PCR March 2010_issue 78

PCR ISSUE 78 MARCH 2010

Exclusive Asus interview We talk to the vendor about the birth of the netbook, and its experimental technology p16

COMPUTER & IT RESELLERS • RETAILERS • SYSTEM BUILDERS • DISTRIBUTORS • VENDORS

MARCH 2010 ISSUE 78

HARDWARE · SOFTWARE · CONSUMER ELECTRONICS www.pcr-online.biz

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COMMENT

Issue 78 March 2010 Incorporating

“Intel is one of the few companies that can claim to be integral to the successes and failures of the industry” PCR CONTACTS Editor

Andrew Wooden andrew.wooden@intentmedia.co.uk Staff Writer

Matt Grainger matt.grainger@intentmedia.co.uk Staff Writer

Nicky Trup nicky.trup@intentmedia.co.uk Editorial Production Manager

Helen French helen.french@intentmedia.co.uk Sub-Editor

Gemma Messina gemma.messina@intentmedia.co.uk Managing Editor

Lisa Foster lisa.foster@intentmedia.co.uk Executive Advertising Manager

Katie Rawlings katie.rawlings@intentmedia.co.uk Sales Executive

Carly Bailey carly.bailey@intentmedia.co.uk Sales Executive

Craig O’Donovan craig.odonovan@intentmedia.co.uk Production Executive

Rosie McKeown rosie.mckeown@intentmedia.co.uk Designer

Kelly Styles kelly.styles@intentmedia.co.uk Publisher

Stuart Dinsey stuart.dinsey@intentmedia.co.uk Editorial: 01992 535646 Advertising: 01992 535647 www.pcr-online.biz

PCR - Total average monthly net circulation for January 1st to December 31st 2009: 11,443 Intent Media is a member of the Periodical Publishers Associations PCR is published 12 times a year by Intent Media - Saxon House, 6a St.Andrew Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire SG14 1JA Fax: +44 (0)1992 535648. © Intent Media 2010 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission of the copyright owners. Printed by Pensord.

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THE CORE OF THE INDUSTRY IT’S AN EXCITING time to be in the technology market.

While brand new form factors such as the tablet and hybrid PCs are catching the eyes of gadget fans the world over, innovative new 3D and multi-touch screens look set to change the way we interact with our computers forever.

This changing technology landscape, and what has led us to this point, was the subject of an Intel press presentation, in line with the official UK launch of the 2010 Intel Core processor family, held in London last month. The chip giant is one of the few firms that can claim to be integral to the success and failures of the industry as a whole, manufacturing the majority of the world’s processors.

The new range, first shown-off at CES, is unusually holistic in its approach, in that for the first time Intel has aimed chips at all sections of the market simultaneously, an act which has generated huge demand already from OEMs. Also unlike previous chip family launches, its design appears to be somewhat reactionary, seeking to provide architecture to better process the massive increase in online content consumption, for instance. Furthermore, it will supply the processing might required for all the exciting technology the rest of the industry is buzzing about.

However, quite apart from all this shiny new innovation on the horizon, one of the biggest issues affecting much of the trade at the moment is the commoditisation of PC hardware. Retailers, especially smaller businesses, are finding it increasingly difficult to make money out of computers themselves anymore, thanks to much cheaper netbooks, and price erosion from supermarkets and mobile phone dealers.

In this respect, one of the most interesting and tangible benefits of the i3, i5, and i7 chips appears to be Intel’s claims that the new processor platforms will push the prices of PCs up, providing better margins for retailers. Much of this is to do with incorporating those new technologies, providing the processing capability to handle them well, and ultimately leading to PCs with more margin attached to them.

The firm is calling it its biggest launch in the last ten years, and it could prove to be just as important to the rest of the industry as well.

LAST CHANCE FOR PCR AWARD TICKETS In three weeks the trade will descend upon Kensington’s famous Royal Garden Hotel for a night of networking, entertainment and celebration for the PCR Awards 2010. There are still a few spaces available, so if you haven’t got your ticket already then email Hannah.Short@intentmedia.co.uk.

Andrew Wooden, Editor andrew.wooden@intentmedia.co.uk March PCR 3

incorporating

www.pcr-online.biz

PCR Contents News 9

ISSUE 78 MARCH 2010

Asus Interview

Frontline Retail Focus 28 Indie Profile 30 Mystery Shopper 34

GfK Analysis 62 Appointments 98 Brigantia 99 TCA 102 ITACS/NASCR 104 Out of Office 120

As it expands its UK operations, Asus’ marketing specialist, John Swatton, tells us about the vision behind the firm’s first ever netbook, its eco credentials and its plans to become one of the top three PC vendors in the UK market

16

Distree XXL This month PCR joined hundreds of vendors and distributors from the EMEA IT channel at Distree XXL in Monte Carlo. We present some of the highlights and talk to the organisers about what makes the event unique

19

We talk to the organisers of Channel Expo, Incisive Media, about its upcoming London debut and what visitors can expect from this year’s show

Hardware

23

Pages 39-66

Home Security PCR talks to some key figures in the burgeoning home security sector about the latest products and the opportunities they present for the channel

Networking

Company Profile: Hannspree Territory manager Martin Kent discusses the display market and the vendor's plans for expansion

45

41

The experts tell us about the latest developments in networking technology and discuss the potential for selling into markets beyond homes and businesses

55

Software

Pages 67-84

Security Software We ask the experts about the latest trends and what we can expect from the segment this year

75

Games

Company profile: BullGuard UK and Ireland country manager Alan Case talks to PCR about the firm and the future of the market

Our monthly look at the games market

69

AVG Competition

Consumer Electronics

87

Tablet PCs Following the launch of the iPad, we take a look at what can be expected from the emerging tablet PC market in the near future

MARKETPLACE

82 72

Pages 85-119

91

GPS Devices We ask three experts if they think the dedicated sat nav sector has a future, or whether it will be overrun by free mobile alternatives

MP NEWS 96 | APPOINTMENTS 98 | BRIGANTIA 99 | TCA 102

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NEWS

Intel ushers in groundbreaking ‘new era’ of processing power New Core platform is chip giant’s biggest launch for ten years Designed to better meet consumers’ ‘voracious appetite’ for media Technology will combat low margins and commoditisation of market

Dan Belton, Intel

By Andrew Wooden

HAVING embarked on what it describes as its biggest product launch for ten years, chip giant Intel is looking to a ‘new era of processing power’, in line with the changing way the world is using computers and consumer electronics.

The firm officially launched the new 2010 Core family of chips in the UK last month at a special event in London, in which it laid out the technological benefits of the new products over predecessor Pentium.

The entire portfolio is designed to meet the growing desire consumers have for online media, provide massively increased on-board graphics capabilities, and help retailers and manufacturers combat an ever more commoditised PC market by making more margin.

www.pcr-online.biz

“We have designed our roadmap to address all of the system price points, which is an unprecedented approach,” said Dan Belton, retail director at Intel. “It’s massively important for us,

start pushing system price points up, beyond the commoditised pricing that we’ve been seeing for a while.

“It’s becoming increasingly hard to ensure that value is demonstrable in

“It’s becoming increasingly hard to ensure that value is demonstrable in store, but here’s a set of products that really drive that value. There’s absolute benefit throughout the supply chains, for the OEMs, for the retailers, and for the end consumer, based on their voracious appetite for the use of media” Dan Belton, Intel and the biggest launch in ten years.

It’s fantastically exciting, not just for us, but also for the industry. There’s now a great opportunity for retailers and OEMs to really start addressing customers’ needs and deliver products that have an absolute value that will

store, but here’s a set of products that really drive that value. There’s absolute benefit throughout the supply chains, for the OEMs, for the retailers, and for the end consumer, based on their voracious appetite for the use of media.”

The new products in the 2010 Intel Core family also have a much higher focus on high-end graphics, which the firm says will reduce the need for discrete graphics cards on many systems.

“We are delivering, in most cases, strong graphical capability for high definition playback and high definition audio and, in some cases, high quality graphics for gaming as well,” added Belton. “It is our position that in most cases for home use, with Intel graphics on-board, the chip gives a really high quality playback.”

The fact that this is the first major product launch to address all price points at once has boosted the industry’s eagerness for the range.

“Demand is outstripping our ability to supply, but we’re expecting to be right on target for our goals for the year,” said Belton.

March PCR 9

NEWS

NewsBytes HP PROFITS UP IN Q1 Hewlett Packard’s profits rose eight per cent to $31.2 billion for the first quarter of its financial year. The growth seems to have been boosted by the reduction of operating costs, with the company improving its operating margin by 20 per cent. HP was also able to boast double-digit growth for its printer, server and PC divisions.

‘BIG FREEZE’ HITS RETAIL January’s cold snap took its toll on retail, with non-food stores reporting five per cent fewer customers than the same period in 2009. According to Synovate’s Retail Traffic Index, the drop is the biggest since January 2005, when it was down 5.2 per cent. The month-onmonth fall of 27.5 per cent compared to December 2009 was slightly better than forecast.

