10% Off Apple Computers with Dick Smith Electronics – Offer Ends 23-12-10
Dick Smith Electricals is already well know as one of the most competitively priced retailers across the country, and now, for a very limited time, you can also save 10% on Apple Australia computers! That’s right, you did hear correctly! Apple discounts are not something you see too often, but if you order online before midnight on Thursday 23rd December 2010 you will be able to receive 10% off various specifications of -
- 13inch Apple MacBook
- 13inch MacBook Pro
- 15inch MacBook Pro
- 17inch MacBook Pro
- 11inch MacBook Air
- 13inch MacBook Air
- 21inch Apple iMac
- 27inch Apple iMac
Remember, this once a year discount is only available until midnight on Thursday 23rd December 2010. Dick Smith are also having a huge 5 day TV sale between 21-25th December 2010, so if you’re in the market for a new television, Apple computer, or anything else electrical, be sure to click on the link below to take advantage of these great savings, only available online with Dick Smith.
> > Click here to shop with Dick Smith Electricals
Australian Owners Of Streak Can Now Update To Android 2.2
Australian owners of Dell’s popular hand held mobile tablet hybrid device the Streak can now update their device to the latest version of the Android operating system according to Dell Australia.
According to Dell Australia, the update can be downloaded from the company website or via an over the air update which will be rolled out over the next few days by Optus.
The update adds a number of features to the Streak, which was initially shipped with the Android 1.6 operating system. The new OS supports faster performance, Adobe Flash 10.1, native multi touch for applications, 720p video recording and the ability to create a portable hotspot.
Dell Australia says the company focused on three new areas with the update, to enhance the device’s functionality by adding new features and better capability, improving the backup facility for saving customers data, and building product stability by fixing bugs and improvements to the operating system.
Click here to order online with Dell Australia
Corporations Expected To Increasingly Adopt Tablet Devices
A new survey by ChangeWave Research, tablets introduced by a variety of manufacturers from Dell to Apple are helping to drive corporate usage of the devices.
The survey polled IT buyers from 1,641 businesses and the results suggest that approximately 7 per cent of corporations issue their employees with tablets, a 1 per cent rise from the results of the last survey in August. Apple currently dominates the market with an 82 per cent market share, followed by HP which has an 11 per cent market share, and Dell which has a 7 per cent market share.
HP’s whose tablet offering is a Windows powered 8.9 inch Slate 500 said in November that its device was on backorder due to “extraordinary demand,” In 2011, HP is widely expected to release tablets running its recently acquired Palm webOS.
Dell currently has a 5 inch tablet offering called the Streak which runs the Android 2.2 operating system, but has revealed it is developing a range of devices with a variety of screen sizes.
ChangeWave says that the market for corporate tablet devices is poised for rapid expansion in 2011, with 14 per cent of corporations saying they intended to purchase tablets for the first time during the first quarter of the year.
“In other words, the total number of companies making use of tablet devices is set to double in just the next three months—an explosive surge in demand going forward,” Paul Carton, ChangeWave’s vice president of research wrote.
The overwhelming majority (78 per cent) of IT buyers said they intended to purchase iPads, whilst 9 per cent each said they would by Dell or BlackBerry Tablets, 8 per cent said they would consider an HP device and 4 per cent said they were looking at Samsung Galaxy Tab.
“Although the release of the RIM PlayBook isn’t expected until late-1st Quarter 2011, RIM (9 percent) is now tied with Dell (9 percent) for second place in terms of future buying—a positive development for the Canadian manufacturer,” Carton wrote.
Apple Edges Its Way To A Top Five Position In Australian PC Market
According to industry research firm IDC, Cupertino California based Apple has edged its was back in to the top five computer manufacturers in Australia during the third quarter of 2010 nudging out Lenovo as the company introduced a host of new MacBooks and iMacs.
The IDC report suggests that Apple is the fifth largest personal computer vendor in the country based on the number of units shipped during the quarter ending September.
“Apple surprised everyone by taking back its top 5 spot, lost to Lenovo in the last quarter, making [the third quarter] one of its best quarters in Australia,” said IDC market analyst Amy Cheah. “Lenovo’s strong reliance on the NSW Digital Education Revolution Program deal had helped it gain share in the past few quarters, but the slowdown in [the third quarter] roll out to schools resulted in a drop in its market position.”
Ms Cheah said Apple’s success was driven by the popularity of its retail stores and the “spillover effect” the company has experienced from its much hyped iPad. Ms. Cheah noted that Apple is well positioned to enjoy continued growth in the Australian market over the coming months, according to the report, 1.4 million units were shipped by the entire industry during the third quarter, with Apple’s share at approximately 140,000 or roughly 10 per cent.
Despite its rising market share, Apple is a long way away from becoming the dominant PC maker in Australia. Currently HP is the dominant player with 21 per cent market share, followed by Acer which controls 17 per cent, Dell with 14 per cent and finally Toshiba with 11 per cent.
IDC says the Australian market for PC’s and laptops is still growing when compared to last year. The research firm estimates that 16 per cent more units were shipped during the third quarter of 2010, compared to the same time frame in the previous year.
