(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| IBM Japan to Boost Sales of Low-Priced Desktop PCs for Homes
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November 17, 1998 (TOKYO) -- IBM Japan Ltd. aims to boost sales of low-priced
desktop personal computers to the home with the newly introduced Aptiva
D1J.
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It is equipped with a 15-in. CRT display and application software including
"Microsoft Office 97." It is priced at less than 150,000 yen (US$1,230).
It has been available in retail stores since Nov. 14.
IBM Japan expects low-priced desktop PCs to post brisk sales. In Japan
it hopes to sell 10,000 to 15,000 units in one month.
IBM Japan projects that one half of the overall Aptiva
Series sales will be generated from low-priced desktop models by the
spring of 1999. Because of this, the company plans to introduce other
low-priced desktop models following the Aptiva D1J.
The Aptiva D1J features 64MB of main memory, a 3.2GB hard disk drive
and a 56kbps modem (V.90/56 flex-enabled) as standard. It is priced
at 149,000 yen when purchased through IBM PC Direct. The Aptiva D1J
is a product equivalent to IBM's US$599 model (body only) sold in the
United States.
IBM Japan reduced manufacturing costs by employing the IBM 300 MMX Enhanced
Processor (IBM 300) "x86-compatible" chip manufactured by IBM Corp.
The Aptiva D1J also is space-saving. Because there is no need to install
a speaker, it fits easily into limited space. In addition, because it
is contained in a compact box unit, it requires 40 percent less space
than the micro-tower type models of the Aptiva E Series.
As was done with the Aptiva E Series' new model launched in October 1998,
the Aptiva D1J also comes with pre-installed "VoiceATOK for ViaVoice
98" voice-activated input software.
The VoiceATOK is the input method editor in the Japanese version that
works in coordination with ViaVoice 98. It was jointly developed by
Justsystems Corp. and IBM Japan. The VoiceATOK feature is useful for
users not familiar with keyboard operation and users with vision or
muscular motion disabilities.
(BizTech News Dept.)
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