57 MILLION TABLETS TO BE SOLD ANNUALLY BY 2015 The tablet PC market will grow to ship 57 million units annually by 2015, a report has claimed. ABI Research said that the launch of Apple’s iPad marked the real start for the media tablet category, which is projected to see four million shipments this year from various vendors. ABI defines media tablets as having a five to 11-inch touchscreen interface, with wi-fi connectivity and gaming capabilities.

IPHONE USERS COMMIT FRAUD TO GET LATEST MODEL Insurance fraud goes ‘through the roof‘ when a new version of the iPhone becomes available, electronics insurer Supercover Insurance has said. According to the firm, when a new generation of Apple’s smartphone is launched, older models are often ‘lost’, ‘stolen’ or damaged by consumers expecting to receive the latest version as a replacement. iPhone owners are 60 per cent more likely to take out insurance than other mobile users, and policies for the devices are the fastest growing type of cover in the gadget sector.

BRITONS ARE BIGGEST ONLINE SPENDERS UK consumers spent £38 billion on internet shopping last year, making them the biggest online spenders in Europe. A study by the Centre for Retail Research and price comparison site Kelkoo found that purchases by Brits made up 30 per cent of the continent’s web shopping.

Online sales grew by 12 per cent in the UK in 2009, representing 9.5 per cent of total retail sales in the country and an average of £1,102 per person.

10 PCR March

KINGSTON REPORTS SUCCESSFUL YEAR Kingston Technology saw global revenues increase by $100 million last year to $4.1 billion, representing the memory vendor’s second highest grossing year ever since the company was started in 1987. The highest was 2007, when revenues reached $4.5 billion.

SLIGHT PC GROWTH EXPECTED Worldwide spending on PCs will rise by just three per cent this year, as the industry continues to feel the effect of the recession, analysts believe. According to a forecast from IDC, PC spending will actually be better than the two per cent growth originally predicted. Overall spending on information technology is expected to reach $1.48 trillion in 2010, an increase of three per cent on last year. IDC expects hardware spending to grow by around five per cent, while software and services could see rises of two per cent and three per cent respectively.

MICROSOFT-YAHOO SEARCH ENGINE DEAL GETS ALL-CLEAR European and US regulators have approved Microsoft’s search engine partnership with Yahoo, paving the way for the two firms to take on market leader Google. Under the ten-year agreement, Microsoft will gain an exclusive license to Yahoo’s search technology, and in exchange will become Yahoo’s sole internet search and search advertising provider. A statement from the US Department of Justice said the partnership could create a “more viable competitive alternative to Google”.

Webroot’s David Bennet is eager to expand business in 2010

Ingram ramps up events portfolio

DISTRIBUTION giant Ingram Micro will host a new, large-scale show on October 6th for its retail and vendor partners, bolstering its list of unilateral trade events.

The exact venue cannot currently be revealed, though the firm told PCR: “Ingram Micro is planning on lighting up the future with an event which will be the industry’s first ‘Expo high’. High over the skies of London, some of today’s brightest IT specialists will shed light on the future of the IT world. Save the date – it’s one not to be missed.”

Meanwhile, the firm hosted another of its long-standing reseller training events in Nottingham last month.

One hundred resellers were in attendence to receive training from and network with a number of Ingram’s key vendor partners.

Keynote presentations were made by Symantec and Microsoft, and there were presentation training from Canon, Sony, Acer, Trend Micro, DLink and Blackberry. The event concluded with a gala dinner, prize draw ceremony and a disco.

www.pcr-online.biz

NEWS

Webroot looks to snatch a third of the UK’s security market Security firm launches campaign to exponentially expand its reach in UK and rest of EMEA New deals signed with DSGI, Amazon, Staples and EntaTech Key appointments have been made to drive

By Andrew Wooden

SECURITY firm Webroot is looking to replicate its huge success in the US market across EMEA, with the launch of a new product, new channel partner programme and key expansion of its regional team.

The firm has 30 per cent market share of ‘glass front retail’ in the states, and it plans to sign up 1,000 new customers this year to help it achieve similar results here. In the UK, alongside new key deals with DSGi, Amazon and Staples, Webroot sees around half of this growth coming from the independent retail sector. To

help it achieve this, the firm has signed an important distribution agreement with EntaTech “In the US marketplace we’re very, very strong in glass-front retail, and strong in the SMB market. Late last year we achieved 30 per cent market share in retail there. To get to a 30 per cent market share in the UK is going to take a little bit longer than a year, but the biggest growth will be around this independent end of the market in 2010,” said David Bennet, director of EMEA consumer business development. “Webroot has never really touched that area of the market outside of the US.”

“In the US marketplace we’re very strong in glass-front retail, and strong in the SMB market – late last year we achieved 30 per cent market share in retail there" David Bennet, Webroot In order to facilitate this growth, Webroot is launching a new channel partner programme, which provides independents with education on products, incentive schemes, a share of

the money made from renewals, and access to marketing funds.

The company has also just made three key appointments to its UK operation to help it carry out its ambitious goals across EMEA. Germaine Page has been appointed as EMEA acquisition marketing manager, Tim Maynard as UK and Ireland sales manager and William Lewis as EMEA business development manager.

These moves come alongside the launch of the latest product from the Webroot stable – Webroot Internet Security Complete – which has been redesigned with a simplified interface to give it an ‘iPhone-style feel.’

PC launched for ‘people who don’t like computers’ “Our research is very clear – people, especially older users, are concerned about starting new things and having to rely on friends and family for help” Andrew Holmes, Broadband Computer Company

www.pcr-online.biz

A UK vendor has launched a new specialised notebook aimed at technophobes and computer novices, adding to what is rapidly becoming a mini-sector of ‘idiot-proof’ PCs. The Broadband Computer Company’s Alex laptop uses a version of the Ubuntu Linux operating system, which includes basic functions such as web access, email, a media player and photo editor. Andrew Holmes, product

director and co-founder of the firm, claims it was designed “by people who themselves don’t like computers”.

The launch represents a growing trend towards stripped down, basic PCs with reduced functionality aimed at groups assumed to be put off by standard PC set-ups. Alex comes just a few months after TV presenter Valarie Singleton announced the SimplicITy range of Linux PCs for elderly people.

There have also been numerous similar stripped-down devices aimed at schools.

“We are competing with SimplicITy to an extent, but what you get from us is support,” Holmes told PCR. “Where SimplicITy has taken a flavour of Linux and offered you four big buttons to click, I think it just leaves you there. What we’re saying is this is a subscription, you pay by the month so we will be with you every step of the way.”

As Holmes suggests, this service comes at a cost. On top of the £400 price tag for the 15.4-inch laptop (soon to be upgraded to 15.6-inch), users must pay a monthly fee of £9.99, or £24.99 if they want broadband too.

“Our research is very clear – people, especially older users, are concerned about starting new things, being confused and having to rely on friends and family for help. We found that in terms of pricing, people were perfectly happy with £9.99 a month, plus the hardware price. The market we’re looking for – potential silver surfers – has got a bit more disposable income and we hope they’ll be prepared to pay for the service that we offer,” Holmes added.

Alex is currently being sold directly, but The Broadband Computer Company will be looking to move the device into retail outlets and ‘special interest groups’.

March PCR 11

NEWS

Trade readies for biggest night of the year Tickets running out for this year’s PCR Awards Only three weeks left until the prestigious event on March 25th Hundreds of industry figures to attend Security vendor AVG joins sponsor list as after-party host

By Andrew Wooden

TIME IS running out to pick up your tickets for the PCR Awards 2010, with only three weeks to go until the big night, and very limited remaining seats.

To make sure you don't miss out on the prestigious event, which takes place at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington on Thursday, March 25th, email

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Hannah.Short @intentmedia.co.uk.

Over 300 retailers, resellers, distributors and vendors will descend on the lavish London venue to celebrate the achievements of the channel over the past year. Some of biggest names in the UK PC and technology sector are in the running for awards including Microsoft, Acer, Asus, AMD, Samsung, BullGuard and PC World.

Gold Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

“We look forward to an entertaining and stimulating evening at one of the most influential events in the retail calendar” Lucy Lincoln, AVG

Gold Sponsor

Frontline Category Sponsor

Vendor Category Sponsor

Meanwhile, security firm AVG has joined the event’s long list of sponsors as afterparty host. “The retail sector is

Distribution Category Sponsor

of key strategic importance to AVG Technologies and as such we are delighted to sponsor the after-party at the PCR Awards,” said AVG’s head of UK marketing, Lucy Lincoln.

“We look forward to an entertaining and stimulating evening amidst the industry's movers and shakers and to cement our commitment to the retail channel at one of the most influential events in the retail calendar.”

Drinks Reception Sponsor

After-Party Host

Event Sponsor

Exspect forges new alliances EXSPECT WILL launch a range of Joystick Junkies gaming products later this year, following a licensing agreement between the vendor and the gaming-inspired fashion label.

The initial line will include headphones, covers for the iPod and iPhone, and handheld console covers. The products will be showcased at Los Angeles video games trade show E3, as well as alongside Joystick Junkie’s collections at major fashion events.

“With its strong, recognisable designs and established reputation

amongst gamers, Joystick Junkies is the perfect partner for us to collaborate with,” said William Slater, Expect’s VGA product manager.

“Alongside the quality of products gamers expect from us, they are sure to love the nod to retro fashion our new range will highlight.”

