Computer Trade Shopper articles from September 2005

Computer Trade Shopper archives from September 2005

Case of too many unhappy returns.(editorial)
September 14, 2005... The lack of support vendors provide for the channel has become a massive issue in the past 18 months as falling margins and tough trading conditions have forced many to cut costs and, as a result, services to partners. And with users'...

Weak vendor support puts strain on channel.(news)
September 14, 2005... The constant erosion of margins and the resulting reduction in vendors' channel support have placed immense pressure on resellers to meet customer expectations and many have described the situation as a ticking time bomb. The support...

Intel fleshes out multi-core plan.(news)
September 14, 2005... Intel will introduce a family of three processors in the second half of 2006 to flesh out its multi-core strategy for notebooks, desktops and servers. Multi-core chips, where more than one processor core is embedded in a processor, are...

Gateway to focus on retail sales.(news)
September 14, 2005... The head of global sales at Gateway has vowed to limit its presence in the UK market to the retail sector, at least in the short term, but given its business mix in the US, the vendor may soon be tasking resellers to sell commercial PCs. ...

Microsoft gets tough with OEM distributors.(news)
September 14, 2005... System builders could suffer higher prices as Microsoft's OEM distributors face cash flow concerns after the vendor's demand for upfront payment. In an attempt to prevent distributors declaring fewer sales than they actually make, the...

Power usage in the spotlight.(news)
September 14, 2005... Power consumption in the data centre has come under the spotlight following last month's Intel Developer Forum, where it was a key theme. The electricity costs of data centres not only affect in-house facilities, but also those that are...

C2000 not fazed by staff departures.(news)
September 14, 2005... The managing director of Computer 2000 has played down the exit of further senior and middle management and insisted it is business as usual at the Basingstoke-based distributor. Since March, C2000 has lost commercial director Gary Fowle to...

Commitment to quality earned ASUS 1,171 awards in 2004.(Advertisement)
September 14, 2005... With thousands of brands out there, consumers often rely on product reviews from hardware testing media and information technology (IT) organizations to help them make the right decisions. These third parties regularly publish in depth articles...

Watching videos on PC is as good as on best TV: anyone that has watched movies on a computer monitor can tell you that the experience is like sightseeing at the Grand Canyon through a smoke screen. You know there are great visual effects going on, but the display just can't seem to show the video's true colors.(HOT TECHNOLOGY)(Advertisement)
September 14, 2005... * Video on PC has never been so beautiful Videos on a PC never looks as good as on a TV because most PCs usually don't come with the image-processing units commonly found in consumer electronics display devices. That's why images often...

Flash storage with added X factor.(cts EXCLUSIVE)
September 14, 2005... There are Flash memory sticks and there are pocket storage products that bristle with invention. How do you define innovation on a product that is often no bigger than your index finger? Partly through capacity, but also through added...

Small screen beats its rivals by two inches.
September 14, 2005... Plenty of people will have spent some time this summer stuck in a car with a couple of kids driving them mad asking when they are going to get there. Even the shortest journey can feel like a marathon if passengers are bored. The answer is...

The mother of all boards.
September 14, 2005... Ninety-nine per cent of motherboards appear at first glance to be the same, featuring brash packaging that entices you in with aliens, bright colours and spacecraft. The Foxconn 955X7AA is a totally different experience, with superior...

Winning back gamers with faster flat screen.
September 14, 2005... One of the changes that has happened subtly in the monitor world in the last couple of years has been the shift to emphasise refresh speeds and the benefits of a screen for the gaming community. Gamers shied away from flat screens because...

Server board to beat the heat.
September 14, 2005... Motherboards and graphics cards always get the attention because for most system builders they are the fastest moving items and the ones most likely to be the first on a customer's shopping list. But there is a world alongside that of...

Dual-core board opens up true multitasking.
September 14, 2005... Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has been one of the more innovative motherboard manufacturers in the first half of 2005. So here, at the CTS review labs, we were delighted to be asked to take a look at the latest offering from the Taiwanese...

SATA II is selling point for board.
September 14, 2005... The interface revolution currently going on is arguably the most important transition in the hard drive world for the last decade, according to the people that make them. Therefore, it makes sense if you are going to take advantage of SATA...

dabs.com pushes up-selling.(round up)
September 14, 2005... The message about up-selling the customer, which has become a mantra among vendors looking to claw back revenue, has been adopted by some channel players criticised for emphasising price at the expense of value. With the 500,000 [pounds...

