Rectron secures exclusive Toshiba distribution as mobile fever
grips SA
It is clear that
the South African market is at the start of a significant growth phase
for mobile computing devices, according to Mark Lu, CEO of computer
components and peripherals distributor, Rectron.
Lu was commenting
on the recent signing of an exclusive distribution agreement between
Rectron and Toshiba, the Japanese laptop vendor, which is geared
towards strengthening Toshiba's position in the local mobile market
through Rectron's dealer and reseller outlets.
At a function to
mark the launch of the Toshiba Satellite, Tecra and Portege range of
notebooks to Rectron's channel partners, Lu said the advent of
wireless technology is the catalyst the market was waiting for to spur
sales of mobile computers to record levels.
"Wireless is now a
reality, and this, combined with the fact that Toshiba has overcome
the constraints that have limited the success of other vendors'
notebook offerings, points to a booming market for laptops in 2002,"
said Lu.
He said the
constraints were limited battery life and heavy and cumbersome product
offerings - both of which are addressed in the new Toshiba range.
Lu stressed that
the advent of faster processing power from Intel would also position
the Toshiba laptop - the first to incorporate Intel's mobile Pentium 4
processor - more attractively for traditional desktop users,
particularly as the price gap between laptop and desktop was closing
rapidly.
"Toshiba's
Satellite range is an example of this development," he says. "At the
bottom end of this range, models are capable of replacing the
traditional desktop at comparable prices. They are capable of handling
typical office duties and, at the same time, can be taken home by the
workers if need be."
Pointing to the
higher end of this range, Lu said fully featured models, with large
format 14-inch screens, are available which have the capacity, power
and speed (in excess of 1.6GHz) to compete with graphics workstations
at the industrial end of the spectrum.
"The advantages of
portability at this end of the marketplace are only now beginning to
be felt," says Lu. "Giving users at this level the ability to be
mobile - and take their work to another office or another country on
their personal computers - will be of significant importance to
organisations that are examining new-era work methods such as hot-desking
and video conferencing," he added.
Toshiba has
released what it claims to be the slimmest and lightest notebook in
the world, at around 12mm. The unit, dubbed the Portege, is aimed at
the buyer looking for "ultra-portability". This model range sets new
benchmarks for compact packaging and - according to Lu - boasts the
all-important "fashion" and "sexiness" factors, which are essential to
the success of laptops at the cutting-edge of style. |