Exspect has also signed a deal with the Breast Cancer Campaign to create a range of MP3 and video gaming products. Initially it will launch a series of limited edition iPhone cases and protective skins for Mother’s Day, on March 14th.

The firm will follow up these deals with more strategic partnerships through 2010, as it looks to boost its presence in the UK. “The past year saw some exciting deals for Exspect, including the launch of our official licensed PSP accessories, and we will be building upon those achievements throughout 2010,” said Mike Sanderson, head of development at Exspect. “With a number of exciting projects in the pipeline, we are confident we will grow our customer base even further.”

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NEWS

TCA details Reseller Academy initiative Trade body’s new scheme aims to spread ‘best practice’ and merge qualifications to create certification similar to those used by gas and electricity engineers

By Andrew Wooden

THE TCA has confirmed plans to establish The Reseller Academy, an initiative designed to provide education and a recognisable industry standard to the UK’s IT reseller community.

Detailed at the trade body’s annual conference last week, the scheme seeks to teach ‘best practices’ to resellers, and provide an accreditation similar to those required by gas and electricity repair firms.

“Initial informal discussions have shown that there is considerable support for setting up a system that pulls together

the various academic, technical and vendor qualifications into one process that allows individuals and the enterprises they work for to be effectively assessed for their competence, commitment and knowledge,” the trade body’s president, Keith Warburton, told PCR. “The TCA, through the academy, has a key role to play as the hub of professionalism in the channel.”

The conference also played host to the first UK Reseller Forum, a joint venture between the TCA and fellow trade body CompTIA, designed to promote networking between members

and provide knowledge on new products and trends.

“There is considerable support for setting up a system that pulls together the various qualifications into one process” Keith Warburton, TCA TCA CEO Adam Harris said: “In our marketplace, the 21st century needs to be about co-operation. All players, wherever they sit in the channel, have far more to

gain by working together than viewing each other as threats.

“We are keen to build alliances with other trade bodies and we want to foster co-operation between all the players to the benefit of our members, our channel and our end user customers. It is what a proper trade association does.”

The trade body also announced that it will now be offering members free legal advice from IT law specialist Sprecher Grier Halberstam, professional indemnity insurance from Hiscox and a free finance helpline from P&A Receivables.

Adam Harris

Keith Warburton

UK distributors and dealers wanted for innovative office back pain aid TRADE PARTNERS are being sought for a new flatscreen monitor arm that promises to revolutionise desk comfort for business and home users.

The Ellipta range is being handled in the UK by BK Services, which is looking for dealers and distributors for a major sales push through the spring and summer. BK hopes to find favour with the product because it targets the eradication of back pain.

“How many desk-bound workers lean into their keyboard all day? They use expensive highly adjustable chairs, but the adjustments are made redundant because the screens are fixed in one

14 PCR March

“With Ellipta, the screen position gains fingertip precision. A good chair alone will not alleviate back pain” Nick Buckland, BK Services position,” commented BK boss Nick Buckland.

“With Ellipta, the screen position gains fingertip precision. A good chair alone will not alleviate back and neck pain. Users need to ditch

the basic monitor stand and change to an Ellipta flat-screen monitor arm.”

The multiple screen version allows users to work from several screens without having to flip backwards and forwards to each. Dual screens can be added at any time after single screen installations.

The vendor also claims that Ellipta creates up to 25 per cent more desk space, allowing for a tidier work surface and more room for documents, as the screen will now ‘float’ above the desk. An integrated USB hub enables users to quickly plug in accessories as well as being ideal for desksharing.

BK is supplying dealers direct but is also keen on potential distribution partnerships. For more information or to register your interest contact ellipta@bkservicesonline .co.uk.

BK Services claims Ellipta creates up to 25 per cent more desk space

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INTERVIEW ASUS

Pioneering spirit Having stormed the market with its range of netbooks – a category it claims to have kick-started with the EeePC in 2007 – Asus is expanding its UK operation, delving into e-readers and launching a renewed push into gaming. Andrew Wooden talks to marketing specialist John Swatton about the firm's green credentials, its history in the market and its plans to become one of the top three PC vendors…

"Our chairman recognised that technology was being used more and more by people on the go and he wanted simpler access to common applications such as email, browsing the internet and connecting to content wirelessly on a single server" John Swatton, Asus

BEFORE 2007, it’s probably fair to say not many consumers would have heard of Asus. While the company had been running a very profitable component business for years, it wasn’t until the advent of the EeePC – a launch the firm claims spurred the entire netbook movement – that the brand first came to the fore here in the UK. Now the netbook is probably the most influential category in terms of defining the direction of the PC industry. Apart from being the fastest growing type of PC for the past couple of years, the increased emphasis on mobile connectivity that it spurred is now helping to shape new categories, such as the burgeoning tablet market.

BIRTH OF THE NETBOOK According to marketing specialist John Swatton, even the architects of the earliest Asus EeePCs didn’t expect the type of device they were working on to become as pervasive as it has.

“Jonney Shih, our chairman, had a vision of providing a device. He recognised that technology was being used more and more by people on the

16 PCR March

go and he wanted simpler access to common applications such as email, browsing the internet and connecting to content wirelessly on a single server. And we looked to certain strengths and resources we had to make that happen, but we were lacking in one or two vital areas, and that’s where we worked closely with Intel.

“It turns out that when Jonney spoke to Intel it was also working on a low powered chip, but didn’t know how to package a machine around it. We worked out what it should be, as in should it have wi-fi, should it have a touchpad, a solid state John Swatton drive, and what it shouldn’t have. I think it was a struggle in the early days because they weren’t

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INTERVIEW ASUS

quite sure… No one had tried to build that type of device. Within a couple of days brainstorming we came out with the first device. I don’t think anyone actually predicted it would be as successful as it was. I know in the early days a lot of people challenged the Asus approach, but we’ve proved a lot of people wrong.”

NEW FRONTIERS Now almost every PC vendor is manufacturing some kind of netbook, or at least a device with the same philosophy of high portability and low cost. Meanwhile, Asus is leveraging its strength in this area – as well as its sturdy component business, which remains one of its most lucrative ventures – to push further into new product segments. The Republic of Gamers division is the dedicated gaming section of the business, and it is utilising some very interesting proprietary and licensed technology to arm its new range of gaming devices.

“Republic of Gamers has helped us to innovate on the gaming aspect.

Going forward that will continue, certainly on the notebook side,” continues Swatton. “The G51J 3D we’ve just launched is the world's first laptop to use Nvidia’s 3D Vision technology. And the G73, which is very reminiscent of a stealth fighter, is coming to market very soon. Again, that is built on the ‘Airo’ fold/unfold concept we unveiled at CES at the start of 2009. There’s also Nvidia’s

Optimus technology, which will be shipping on the UL30 and UL50 and N61 notebooks. It’s like a hybrid engine.

It’ll run on the onboard graphics, and as and when required it will automatically enable the dedicated graphics chip, if more graphics intensive applications are needed.”

While it’s a fair way off, Asus also caught the trade’s eye earlier this year with its Waveface designs – a series of concepts ranging from wearable watchlike PCs, to a device that recognised hand gestures in the air.

Meanwhile, the firm is investing heavily in the e-reader market, which it sees as becoming a key sector this year.

“Our strategy is to develop products that are integrated as part of a digital lifestyle, and having a vision of how everything can work together,” adds Swatton. “Consumers are increasingly using technology to engage with their friends, family and colleagues on the go, but the portability of a device remains a key factor. This is why a number of devices have great functionality but not necessarily a large screen. E-readers, on the other hand, focus on delivering content easily to the consumer, without necessarily providing all the other functionality for creating content.”

GREEN AGENDA If you listen to much of Asus’ messaging, there is a pervasive green theme that seems to go a stage beyond the general tipping of the corporate hat that most companies feel compelled to make towards environmental issues. Far from being an afterthought, the firm claims such thinking is fundamental to every aspect of its operations.

“We’ve had a green focus team since 2000,” notes Swatton. “It’s led by our chairman. The ethos behind that is to look into reducing the impact on our environment, so everything from R&D,

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Chairman Jonney Shih’s dedication to Buddhism is said to influence Asus’ green ethos

"We refined the manufacturing process to reduce the cost of the Bamboo series. We don’t expect customers to pay a premium – we're trying to encourage them to choose a product that reduces the impact on the environment” John Swatton, Asus sales, marketing, manufacturing, even packaging – right across the board.

Certainly on products such as the EeeBox, which reduces power consumption by about 90 per cent when compared to a typical PC. We’re also launching the new Bamboo series in March – we spent 18 months refining the manufacturing process to reduce the cost of manufacturing it, so that the price will be more in line with typical notebooks. We don’t expect customers to pay as much of a premium – we’re trying to encourage people to choose a product that reduces the impact on the environment.”

This ethos appears to tie in with Jonney Shih’s link to Buddhism – and he is remarkably frank about how the religious practice plays a part in the direction of the firm. According to Shih: “In Buddhism you learn to accept everything, to let it flow

through you. Then you can slow down and think clearly. Most people think Buddhism is passive or about escape. It’s not. It’s about confronting what’s in front of you with a clear and flexible mind.