High definition for front projection.(SHORTS)
September 14, 2005... Texas Instruments has taken the wraps off its 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080) chipsets for the front projection market. TI chipsets are under a lot of projector hoods, so there should be quite a queue to get the 1080, a high-definition...

Multimedia monitors from Maxdata.(SHORTS)
September 14, 2005... Maxdata is continuing its monitor product offensive, as it expands the Belinea 19in range with three displays: the Belinea 10 19 30, its technically equivalent version in the elegant SilverBlackStyle; the Belinea 10 19 35; and the Belinea 10 19...

Automatic connectivity configuration on the move.(SHORTS)
September 14, 2005... Connection Manager Pro, a laptop connectivity management tool that automates the creation and management of security and connectivity settings for multiple access points, has been launched by BVRP, a global developer and publisher of mobility,...

Seiko offers low-cost label printing.(SHORTS)
September 14, 2005... Think of Seiko and you usually think of watches, but home/office products supplier Seiko Instruments is expanding its flagship label printing line with three additions that offer full-functionality, single-label printing at comparable or lower...

Do your suppliers comply with the law on hazardous waste disposal? Channel players are waking up to the need to ensure that even if they do not themselves manufacture motherboards and other components or equipment using hazardous waste, they are using suppliers that are playing by the rules.(opinion)
September 14, 2005... As reported in sister title MicroScope last week, the Federation of Small Businesses expects 20,000 small companies to fall foul of European waste regulations. However, larger channel players could also encounter problems. Suppliers of...

In it for the money ... and the shoes: Debbie Shuck, sales manager at THX Trade, enjoys work and play to the full and is determined that boredom will never become an option for her.(talking shop)(Interview)
September 14, 2005... WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AT THE COMPANY? My main role within the company is to manage and co-ordinate the sales team and encourage their continuing staff development to promote and maximise business growth. DO YOU HAVE I...

The big picture on LCDs: a breakdown of the changing fortunes in this volatile and diverse market, by display analyst house Meko.(in focus)
September 14, 2005... Overall volume sales for LCDs in Q2 for 2005 were down sequentially by 8.3 per cent and grew year on year by 63 per cent. By size, the 15in sector dropped again but not as much as in Q1, with shipments down by 19.9 per cent on a quarterly basis...

A trip down Memorex lane: Mike Evans, marketing manager at Memorex Products EMEA, reviews the fast-evolving market of optical media.(product roadmap)
September 14, 2005... Historically, optical media has been pretty easy for the consumer: CD or DVD. Simple. But Darwin's theory of evolution has always been of significance to the IT industry. Media is no exception--it has evolved, fast. Today's media...

Smart phones or handheld computers? As businesses demand mobile connectivity, IT managers need to identify which devices are best suited to staff needs--phones that do data, or computers that do voice.(market overview)
September 14, 2005... The figures for smart phone shipments versus those of handheld computers suggest smart phones are set to dominate the market for portable devices, but IT managers still have a choice to make when kitting out mobile staff. According to...

Play time ... display time: the market for audio-visual displays has never been so exciting, but resellers must package services to stay ahead of margin erosion.
September 14, 2005... Some years ago, it seemed as if the only thing that was interesting about the audio-visual display market was the move from curved screen CRT monitors to flat screens. Compared with other technology sectors, displays were relatively static....

The tender spot.(tender invitations)
September 14, 2005... STAR TENDER 160960 IRL-Dublin: HR system Human resources management system for a university. 160195, TENDER INVITATION UK-York: telecommunications equipment Fully managed telecommunications services. 160907, TENDER...

Cool all your life.(ADVERTORIAL)(Advertisement)
September 14, 2005... Thermaltake Technology Co. Ltd is the global leader for Thermal solutions and Thermal Management for PC & Industrial Markets. Thermaltake offers a wide range of products and services, providing effective and cost-conscious cooling devices. ...

Good quality entry level brands.(ADVERTORIAL)(Advertisement)
September 14, 2005... Octigen provide good quality entry level and competitively priced cases, keyboards, speakers and mice suitable for the home, home office and business users. Octigen are relatively new to the UK market and VIP Computers is the exclusive...