IDC’s Cheah says the transition by enterprises into Windows 7 operating system powered by Intel’s Core iX CPU’s is driving demand.
Despite all the hoopla surrounding the introduction of an array of tablet devices from a variety of vendors, IDC expects that tablet category to have minimal impact on sales of traditional PC’s and laptops.
“Widespread cannibilisation on other mobile devices is unlikely in the early stages, at least not until there is clearer understanding of the media tablets’ value proposition,” Cheah said. “Single function devices such as eReaders, however, may not be able to withstand the threat given their ‘one trick.
Click here to order online with Apple Australia
Average PC Prices Buck Trend And Are Now Rising Represent A Large Scale Shift In The Industry
Something very strange is going on in the market for personal computers, for decades the industry has faced the issue of commoditisation, as buyers sought cheaper deals for technology purchases. Now a new trend has emerged and buyers seem to be doing quite the opposite and paying more.
Prices of personal computers are now rising despite plunging prices of other consumer electronics such as high definition TV’s and digital cameras over the busy Christmas shopping season.
According to market research firm NPD, the average price for a PC sold in the US during November was US$615, which is up about 6 per cent from last year’s price of $580. NPD reckons that average prices for personal computers have risen during six of the last eight months.
This trend represents a significant shift in the $250 billion global PC business, which for decades has had to deal with steep declines in prices.
Industry price wars of the past ripped into profit margins of manufacturers such as Dell, who now seem to be focusing on premium products with higher profit margins.
The higher-end models are “flying off the shelves,” said PaulHenri Ferrand, chief marketing officer for Dell’s consumer unit.
One of the factors driving the shift is the stabilization of laptop prices which dominate the mix of products sold, and whose prices face pressure from the introduction of tablet devices and low cost netbooks.
Another major factor is the emergence of Apple as tech titan, which has consistently been increasing its market share over the last few years, whilst keeping its average price both high and steady at about $1,360 over the last year.
The willingness of consumers to pay more for personal computers stands in stark contrast against rapidly falling prices of other consumer electronics. NPD analyst Stephen Baker says with PC’s, there simply isn’t “there isn’t anywhere lower to go” in price. Low end products sell for almost as much as it costs to make them, leaving little room for manufacturers to eke out a margin.
Paul Otellini chief executive of technology bellwether and leading chip manufacturer during an investor conference says the trend is a sign of a maturing PC industry, with the practice of regular price cuts coming to an end.
Intel’s average selling price for its microprocessor chips have long replicated the fall in PC prices. For the last four consecutive quarters however, Intel has reported higher flat microprocessor pricing.
According to Mr. Otellini this trend is a result of the success Intel has had in convincing consumers to buy more powerful machines. Mr. Otellini added that it is simply impossible for PC prices to fall much further below a starting price of $299.
“They aren’t going to fall to $99,” Mr. Otellini said at the meeting. The aggregate price of all the components in a laptop “won’t get them there,” he added.
Some of the gains in average prices can be assigned to business sales, enterprise customers have begun the process of upgrading their employee systems after deferring on purchases during the recession.
Another reason behind the trend is a change in the profile of the typical buyer. First time buyers tend to opt for cheap basic computers which enable them to use email and surf the internet. Repeat buyers however want more feature rich machines, that allow then to share and consume media such as music and movies, and are willing to pay for the privilege.
According to Gartner another research firm, PC sales continue to grow, however the rate of growth has begun to decline. Garter expects 2010 PC unit shipment growth to come in at 14.3 per cent, down from 17.9 per cent.
Up to $1000 off 13inch ThinkPad Edge Laptops at Lenovo Australia – Offers End 16-12-10
Lenovo Australia is offering up to $1000 off their 13inch ThinkPad Edge laptops while stocks last. Simply order online as soon as possible to make these massive savings on this outstanding personal computer -
- ThinkPad Edge Spec.1 Was $1607.15 Now $ 599.00 SAVING $1008.15!!
- ThinkPad Edge Spec.2 Was $1547.15 Now $ 799.00 SAVING $ 748.15!!
- ThinkPad Edge Spec.3 Was $1661.15 Now $1099.00 SAVING $ 562.15!!
The 13inch ThinkPad Edge laptop features great battery time and is the perfect blend of performance and portability, featuring up to -
$1000 Off 13inch ThinkPad Edge Laptop
- Intel Core 1.30GHz SU7300 Processor
- Windows 7 32bit Home Premium
- 3GB RAM
- 250GB Hard Drive
- 13.3inch HD Display
- Accelerator 4500MHD Graphics Card
- 8x DVD Recorder
- 4 Cell Battery
- Wireless BGN
- 1 Year Express Warranty
These great discounts are only available while stocks last, so simply click on the link below to find out if you’re still in with a chance to take advantage of these amazing savings.