That might be a hot day or your competition, but you accept it and do everything to the best of your ability at that moment.”

EXPANDING BORDERS In terms of the long term vision of Asus in the UK, with a host of products launches, regional office expansions and a concerted drive to boost awareness of its brand to consumers, the vendor has lofty goals.

“Our longer term objectives are to become top five and eventually top three. We were top three in EMEA for Q4 last year, and we’re number two in Germany, so there’s no reason why we can’t achieve similar success in the UK. We are currently expanding the UK office by a number of staff we’re also investing in our relationship with the distribution channel and retail partners. It’s all part of our commitment to the UK,” Swatton concludes.

March PCR 17

SHOW REVIEW DISTREE XXL

Monte Carlo or bust There was only one place the EMEA IT distribution channel wanted to be last month – living it up in Monte Carlo. Or, to be more precise, enjoying the set-up at the hugely popular Distree XXL event and the opportunity to network and develop more business. Andrew Wooden reports from Monaco...

“Distree XXL 2010 proved to be a hugely successful event once again. With representatives from 130 vendors and more than 350 distributors, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive” Farouk Hemraj, Distree Events

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FOR PURE spectacle and showmanship, you’ll never beat the trade show goliaths of CeBIT, CES and Computex. The hoards of exhibitors and large-scale, flashy stands make for a hugely comprehensive and, let’s face it, fun snapshot of the technology trade. But the sheer scale of them can occasionally provide a barrier in itself. Since most buyers, distribution bosses and retailers will be focussed on a particular territory, massive-scale international extravaganzas aren’t always the best place to track down the individual you can actually do business with.

This is where events like Retail Vision, Channel Expo and Distree come into their own – smaller events which facilitate more tightly focussed meetings between decision makers in the IT trade. Distree XXL, which took place in the notoriously cash-ridden city of Monte Carlo last month, is designed to represent the entire EMEA IT distribution channel. On the first day, 850 senior executives from 65 countries descended on the expansive Fairmont Hotel in the centre of town, with 4,500 one-to-one meetings having been set up for the event in total.

While these private meetings are certainly the focus of the show, there was also an exhibition hall where vendors were able to demonstrate new products, looking to attract and develop new business.

Farouk Hemraj, CEO at Distree Events, tells us: “Distree XXL 2010 proved to be a hugely successful event once again. With representatives from 130 vendors, more than 350 distributors, and the introduction of e-tailers to the delegate mix, the initial feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive.

>>>

March PCR 19

SHOW REVIEW DISTREE XXL

>>>

“As the event organiser, we focus on a measure called ‘return on time invested’ (ROTI) when we assess the value that delegates extract from attending Distree XXL. The sheer number of vendors looking to open up new channels – coupled with a powerful conference programme featuring dozens of channel analysts, consultants and research houses – helped us ensures that we met our ROTI targets at Distree XXL 2010.”

In terms of future events, details are currently thin on the ground, but it looks as though there will be some changes afoot for the next occasion.

decent margin opportunities. It is essentially an extremely slimmed down base unit and can be plugged into a TV or monitor. The basic model retails for around £229, though even cheaper versions are available as ‘starter kits’ Arctic Cooling was displaying its widening product range with its foray into the gaming console market. The Arctic GCM is a handheld console aimed at four to ten-year-olds and comes preloaded with 80 games built in. It will retail at around €40, and will be available this month through EntaTech. The 32-bit Arctic GC Pro console is more akin to the Nintendo Wii, plugging into the TV and utilising

“We learn from every event we organise and will continue to invest in our web platform and business processes to ensure that Distree XXL remains the number one event for the EMEA distribution channel. We have some exciting development plans for the year ahead” Farouk Hemraj, Distree Events “We learn from every event we organise and will continue to invest in our web platform and business processes to ensure that Distree XXL remains the number one event for the EMEA distribution channel. We will listen carefully to all the feedback we receive regarding Distree XXL 2010 and already have some exciting development plans for the year ahead.”

VENDOR HIGHLIGHTS Gigabyte was previewing what it calls the ‘mobility empowerment’ initiative – essentially a combination netbook and dock, which it says is designed to bridge the gap between desktops and laptops. The most striking example of this technology was a docking station loaded with a Geforce GT220 graphics card, which significantly boosts the graphics capability of an average laptop while it is connected. Gigabyte is currently in discussions with distributors in the UK, and it is expected to be available within the next couple of months.

Vendor Zotac was showcasing its small form factor dual-core Mini-PCs, the first of which launched in October, with four new models expected this year. The devices are particularly customisable for retailers, presenting

20 PCR March

motion-sensing controllers. It comes loaded with 48 games and, crucially, will also retail for €40.

Taking pride of place at the Hannspree stand was a 28-inch novelty Apple-shaped TV, which was spearheading a wide range of similar devices in various animal or fruit shapes. It was also showcasing its extensive range of photo frames, notebooks and monitors.

Sony concentrated on a number of its recent optical drives, including the BD-5730S Blu-ray burner. External and internal read and write capable devices were also on display.

Exspect highlighted several of its key iPod and iPhone speaker docks, iPod cases and FM transmitters.

There were also a number of brands looking to crack the UK market for the first time by snapping distributor deals.

Hedy is currently trying to find disties in the UK market with its barebones netbook (currently in the prototype stage) and all-in-one PC ranges. It has quite a broad portfolio including laptop bags and small form factor mobile phones. Polish firm Media-Tech has a range of computer accessories it was looking to spread to Western Europe, as were fellow accessory vendor Acme, and laptop and camera bag firm Sumdex.

AND THE AWARD GOES TO… THE EVENT drew to a close with the EMEA Channel Academy Awards, held in the Chapiteau de Fontvielle in Monaco. The ceremony represented the European industry as whole, even if the finalists did not have a large presence at Distree XXL. The winners were: VENDOR OF THE YEAR Accessories – Microsoft Components – Western Digital Desktop/Notebook – Asus Digital Lifestyle – Apple Peripherals – Samsung Printing – HP Software – Microsoft Channel Initiative – Promate DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR Africa – Ingram Micro Central and Eastern Europe – ABC Data DACH – Actebis Middle East and North Africa – Draw between Aptec and Redington Gulf Northern Europe – GNT Russia and CIS – Elko South East Europe – Arena Southern Europe – Esprinet UK and Ireland – Westcoast Channel Initiative – Ingram Micro

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INTERVIEW CHANNEL EXPO

London calling Channel Expo, the UK’s biggest channel event for the PC industry, is hitting London for the first time in May, a move the organiser believes will give a boost to the show. While budgets are still tight in the aftermath of the recession, Andrew Wooden asks Mark Burton, publisher at Incisive Media, how the show fits into the modern industry, what’s changing this year and ultimately why people should attend…

“The show gives vendors and distributors the opportunity to showcase their latest products, and also to get valuable feedback” Mark Burton, Incisive Media

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How has Channel Expo’s focus changed over the years?

As the technology industry changes, so does Channel Expo’s focus. We have witnessed the evolution from mainframe to client server to web and now cloud architecture. Likewise, our visitors have evolved since the first Channel Expo 12 years ago. There is a move away from box-shifting business models to more sophisticated provision of solutions, crammed with value-add. The show’s focus will, however, always be to bring together

buyers and sellers in a focused, high quality, professional environment.

business advice to our visitors through the education programme.

What would you is say the main job of the show now?

Channel Expo is a place for visitors to discover the latest products and services, and for our exhibitors it offers a unique opportunity to meet potential customers face-to-face to build on existing relationships and make new business contacts.

An ever-increasing key component of the show is offering training and

Is it more about showing new products, or networking?

I think it’s a mixture of both. The show gives vendors and distributors the opportunity to showcase their latest products, and also to get valuable feedback on what they are doing right and where they might be going wrong.

The show allows resellers to keep up-todate with new emerging technologies whilst also

>>>

March PCR 23

INTERVIEW CHANNEL EXPO

>>>

providing a stage to cultivate new contacts and catch up with existing relationships.

How important are the education aspects of the show?

The education programme is key to the visitor experience and each year it becomes even more important. This year we have two theatres – the Technology Theatre includes demonstrations from Google, Microsoft, IBM, HP and many more leading manufacturers who will demonstrate their latest offerings.

The CRN Theatre will host training sessions on increasing sales, effective marketing, credit and finance, sales techniques and other essential skills for running a successful reseller business.

The training sessions will offer new insights, real-world examples, tools and templates that can be quickly applied and that are specific to the needs of reseller businesses.

“The biggest strength of exhibiting at a trade show is being able to engage in the power of conversation with your target audience” Mark Burton, Incisive Media

Why did you move it to London?

This decision was taken after extensive analysis of both the show’s exhibitor and visitor database, and also because it opens up wider opportunities for our exhibitors.

Are you expecting a rise in attendees this year?

Last year’s official count saw visitor numbers the same as 2008, despite the

global recession, standing at a little more than 3,000 for the entire two days. With the move to London, exhibitors confirmed and the education programme I would expect to see us up on 2009 figures. For exhibitors, it’s about quality not quantity.

What exhibitors are you expecting this year and what are the chief benefits to them?