Manufacturers.(cts directory)(Directory)
September 14, 2005... MANUFACTURERS PHONE WEB a 1st Computer Traders Ltd 01827 55555 www.1ct.com Acer (UK) Ltd 01753 699200 www.aceruk.co.uk ACME Technology Ltd 020 89633300 ...

Distributors.(cts directory)(Directory)
September 14, 2005... DISTRIBUTORS PHONE FAX a 1st Computer Traders Ltd 01827 55555 01827 66666 A One Distribution 0161 7633633 0161 7633644 Access Keyboards Ltd ...

Change is the only certainty.(editorial)
September 28, 2005... I am not a gambling man--which is rather unfortunate considering the time I recently spent in Las Vegas on a press trip--but you can bet your bottom dollar the channel is set for real change in the next two years. No revelation? Heard it...

Deadline looms for on-line services.(news)
September 28, 2005... With the Government's December deadline for getting 100 per cent of local council services on-line approaching, those on the coalface reflect on the Government's mistakes and what could have been done to improve the situation. Despite...

Suspect products seized.(news)
September 28, 2005... It emerged last week that computer companies in Reading, Manchester, Rochdale and Flintshire were subject to a coordinated raid by Trading Standards officers during the first week of September, leading to the seizure of products believed to be...

No-win no-fee at UK start-up Target Sell.(news)
September 28, 2005... Resellers and distributors will soon have access to additional sales resources through UK start-up Target Sell, which launches next month. The company, which will offer small and medium sized channel businesses additional sales support,...

Hewlett-Packard could stump resellers.(news)
September 28, 2005... Hewlett Packard will get tough with resellers that fail to make the grade under a channel scheme due to be launched on 1 November, but will reward those that satisfy the top criteria, making an additional $100m (55.4m [pounds sterling])...

Open Value pitched for consultancy.(news)
September 28, 2005... With the launch of Microsoft's Open Value SME licensing programme imminent and changes to its software assurance (SA) programme unveiled recently, the channel looks set for a bout of consultancy demand. Changes to Microsoft's SME licensing...

Supply chain could put resellers in a bad light.(news)
September 28, 2005... Resellers and distributors have been warned to conduct due diligence on those they work with in the supply chain as cases of carousel fraud have extended to include computer accessories. Traditionally, chips and hard drives have been...

Broadcast your expert gaming moves and tactics live over the internet: ASUS graphics cards provide 3 exclusive features to elevate your game.(HOT INNOVATION)(Advertisement)
September 28, 2005... ASUS graphics cards have long been the favorites of hardcore gamers because of their fine performance and reliability, but the world's top video solution provider did not stop there. To provide a more interactive experience for online gaming,...

Toshiba drive is miles ahead.
September 28, 2005... In a recent discussion with a manufacturer, the subject came around to what makes an ideal desktop and for a moment the conversation touched on optical drives. "There are various choices and it all depends on what the user wants to do,"...

Portable security with a magic touch.
September 28, 2005... So you have a key drive with a large capacity and possibly some embedded applications with the promise of data encryption and password protection. Where does this type of technology go next? You can go to 1GB, but what's the next trick for this...

Peak provides higher memory.
September 28, 2005... A welcome development in the digital camera world in the past year has been the reduction in prices for memory. With most cameras being sold with a paltry memory card able to store only about 20 high-resolution images, the first purchase...

AMCC leads the storage revolution.
September 28, 2005... You might not know it, but there is a revolution taking place in the storage interface world as the technology becomes capable of supporting more ports and higher data speeds. The latest standard everyone is getting excited about is SATA...

No dead pixels on this screen.
September 28, 2005... The OP-9005L 19in flat panel monitor from Optronix should appeal to users who want a good quality product without having to go with the begging bowl to the finance department. It claims to have no dead pixels, which might sound like a glib...

Powerful technology at the cutting edge.
September 28, 2005... Looking back on CTS product reviews in the third quarter, the product that generated the most headlines has to be the Skype Internet telephone, which came in for review just weeks before the company was sold to eBay for $2.6bn. The growth...

