Computer = Consumer Business Segment, Lenovo India

COMPUTER

Companies and institutions are driving sales of the sleek all-in-one desktops as their prohibitive costs are keeping individuals from buying them. While the sleek, look-good-feel-good products were initially launched to feed consumers' desire for innovative form factors, P Computer makers are finding that demand from commercial enterprises are higher. “Consumers are not buying them in large numbers since prices are high and it is the price that drives the adoption of AIOs,” Mr Vishal Tripathi, Principal Research Analyst at Gartner, told Business Line.

More portable

All-in-one computers are desktop computers that combine the CPU and speaker into the same case as the monitor and are more portable than conventional desktops. Some brands offer AIOs with touch-screen features, and AIO prices range from Rs 17,000 to Rs 49,000 across brands. “We had initially thought that the consumer space would come up but we have been noticing that commercial organisations have started asking for AIOs today,” MrShishirSingh, Director, Product Marketing, CSMB division, Dell India, told Business Line. According to him, commercial users are taking to AIOs now since they occupy lesser space than conventional desktops.

Within the commercial space, small and medium enterprises are the largest consumers, PC makers say, apart from large orders that the government places on companies. “We are seeing huge demand from small businesses like start-ups and restaurants,” Mr Singh pointed out. It was in this context that vendors such as HP have come up with AIOs dedicated to business use, according to Mr Meraj Ahmad, Country Category Manager - Commercial Business, Personal Systems Group, HP India. According to IDC India, by 2013, small form factor products such as the AIO have the potential to account for nearly 38 per cent of the overall desktop market.

Growing sales

Mr Rajesh Thadani, Director, Consumer Business Segment, Lenovo India, was also of the same view. “The category has been growing at 2.4 times from the previous year in the desktops segment, and while most sales happen in the consumer space, the commercial segment is growing now,” he said. Lenovo is also seeing a lot of sales in Tier 2/ Tier 3 markets, he added.

Source: The Hindu Business Line