Exhibitors that have already confirmed include A Server, BullGuard, Compellent, Fujitsu, Gamma Telecom, Gen-X IT, Ingram Micro, Intel, Kaseya, Microsoft, Norman Data, Ricoh and Sophos. Exhibitors benefit from being able to fulfil a number of sales and marketing objectives at the same time – lead qualification, market research, product launches and brand building.

I’d say the biggest strength of exhibiting at a trade show is being able to engage in the power of conversation with your target audience.

Need To Know: Channel Expo 2010 Date: May 12-13th Venue: The National Hall, Olympia, London Registrations can be made at www.channelexpo.co.uk

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SLOW TIMES FOR NEWLY RELEASED PRODUCTS AS THE comments from our respondents suggest, sales at this time of year are quite slow, with most customers tempted mainly by special offers or cheaper products. This is a trend that is reflected in many of this month’s sales charts.

Every single one of the products in our graphics card category is now everso-slightly out of date as the industry moves forward towards DirectX 11 compatibility. Every device shown is from the last generation of DX10.1 compatible products, and while they are still highly competitive – for example our top seller, PNY’s GT 220, is Windows 7 ready and will run most of today’s popular gaming titles at a sub-£100 price point – the lack of DirectX 11 support puts them on the inevitable slide towards obsolescence.

Similarly, while Norton 360 v3 has consistently been at the top of our security sales chart, it will be out of date by the time this issue goes out.

Norton 360 v4 is out now and it will be interesting to see if the resultant drop in price will keep v3 at the top of the charts, or if it will be dethroned by its successor.

The desktop and laptop categories continue to be dominated by low cost, media-centric devices, which indicates that the public demand for such products continues unabated.

Meanwhile, our peripherals charts are led by low cost or bundled hardware. The top selling mouse is Logitech’s M115, a compact wired mobile mouse that retails at just over £10, while the leader of the keyboard category is a complete bundle of Microsoft’s Wireless desktop accessories. matt.grainger@intentmedia.co.uk

28 PCR March

From the Frontline This month Infinite FMS has surveyed 280 stores across the UK to gain real ‘grass roots’ feedback and opinion on the best-selling products in-store and issues affecting the industry...

LAPTOPS 1

ACER AS5532

2

TOSHIBA L450 13X

3

TOSHIBA L500-1XC

4

HP G61-410

5

ADVENT ROMA

DESKTOPS 1

COMPAQ CQ5226

2

PACKARD BELL IMEDIA A2620

3

ACER ASPIRE X3812

4

HP 6210

5

APPLE IMAC

GRAPHICS CARDS 1

NVIDIA PNY GT 220

2

NVIDIA PNY GEFORCE 210

3

ATI SAPPHIRE RADEON 4830

4

NVIDIA PNY GT 240

5

ATI SAPPHIRE RADEON 4670

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RETAIL FOCUS

KEY COMMENTS Infinite FMS is a specialist field marketing provider delivering bespoke solutions purely for the technology sector. With over ten years experience, we understand how to support manufacturers with the execution of their below-the-line campaigns, ensuring brands are reinforced, product messages are effectively delivered and sales objectives are achieved. Our services include product training, compliance & data capture, promotion & demonstration activity, Mystery Shopping & Roadshows. To learn more about how we can support you, please contact us on 01793 686504 or visit our website at www.infinitefms.com

DO YOU THINK 3D TECHNOLOGY WILL HIT THE MAINSTREAM IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS? It could be the runaway success of Avatar, but a large majority of the retailers that we spoke to are confident that 2010 is the year for 3D technology. Having hovered on the periphery since the fifties, new technology has brought 3D roaring into the public eye.

Yes 62% No 15% Don’t know 23%

During the canvassing of retail store staff, we looked to obtain real honest feedback about key themes running through the IT industry which may give us an insight into the mindset of retailers and their experiences at the coal face of the industry. Below are some of the most frequent (and pertinent) comments that were made:

MICE 1

LOGITECH M115

2

MICROSOFT OPTICAL 1000

3

IT WORKS MBT01

4

LOGITECH M205 WIRELESS

5

PC LINE RET1

KEYBOARDS 1

MICROSOFT 1000 Wireless Media

2

LOGITECH COMPACT KEYBOARD K300

3

IT WORKS WIRED KEYBOARD

4

MICROSOFT COMFORT CURVE 2000

5

PC LINE PCL MED2

ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE 1

NORTON 360 V3.0

2

NORTON INTERNET SECURITY

3

NORTON ANTIVIRUS 2010

4

KASPERSKY 2010

5

MCAFEE 2010

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“The best-selling products are always reflected by what is on offer” “We are now in the dead period after Christmas and expect sales to pick up from Easter” “Laptops make up the majority of sales, netbooks have slowed down slightly and the store sells few desktops” “Laptops on aisle ends always sell best” “Prices keep getting lower, specs higher and customers’ expectations keep getting bigger” March PCR 29

RETAIL FOCUS INDIE PROFILE

PERSONAL COMPUTER SERVICES

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Log onto PC Indie.com or call Veronica on

0870 027 6519 Ƶŝůƚ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵ͘​͘​͘ ƚŚĞ ^ŽŌǁĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ

This month sees Roger Humm talking to Stuart Reid of Personal Computer Services from Peebles in the Scottish Borders...

PERSONAL Computer Services was set up in the spring of 2002. Initially the business was started as a partnership by Stuart Reid and his then business partner who opened a small shop in Innerleithen High Street.

As the business grew the partners took over premises in Peebles, a neighbouring town. For a while they ran the business from both shops.

However, when Reid’s business partner decided to pursue a different career in 2006, he closed both shops and moved into his current larger premises in the Northgate Peebles.

“It was never going to be possible to provide the personal service the business is built on without taking someone on full time,” said Reid.

“Luckily, fellow computer engineer John Scott was able to join me full time. Thus, we have been able to maintain the high level of personal service our customers look for when they come into the shop or have us working in their homes and places of work.”

When asked how he saw our industry from his location in the Scottish Borders, Reid added: “As everyone knows, the computer industry is continuously changing. The constant advancements in computer technology, which make production methods cheaper, have changed the work we do in the sense that customers tend now to want us to save their data and transfer it to new equipment.

“Whereas, when I started in this business, our remit tended far more towards repairing and upgrading existing systems. This trend is reflected in the number of people purchasing laptops, anticipating having to replace them every couple of years. Rather than buying tower systems, which they would expect to keep for a least five or six years.”

FACT BOX Year established: 2002 Number of outlets: 1 Number of staff: 3 Regular vendor lines: AVG, Bunker Backup, Fujitsu, JetTec, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, NetPro Contact name and address: Stuart Reid, Personal Computer Services, 53 Northgate, Peebles, Borders, Scotland EH45 8BU Telephone: 01721 724438 Email: p-c-services@supanet.com Website: www.laptop-computersales.co.uk Roger Humm is Head of Membership Relations at Brigantia Computer Experts – roger.humm@brigantia.com

* a nominal charge of £4 is charged for direct to customer shipments

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RETAIL FOCUS MYSTERY SHOPPER

Stoke on Trent This month, Mystery Shopper looks for the best router available to wirelessly connect three devices including a PC desktop, laptop and printer...

PC WORLD I would be amazed if anyone didn’t know this store had a sale on as they entered; inside, point of sale picked out prominently displayed items which were reduced in price and positioned in high footfall locations.

The store layout was easy to follow despite the size and I quickly located the routers, neatly displayed between hard drives and PC accessories.

Both Belkin and Netgear had the lion’s share of the shelving space at eye level. Display boards around the products gave step-by-step instructions about how routers work and how to select the correct product for your needs, breaking the units into two separate sections – cable or landline.

34 PCR March

I decided to hunt down some help via the customer help desk and found an assistant, who enquired about my needs and what I intended to use the router for. I explained I would be printing and sharing files including video, photos and music.

“I would say the Belkin N300+ Modem router kit would a good choice,” he said. “I’ve used this before and it’s quick and has a good range. The router kit is priced at £129.99 and includes a USB port that allows an external hard drive to be linked directly to the router and shared with wirelessly connected laptops and PCs.” He was very enthusiastic about the product and had answers for all of my queries. I was very

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RETAIL FOCUS MYSTERY SHOPPER

Turn the page for more Mystery Shopper results

>>>

impressed with how he simplified technical answers without sounding at all patronising.

I asked for some information to take away, which the store assistant quickly located. He commented:“If you have any questions or issues, please come back and see me. We have a technical support line and online support as well should you need any help.”

A comparison to another product would have been useful, but the choice made was given with confidence. I left the store SCORE having nearly bought a router I didn’t need – a very good sign indeed.

8/10

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CURRYS DIGITAL

NSB DISTRIBUTION

THE SNOWY weather was obviously taking its toll on the footfall level as the store was quiet and staff milled around freely, appearing unoccupied. The front of the shop displayed bold posters shouting ‘sale’ and ‘no VAT added’ from the large window bays either side of the entrance.

I found the router shelves and began inspecting the options available. Belkin and Netgear products dominated the display, ranging in price from £29.99 to £139.99.

After ten minutes of browsing the boxes I went to search out assistance, found a member of staff, and he happily returned to the display to advise me.