No-win situation.(round up)
September 28, 2005... One of the unforeseen consequences of the failure of the German election to produce a clear-cut winner is the impact it will have on those channel players operating in Europe. With both of the main candidates for the Chancellorship, Angela...

Gigabyte targets digital media enthusiasts.(SHORTS)
September 28, 2005... Gigabyte Technology has taken the wraps off the GA-K8N51PVMT-9, a motherboard featuring high-definition video for the AMD64 platform. Powered by the innovative nVidia GeForce 6150 GPU and nForce 430 MCP, this platform targets Media Center...

VIP adds Octigen 17in LCD monitor to portfolio.(SHORTS)
September 28, 2005... It always helps to have an existing relationship to build on, and VIP Computer Centre is doing just that by adding an LCD monitor to the cases, keyboards, speakers and mice it handles for Octigen. The Octigen brand was launched to the UK market...

Foxconn starts the ball rolling on series launch.(SHORTS)
September 28, 2005... Building on the worldwide momentum of nVidia's announcement of the GeForce 6 GPU-based 6150 core logic (chipset), Foxconn has introduced the WinFast 6150K8MA-8EKRS motherboard, which is the flagship product in a series to be launched over the...

Sapphire expands offering with X800GTO series.(SHORTS)
September 28, 2005... Our friends at Sapphire have been busy launching several graphics cards that add to the Sapphire Radeon X800 family. The X800GTO series will deliver high performance to PCI-Express graphics users. Based on the X800 architectures, the models all...

Don't waste the opportunities of the WEEE Directive: there may be confusion in the channel over the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, but there is an opportunity for VARs and service providers to embrace disposal of end-of-life IT assets, says Steve Russell, managing director of IT asset management specialist BTR UK.(opinion)
September 28, 2005... Historically, channel professionals have provided a fairly universal and recognised range of products and services. Bolting on a new service such as IT disposal has always seemed complicated, but it is not actually as difficult as made out to...

A true man of the channel who loves beer, curry and gadgets: Raj Suman, product director at Avnet Applied Computing Components, reveals what it is that motivates him to get out of bed for work every morning.(talking shop)(Interview)
September 28, 2005... WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AT THE COMPANY? I am Avnet's European product director for its components and solutions business, responsible for product strategies and procurement. DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS MAXIM? The market is...

Turning ideas into reality: to foster a culture of innovation, businesses need to understand where ideas come from and establish a framework for taking the best ones through to proof of concept and eventual execution.(analysis)
September 28, 2005... Innovation, as companies such as Apple will tell you, is a serious business. Companies are learning to treat ideas as commodities, nurturing them and turning them into executable business strategies and products. But how do you get those...

Driving the outsourcing boom: a boom in big government contracts, banking compliance work and outsourcing means the UK is spending more on consultants than the rest of Europe, says Tony Glover, and this growth is underpinned by a growing global demand for new IT systems.(market overview)
September 28, 2005... UK spending on consultants grew 7.9 per cent last year and accounts for 29.3 per cent of the European market, says a report by the European Federation of Management Consultancies Associations (Feaco). While original outsourcing contracts...

Taking to the big screen: Pete Gamby, senior analyst at Meko, reports on the developments taking place in the market for high-definition television and how consumers are taking to the new technology.(monitoring trends)
September 28, 2005... At the recent IFA exhibition in Berlin, the hot topic was very definitely high-definition--or HD--TV. An increasing number of IT suppliers are moving into the consumer electronics (CE) space so, naturally, IT resellers are starting to look at...

Has the PC had its day? Is the desktop PC dead, or is it about to enjoy a massive rejuvenation? Though PCI Express was a disappointment, there's still hope for the office desktop PC.
September 28, 2005... There are times when you know the game is up. A football manager knows he should get a bin bag out of the cupboard and clear his desk if his chairman gives him a "vote of confidence." When George Bush publicly praised one of his officials after...

Manufacturers.(Directory)
September 28, 2005... manufacturers PHONE WEB a 1st Computer Traders Ltd 01827 55555 www.1ct.com Acer (UK) Ltd 01753 699200 www.aceruk.co.uk ACME Technology Ltd 020 89633300 ...

Distributors.(Directory)
September 28, 2005... distributors PHONE FAX a 1st Computer Traders Ltd 01827 55555 01827 66666 A One Distribution 0161 7633633 0161 7633644 Access...