Up to $1300 off 15inch ThinkPad Edge Laptops at Lenovo Australia – Offers End 16-12-10
Lenovo Australia is offering up to a staggering $1300 off a great selection of configurations of their 15inch ThinkPad Edge laptops whiles stocks last. Simply order online before midnight on Thursday 16th December 2010 to take advantage of these great savings only available online with Lenovo Australia.
The 15inch ThinkPad Edge laptop is the perfect workstation for the budget conscious shopper, and offers up to -
Up to $1300 Off 15inch ThinkPad Edge Laptop
- Intel Core 2.66GHz i5-560M Processor
- Windows 7 64bit Home Premium
- 4GB RAM
- 320GB Hard Drive
- 15.6inch HD Display
- UltraBav
- 8x DVD Recorder
- 6 Cell Li-Ion Battery
- Integrated Bluetooth
- Wireless BGN
- 1 Year Express Warranty
Remember, these awesome discounts expire at midnight on Thursday 16th December 2010, so you’ll have to move super quick to save up to $1300 on the 15inch ThinkPad Edge, only available online with Lenovo Australia.
Save Over $350 on ThinkPad T Series Laptops at Lenovo Australia – Offers End 16-12-10
Lenovo Australia is offering over $350 off a selection of their ThinkPad T Series laptops for a very limited time. Simply order online before midnight on Thursday 16th December 2010 to take advantage of the great savings below, all you need to do is add the coupon code -
TSERIESHOTDEAL
at the final checkout when ordering to grab a hefty slice of the action, only available online with Lenovo Australia.
- ThinkPad T410 Was $1799.00 now $1439.20 SAVING $359.79!!
- ThinkPad T510 Was $1799.00 now $1439.20 SAVING $359.79!!
- ThinkPad T410s Was $2399.00 now $2039.15 SAVING $359.85!!
All of these amazing deals are limited to 2 units per order and feature free shipping, but be sure to order promptly as these bargains expire at midnight on Thursday 16th December 2010.
Lenovo Says Margins Improving As It Seeks To Diversify Into Smartphones And Tablets
Chinese computer manufacturing giant Lenovo says it expects its operating margins to improve as component prices fall and the Chinese currency appreciates according to the company’s CFO.
“With an appreciating RMB and falling component prices, obviously managing such a business will be easier than having to deal with a depreciating RMB and rising component prices,” CFO Wong Wai Ming said in an interview at Reuters offices in Beijing. He declined to give a forecast.
Operating profit margin at Lenovo, which is a closely watched performance indicator for all PC makers, increased to 1.9 per cent during the quarter starting in July, up from 1.58 per cent in the previous quarter.
Mr. Wong said the company intends to launch its tablet device, which it dubs the LePad in China over the next few week, and says that it will also offer a smartphone that runs on China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA 3G network, as the company seeks to diversify its product range beyond traditional PC’s.
Lenovo currently manufacturers smartphones that can run on 3G networks operated by China’s two smaller mobile phone companies. The company has far not offered a device for China Mobile which is the country’s largest operator controlling two thirds of the world’s largest mobile market.
“We obviously plan to have a product for each operator,” he said.
PC manufacturers have over the last year aggressively expanded into the emerging tablet and smartphone product space as they seek to diversify their earnings away from the heavily commoditised PC, where more often than not net margins can fall as low as single digits.
Click here to order online with Lenovo Australia
Sources Suggest Apple Developing Tablet With Smaller Screen
Contract manufacturers who make products for Apple say that a smaller version of the iconic iPad that features built in cameras could start to ship as early as next year.
The introduction of a smaller tablet by Apple would increase the company’s product range, and even pose a threat to the market for laptops.
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs had previously dismissed the idea of smaller tablet devices as being “dead on arrival”
Analysts however point out that Mr. Jobs has a strong tradition of diverting the attention of rivals and customers from the company’s actual intentions, pointing out that Mr. Jobs also criticized the idea that iPods would eventually have the ability to play videos.
Apple is expected to sell as many as 13 million units of its iPad, a figure which some say could triple next year, and is expected to inject some health into an industry which at times can suffer from patchy demand.
According to unnamed sources quoted by the Reuters News Agency, Apple suppliers have begun preparing for a new round of production during the first quarter of next year.
According to the report, one of the sources claims that the new model would feature front and back end cameras allowing users to take advantage of Apple’s Facetime video conferencing service. The new model is also expected to be slimmer and lighter as well as offer better resolution than the original iPad.
Another source in the company’s supply chain said that Apple was developing a much smaller version of the original iPad that would have a screen that was half the size of the current 9.7-inch screen.
Earlier in the year Mr. Jobs said that a 7-inch screen would simply be “too small to express the software.”
Supply chain sources quoted in the report all declined to be identified due to Apple’s obsession with secrecy and their lack of authorization to speak on behalf of the company to the media.
Manufacturers of components typically do not know how the final product will look since they tend to only focus on one aspect of production, before passing the part on for assembly.
The launch of second generation tablet devices during the first half of 2011 would be consistent with Apple’s policy of releasing new models of existing products with incremental improvements about one a year. The first generation iPad was launched at the beginning of 2010.
Click here to order online with Apple Australia
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