On handing me a boxed product, he began: “I would choose the Belkin enhanced wireless connection starter kit. It comes with a high speed ADSL router with built-in modem and a USB dongle in case your laptop doesn’t have wireless built in. It uses wireless N standards, so it has a very fast network connection.”

This choice looked acceptable and seemed to tick all the necessary boxes. I wasn’t exactly sure what ‘wireless N standards’ were, but he spoke with confidence, which was reassuring. “This is a popular router, because you get the USB dongle as well as the router for a competitive price; Linksys does a similarly priced and featured device but I prefer Belkin.”

The assistant looked to have made his mind up that this was the product for me, so I thanked him for his time. I was pleased with the overall mystery shop; it didn’t set the world alight, but I received a solid SCORE recommendation backed by good product knowledge and confidence.

THERE WERE various products on display in the window of NSB distribution, but there were no visible routers. The sales floor, meanwhile, had multiple displays including ones for PC towers, various data storage devices and audio discs. Two members of staff were present. One of them greeted me with a pleasant and warm smile and asked if he could assist.

I explained my requirements and he moved towards a shelf which was home to a range of TP Link routers and recommended the TP Link TDW8920G wireless router priced at £35. “I have this one at home; it’s very good,” he said. “You can set it up very quickly and all my family access it. The speed always remains quick.”

The shop assistant’s knowledge of the chosen router was extensive and he was very comfortable talking about it, although I felt this may have prevented him recommending another option which wasn’t so familiar.

Before leaving, I asked for some details to take away. He produced a leaflet with other services available in the store, noted down the selected router model number and said I could call if I had any more questions, I thanked him for his help and let him get back to his work.

The visit showed a very solid personal customer experience of the sort often received when shopping with independent retailers. I was well looked after and a recommendation was made that was backed by personal experiences. The range of routers available may have been smaller than what some of SCORE the nationals offer, but the customer service was definitely on par.

9/10

9/10

March PCR 35

RETAIL FOCUS MYSTERY SHOPPER This Mystery Shop was conducted by infinite Field Marketing Solutions, a leading provider of field marketing services to the technology sector.

The solutions provided include Training, Market Research, Mystery Shopping, Demonstration Days, Roadshows, Merchandising and Compliance & Data Capture.

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THE LARGE windows gave unobstructed views into the tidy two-tiered store and there were sales posters in them too. Once inside, I found a router range including Develo, Belkin and Netgear products.

There were many staff members around, but it took ten minutes to catch the attention of one, who asked how he could help me. I recited my quest and he paused for thought before reaching for a Netgear DGB111G Wireless G Modem Router Bundle priced at £59.99. “This should do it,” he said, while reading the box. “It comes with a USB dongle to plug into your laptop or PC if it isn’t already wirelessly enabled.”

“That sounds good,” I replied. “But what makes this better than the others you have?” At this point I think the box didn’t have much more to give as the assistant’s conviction in his decision began to waver. I waited, hoping for a second choice or an up-sell, but he seemed to be done.

I asked whether he had any literature to take away, but when he replied that he didn’t, I thanked him for his time and let him go.

With a range of routers available comparable to other stores visited, the experience was lacking in the actual sale process. The reliance on the product box to deliver sales information SCORE doesn’t inspire confidence in choices, especially if you have already read it.

LARGE exterior posters promoted the January sale and ‘No VAT increase on selected lines’ as I approached the well-lit store. A recent refit was evident with a new layout, fixtures and signage throughout the sales floor.

The router range was slightly smaller than I expected from such a large store, though Belkin was well represented. An explanation board was located between the cable and landline router sections to help customers narrow the choices displayed.

After ten minutes of browsing, I asked for assistance. The staff member listened carefully and picked up the Belkin G54 Modem Router and Adaptor Bundle, priced at £74.99. “This has a USB dongle included, which you can plug into your laptop or desktop PC if it isn’t already wireless compatible. It uses the G standard, which should be adequate for your needs and has 128bit WEP encryption for security.” He went on to talk about signal strength and the differences between cable and landline routers, which showed his product knowledge was very good but his pitch was a little too technical for my understanding.

I got some information to take away and left feeling SCORE informed, but unsure if the product recommended was really the best for me.

IT WAS DIFFICULT to tell if the shop was actually open as I approached – the door shutter was still visible and there was little light from within. Plain cardboard boxes on the sales floor gave a cluttered feel to the already cosy environment.

I was warmly greeted by the only staff member in the store, who asked a number of questions to establish what I wanted and what I would be using the network for. He then walked over to a brown box and removed a TP Link W890/G router. “I will sell you this one for £32.50 cash,” he said. “This is the cheapest store in town.”

Apart from the product displays in the window, there was nothing else to see – everything inside was stored within brown boxes. I awaited some product description, but nothing came. The shop assistant was basing the sale solely on the low price he was quoting. I explained I was just looking and asked if he could note down some details. He did and handed me some information and a business card.

The description contained some key features of the router: it was a high-speed DSL modem, wireless G access point and four-port Ethernet router, running on the G network standard. The conversation ended and I SCORE made my exit.

All in all, it was a rather odd shop experience.

5/10

7/10

4/10

[SUMMARY] IT WAS surprising to find so much variation in the knowledge levels of staff about a product that is essential to most customers. Recommendations largely relied on personal experiences rather than

36 PCR March

solid product knowledge, although Belkin proved a more popular recommendation in national stores.

The mystery shop showed that good customer service can be given within any retail store and that it

is not dependent on range size or square footage. It boils down to a personal exchange offering a clear, confident choice backed with product knowledge and enthusiasm.

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Hardware PCR’s monthly look at recent developments in the hardware market

P 45

HOME SECURITY SECTOR GUIDE A look at the home surveillance market and some of the opportunities that it brings to the consumer electronics sector

P 41

P 55

HANNSPREE COMPANY PROFILE

NETWORKING SECTOR GUIDE

UK and Northern Europe territory manager Martin Kent talks about Hannsree’s rising profile and its plans for 2010

There’s more to networking than routers and cables. We talk to some key industry figures about the latest developments

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P 62

GFK RESEARCH Account manager Sean Fellows discusses the success of the netbook market in 2009 despite the economic downturn

March PCR 39

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HARDWARE HANNSPREE

Hanns around the world With multi-touch and 3D technology becoming more important to the industry, desktop monitors and laptop screens themselves have seen more attention over the last year, as consumers and corporate customers look to the new features to offer a revitalising boost to the market.

Andrew Wooden talks to Martin Kent, territory manager for the UK and Northern Europe at monitor, laptop, TV and digital photo frame vendor Hannspree, as it looks towards more expansion through 2010…

You seemed to gain a fair bit more visibility at retail in 2009 – how successful was the year for you?

2009 was an extremely important year for the Hannspree and HannsG brands. A deluge of new channel customers helped both brands to achieve growth in new important markets and ensured the HannsG monitor brand remained a top six player for sales in the UK. A growth in retail business was achieved through new relationships gained with PC World, Currys Digital and Staples.

2009 also saw Hannspree take bold steps to expand its well known TV and monitor product portfolio and enter new uncharted markets. Products such as digital photo frames, novelty gadgets and the acclaimed Hannsnote netbook

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series have contributed to Hannspree becoming a ‘consumer electronics giant’ across Europe in 2009.

Last year you worked with MSI on the Hannsnote laptop. How did that go and will you be moving more into that category this year?

The Hannsnote was received extremely well in the channel. Our customers achieved great results with the product and as such we will continue to supply and extend the Hannsnote product range this year. We have two new models which will come to market in Q2; a successor for the current Hannsnote, and a new model to the series, which will offer a larger display and a new Intel low power consumption CPU.

How are stand-alone monitors fairing with the continual rise in notebook sales?

We believe that the rise of laptops, netbooks and even tablet PCs is helping to fuel the standalone monitor market. The portable computer market concentrates on providing the most

transportable solution and consequently size is most often on the decrease. Consumers realise the irreplaceable visual comfort of the bigger screen with higher resolution, and so

>>>

March PCR 41

HARDWARE HANNSPREE

>>>

the smaller devices encourage consumers to choose to connect to a large screen monitor when at home or in the office. The prices of monitors and portable computing devices are becoming much more affordable for the average consumer and so it is realistic for consumers to invest in and enjoy the best of both worlds. Also, larger screens with higher resolutions are vital for most of the sector’s current trends. Gaming, video editing, entertainment are all standard uses of PC equipment nowadays and for the foreseeable future.

Multi-touch looks like its going to be one of the most interesting developments in the monitor market this year, what are Hannspree’s plans in that area?

Multi-touch is certainly an interesting development for the monitor market.

We are not yet entirely convinced that there will be a large market and it is very much still in a development stage.

We have invested in R&D for this technology and developed a Hannspree widescreen multi-touch monitor prototype which is in final stage of development but whether we bring it to market or not is a business decision that will be based solely on market demand.

3D is another interesting development that looks set to be a defining development in 2010 – how big do you think this will become and how will you be approaching it?

