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In the December issue of DEALERSCOPE, we reported on the latest in digital imaging and the latest in new devices, information/Internet appliances, but at Comdex there is always one more story to be told.
New Market Entries
Several companies both new and old are entering new territories, hoping to stake their flags in successful markets.
eMachines marked its entrance into the portable notebook PC market with the aggressively priced eSlate 400k ($999), with an AMD K6-2 40OMHz processor, 32MB SDRAM, 4.3GB hard drive and 24x CD-- ROM and floppy drives.
Acer N.Web partnered with Widcomm, Inc., a Bluetooth technology developer, to introduce one of the first Bluetooth devices, Blue-Connect, that it will begin shipping in Q2 2000 for under $100. The module connects with the Handspring Visor's Springboard interface and is compliant with the Bluetooth 1.0 specification. The device allows for the wireless transmission of data between the Visor and other Bluetooth-- enabled devices. Acer plans to introduce a PC dongle (Bluetooth enabler) in Q3.
A 25-year-old Taiwanese company and OEM for both Compaq and Apple monitors, ADI Systems enters the U.S. retail market under the brand name ADI. In Q1, it will offer an 18.1-inch, flat-panel, wallmountable, LCD, TFT display (estimated $2,300) with 1280 x 1024 XGA resolution and a 160 x 1600 view angle. ADI also will offer a 15-inch, LCD monitor priced under $1,000, several CRT monitors and a USB PC video camera (prices not available at press time).
Greenwich Mean Time, a United Kingdom-based company specializing in desktop management and Y2K correction software, is attempting to break into the American software retail market with DataCop ($24.99), a program that automatically checks incoming data for erroneous dates that could create miscalculations in database programs.
Greenwich also jumped on the MP3 bandwagon with JBox ($39.95), a desktop jukebox that converts CDs to MP3 files. JBox uses a jukebox style interface that allows for randomized play, as well as sorting by category with 17 musical genres.
Good News for Gamers
Gamers will be pleased to learn that, thanks to a few companies on the cutting edge of the industry, graphics and gameplay will continue to become more immersive with new hardware and...