba's PC division. "You have to be bringing something more than a box. The sensible third alternative to Compaq and IBM in desktops is weak: firms like AST and Olivetti. Dealers don't want to leave the door open to Dell. We want to be selling 3,000-3,500 desktops per month inside 12 months."