We are certain that 3D technology is the future of displays. The content providers are very interested in this technology as it has fundamental advantages for the user including increased visual bandwidth. For manufacturers and suppliers alike, 3D technology has the wow factor and evokes an emotional aspect in the purchasing decision for technology adopters. The technology is at an early stage of commercialisation and aspects like market size and time to market need to be considered seriously before Hannspree makes a decision to launch 3D monitors. In the current monitor market, the gaming applications are the biggest driver for 3D and so we are seriously assessing our strengths and weaknesses for this segment in order to make an imminent decision on when to develop for this sector. In the long run it will undoubtedly be important for any display brand to offer 3D solutions.

As well as monitors, you’re also involved in digital photo frames and TVs. Where do you see these aspects of your business going over the course of the year?

Digital photo frames are a great way for Hannspree to unleash the imaginative, design-driven development that has made the Hannspree brand so recognisable. We are adept at marrying high quality LCD panels with eye-catching, unique designs. This year our digital photo frames take the form of animals, following the success of the animal range of TVs. 2010 will be a very

“We will continue to expand the Hannspree range of consumer products, which allow us to express our passion for design and draw a lot of positive attention to the brand” Martin Kent, Hannspree important year for Hannspree’s LCD TV business. After the success last year of the ST Series, we hope to continue driving sales and gaining market share with a new range of affordable TVs in various sizes, equipped with HD tuners. Hannspree are also looking forward to announcing a new series of TVs featuring LED technology this summer. LED technology has helped us to reduce the overall thickness of our TV range, which translates into better looking, slimmer designs, and will help improve our green credentials. Our new LED TV range will feature a triple tuner line up; DVB-T, DVB-C and analog.

Interest in tablet style devices is steadily growing momentum, especially following the launch of the Apple iPad. Is this an area you’re looking into?

It’s too early to say.

What are your main goals for 2010?

Any plans for expansion?

The HannsG brand is very much established in the UK now and has gained a very comfortable top six market position. In order to grow the HannsG brand, 2010 will see us

42 PCR March

focussing our attention on some niche markets where we can explore our natural business strengths.

Hard glass solutions that address the needs of the education and public sectors; we believe this will improve our brand recognition and therefore sales in these very healthy markets.

The introduction of LED backlit LCD monitors to our portfolio, as well as some new stylish designs and improved visual technologies, will expand our consumer and business offerings. LED technology will also play a part in increasing sales of the Hannspree TV series. With the HannsG brand established and thriving in the monitor market, the Hannspree TV brand will be a high priority in 2010.

We will also continue to expand the Hannspree range of consumer electronics, which allow us to express our passion for design and draw a lot of positive attention to the brand.

Hannspree is an internationally recognised brand, helped by exposure created with the sponsorship of the World Superbike Championship. In 2010, we are investing more marketing resources into further, exciting events that will promote the Hannspree brand to new audiences.

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March PCR 43

CONTACTS

HARDWARE HOME SECURITY

CCI Distribution: 01423 704 700 EntaTech: 0333 101 1000 EyeSpy247: 0845 5440 288 Gem Distribution: 01279 822 822 KMS Components: 02920 713 713 Micro-P: 01282 776 776 Smithie UK: 01256 844 028 Y3K: 0844 947 3000

[

Y3K REMOTE VIEW 2 CAMERA INTERNAL/EXTERNAL CCTV SYSTEM

]

SRP: £159.99 Distributor: Direct They say: View your home 24 hours a day from your mobile Specs: Two weatherproof cameras with up to 15 metres infrared LED night vision, USB PC digital video recording device and software that allows the system to perform functions including motion activation, scheduled recording, pan tilt zoom (PTZ) and speed dome camera control, remote access via web and 3G

On the record The British public may have become used to Big Brother watching their every move, but are consumers really filling their homes with yet more surveillance equipment? Nicky Trup speaks to some vendors and distributors about the emerging home security market and the opportunities it presents for the channel…

“The media has a massive impact on people’s awareness of their own personal security. Many home owners are now looking to protect their personal surroundings – we have seen a massive uptake in home DIY camera kits” Dean Langford, EntaTech

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A NORTHAMPTON couple hit the headlines earlier this year when video clips from their home security system got their antisocial neighbours evicted.

Paul and Carol Mitchell presented CCTV footage to their neighbours’ landlord, who then removed the abusive family that had committed, in the words of The Sun, “more than 200 yobbish incidents in under a year”.

While extreme, it seems the Mitchells are not unique. Surveillance equipment is no longer the preserve of city centres and business premises – up and down the country private citizens are installing cameras and monitoring equipment of their own, whether it be

to record evidence of anti-social behaviour, to deter burglars or simply to keep tabs on the kids.

“The media has a massive impact on people’s awareness of their own personal security and their belongings.

With this in mind, many home owners are now looking to protect their own personal surroundings – we have seen a massive uptake in home DIY camera kits,” comments Dean Langford, EntaTech’s CCTV product specialist.

As the technology becomes more affordable and accessible, its popularity with home users increases.

“We have seen a major growth in the capturing and recording side of our

business. With storage and memory prices coming down we’re able to sell products with an increased video capacity,” says Alastair Park, Swann Security’s sales manager for Europe.

One element of the surveillance sector that has seen significant growth in recent years is IP cameras – also known as network cameras. Although technically available since the nineties, use of the device has only become widespread since broadband, and later wi-fi, hit the mainstream. Unlike traditional CCTV, network cameras allow the user to view their footage from anywhere via a secure web log-in, even

>>>

March PCR 45

HARDWARE HOME SECURITY

[

[

LOGITECH OUTDOOR ADD-ON SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM

]

[

LOGITECH INDOOR VIDEO SECURITY MASTER SYSTEM

]

SRP: £233.97 Distributor: Gem Distribution

SRP: £279 Distributor: Gem Distribution

They say: Lets you keep an eye on your property – even in harsh conditions

They say: Gives you peace of mind even when you’re not around

Specs: Weather-resistant design, scalable resolution up to 640 x 480, motion-activated mobile alerts, remote viewing from anywhere via a password-protected, web-based account, multiple mounting options, homeplug connectivity

Specs: Includes software, USB receiver and indoor camera, homeplug and ethernet connectivity, footage can be stored and viewed later, motionactivated mobile and email alerts, remote viewing online, support for up to six indoor and outdoor cameras

SYNOLOGY VS60

]

[

SRP: £235 Distributor: Smithie UK

Specs: Two USB ports, VGA video output, 3.5mm stereo audio jack, four or six channels, PTZ capability, records at D1 resolution

from a 3G phone. With high-resolution images and the capability for digital zoom, the picture quality is often superior to analogue systems.

“Given the availability and penetration of broadband and the increasing simplicity of IP cameras, they’re coming into the fore as the next step in the evolution of how individuals would like to protect the people and places important to them,” says Paresh Morjaria, MD of EyeSpy247.

46 PCR March

]

SRP: £299, £349 (HD) Distributor: KMS Components

They say: A power-saving and easy-to-use solution for monitoring up to six IP cameras

>>>

CNM SECURE MJPEG DVR AND 4 CMOS CAMERA KIT

“The latest systems are very easy to install – just plug a camera into a mains socket and load the software onto your PC. It’s a 15minute job to be up and running” Toby Williams, Logitech

They say: Super compact design, low power consumption Specs: Multitask processor for simultaneous recording and network surveillance, four-channel playback support, motion detection, day and night cameras, Linux operating system, up to 500GB capacity hard drive

Recent developments in networking equipment have also had an impact on the home security sector – HomePlug technology, for example, utilises existing power sockets to extend the user’s network. “People don’t like running new cables around the house, so HomePlug technology is popular.

Wireless is a poor alternative as it requires constant replacement of batteries, which will, inevitably, be flat the day somebody tries to break into your house,” explains Toby Williams,

business development manager of CE products for Logitech UK and Ireland.

Although many home users might be daunted by the prospect of physically installing a surveillance system, Williams insists it’s not the arduous task it might seem. “The latest systems are very easy to install – just plug a camera into a mains socket, and load the software onto your PC, and you’re away. It’s a 15-minute job to be up and running. Adding further cameras is simple

>>>

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Cases p CPUs p Displays p Flash Memory p Hard Drives p Networking p Notebooks p Peripherals p Software p Video Cards

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HARDWARE HOME SECURITY

[

CNM SECURE 4 CHANNEL H.264 DVR KIT WITH 4 CCD CAMERAS

]

SRP: £329, £399 (HD) Distributor: KMS Components They say: High quality playback, longer recording and less storage required Specs: H.264 compression, multitask processor, four-channel playback, motion detection, Linux operating system, up to 1TB capacity hard drive, 510 x 492 standard camera resolution

[

EYESPY247F+

]

SRP: £99.89 Distributor: Direct

They say: A high quality, compact, easy-to-use indoor IP Camera Specs: For use in daytime or low light, wired and wireless capable, 4x digital zoom, two-way audio, MJPEG and MPEG4 compression, movement detection

[

D-LINK DCS-1130 WIRELESS N NETWORK CAMERA

]

SRP: £165.95 Distributor: Micro-P, EntaTech

[

EYESPY247PTZ SRP: £179.99 Distributor: Direct

]

They say: Superior wireless speed and range for a flawless connection Specs: Wireless N technology, simultaneous viewing from a computer or 3G device, high light sensitivity for low light conditions, 16x digital zoom, built-in microphone, records directly to a hard drive or NAS device

They say: A low cost, secure way to watch over your home or business Specs: Day and night use, wired and wireless capable, body heat detection, night vision, motorised pan and tilt capability, 4x digital zoom, two-way audio, MJPEG and MPEG4 compression, alarm input/output

>>>

as well – just plug them into a mains socket and tell the PC to scan for new cameras.

Compared with systems that require professional installation, the latest selfinstall systems are very affordable,” adds Williams.

However, Micro-P’s networks product manager, Rods Slater, believes that sometimes installation is best left to the experts. “If you’re using wireless home security products then it is easy to do it yourself. However, I would

48 PCR March

always recommend using an installer as they have the equipment and training necessary to safely carry out installation of cameras and provide advice on the best placement of the security products,” he suggests.

According to research conducted by Swann, its security products are most frequently used among low to middleincome earners – dispelling the notion that CCTV equipment is used only by the super-rich. “The internet has helped drive down the price of the

“The prevalence of outdoor CCTV in and around city centres has desensitised most people to the extent that they no longer regard it as a deterrent and accept their actions will be recorded” Paresh Morjaria, EyeSpy247

overall solution, while technological developments and the sheer volume of cameras on the market today mean that CCTV is no longer a specialised solution,” observes Tony Howard, business unit manager at CCI. “It will continue to grow, as long as the fear factor remains – be that anti-social behaviour in the community or fear of local and global terrorist activities.”

Ben Asher, senior account manager at KMS Components, echoes this view: “It is a

>>>

www.pcr-online.biz

HARDWARE HOME SECURITY

[

SWANN DVR4-950

]

[

]

SRP: £499.99 Distributor: EntaTech

SRP: £199.99 Distributor: EntaTech

They say: The DVR4-950 kit protects your home or business with total security coverage

They say: Professional-grade security at a fraction of the cost

Specs: Four all-weather day and night cameras, seven-inch LCD monitor, two remote controls, hard drive capacity up to 320GB, simultaneous viewing and recording of all cameras, motion detection

[

SWANN PRO 650 PAN TILT ZOOM DOME CAMERA

D-LINK DNS-722-4 NETWORK VIDEO RECORDER

]

[

Specs: Plug and Play, PTZ controller that can be used from up to 30m away, flexible mounting options, 360-degree viewing, up to 32 preset viewing points and 16 programmable viewing tours, high resolution CCD video image sensor

D-LINK DCS-2121 SECURICAM MEGAPIXEL WIRELESS IP NETWORK CAMERA

] [

VIOSTOR 2012 12-CHANNEL NVR

]

SRP: £608.99 Distributor: Micro-P

SRP: £152.33 Distributor: EntaTech

SRP: £756.70 Distributor: CCI Distribution

They say: A comprehensive solution for displaying, storing and managing video data

They say: A versatile and unique surveillance solution for your home or small office

They say: Affordable, yet packed with exceptional features

Specs: Simultaneous real-time viewing and recording of up to four D-Link cameras locally or via the web, up to 3TB of storage space (HDD not included), direct connection to the internet, automatic backups to mirrored hard drives

Specs: Works in low light, 16x digital zoom, builtin CPU and web server, wireless G and ethernet connectivity, full duplex two-way audio, simultaneous MJPEG and MPEG-4 streams for dual recording, snapshot mode for taking stills, remote access online

Specs: Continuous/manual/schedule recording, motion-JPEG, MPEG-4 and H.264 recording, smart control of PTZ and speed dome cameras, digital zoom, alarm recording by motion detection or sensor triggered, multi-channel playback

>>>

sad fact that in this day and age it is not just theft that we need to protect ourselves from.

Vandalism, anti-social behaviour and bullying are prominent in most areas, regardless of a household’s income.

Home security has become much more affordable recently and can be adapted to be suitable in any sort of area.”

As CCTV products become more affordable, is there still a decent profit to be made? According to Slater, the answer is yes. “Online resellers of boxes

50 PCR March

still see a good margin – particularly with the newer technologies,” he notes.

“For installers who actually go and do site surveys and installations, the margins are excellent with service revenue – i.e. installation and maintenance – being the larger part of the profit pie.”

Langford agrees, telling PCR that Enta’s CCTV range offers much larger margin opportunities for resellers than other sections of the distributor’s portfolio.

Putting the benefits for the channel aside, are surveillance systems a good deterrent? The media may focus on tales such as the Mitchells’, but there are an almost equal number of stories claiming that criminals pay no attention to a camera, even if it’s pointing directly at them.

“The prevalence of outdoor CCTV in and around most city centres has desensitised most people to the extent that they no longer regard it as a deterrent and accept that their actions

will be recorded,” says Morjaria.

“However, statistics have proved CCTV inside individual properties does have the ability to act as a deterrent, as interlopers are more keenly aware of them.”

Asher adds: “CCTV may not stop anti-social behaviour altogether, but it certainly helps to keep it away from your family and personal space. And if the worst happens, it can provide you with the information needed to catch offenders and send a warning out to all those who would disturb the peace.”

www.pcr-online.biz

The NT330I

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Home multi media connectivity supporting HDMI, DVI, USB, SPDIF and Card Reader Easily control and share all your multi media content with gigabit LAN and wireless 802.11 networking adapters.

For our full range of products please call 01344 355 800 or visit www.ts.avnet.com/uk

Cinema II

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Designed with Foxconn Quantum Force Power to deliver the ultimate stability when being pushed to the very limits of performance.

Foxconn barebone solution for easy-tobuild systems at competitive prices.

Supporting the latest AMD AM3 socket CPU’s and Dual Channel DDR3 Memory.

Supporting the latest 1156 Intel CPU’s and Dual Channel DDR3 memory.

Share and control all your media easily with the Foxconn Digital Life remote control and wireless router card.

Maximizing your gaming experience with support for Nvidia SLI and ATI crossfire graphics technologies.

ITX space saving design with support for standard desktop 3.5” HDD and 5.25” ODD. Intel G41 chipset supporting socket 775 CPU’s, DX10 graphics and Gigabit Lan.

© 2009 Avnet, Inc. All rights reserved. The Avnet Technology Solutions logo is a registered trademark of Avnet, Inc.

Computer Parts

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Cables & Accessories

Adapters & Converters Available from:

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CONTACTS

HARDWARE NETWORKING

CCI Distribution: 01423 704700 EntaTech: 0333 101 1000 Gem Distribution: 01279 822 822 Ingram Micro: 0871 973 3000 Interactive Ideas: 020 8805 1000 Mayflex: 0121 326 7557

[

]

SYNOLOGY DS1010+

SRP: £687.38 Distributor: SmithieUK They say: A high-performance, scalable and full-featured network attached storage solution Specs: 115-plus MB per second reading speed, 109-plus MB per second writing speed, scalable to up to ten drives, LAN and wireless compatible, expandable RAM size (up to 3GB)

Meroncourt: 01462 680060 Micro-P: 01282 776 776 Northamber: 020 8296 7066 Sigma Software Distribution: 01364 655200 Smithie UK: 01256 844 028 Target Components: 01977 739 300 VIP Computers: 0871 622 7500

Back of the net With the rise of wi-fi and portable computing, the networking sector now extends well beyond simple routers and LAN cables. Nicky Trup talks to some of the experts about the latest developments in the industry and the new products that are facilitating a growing demand for online connectivity...

“Wireless is an obvious trend. Networking products are focusing more on SOHO applications, requiring faster and faster responses and a steadier performance” Eric Wang, TP-Link

www.pcr-online.biz

THE FIRST few months of the year mark the season of the trade shows, with every major vendor worth its salt unveiling new technologies and products. One segment that has undoubtedly seen a great deal of new innovation at this quarter’s exhibitions is networking. Tablets, ‘connected classrooms’ and other mobile devices are all set to be big this year, and are bound to provide a ripple effect across the entire sector.

Once a niche solution, most internet service providers now supply a wireless router as standard and consumers are using wi-fi for everything from their printers to their smartphones.

Following the IEEE’s final approval of the 802.11N wireless standard, vendors are seeing an increase in uptake of the technology, which can deliver throughput speeds up to 300Mbps compared to the previous 802.11G

technology, which reaches a limit of just 54Mbps.

“Wireless is an obvious trend, especially 11N technology,” says Eric Wang of TP-Link. “Networking products are focusing more on SOHO applications, requiring faster and faster responses and a steadier performance.”

VIP networking product manager Mark Lynch agrees that the small office/home office market is crucial to the sector, adding: “Mass take-up in the corporate sector has been slower. The networking infrastructure within larger businesses is often vast and so the transition to wireless is more likely to coincide with planned, organic network upgrades rather than causing unnecessary upheaval.”

However, the consumer market is equally valuable when it comes to wireless networking products. “Due to wi-fi being built into notebooks and

netbooks, it is by far the most popular network connection, taking over from traditional connections such as LAN cables. You only need to look around local amenities and see that wi-fi connections are being offered everywhere from public transport to cafés and bars,” observes Rachael Jubb, a buyer and finance co-ordinator at Target Components.

But notebooks and netbooks are not the only devices to provide a boost to the wireless networking industry.

Analyst firm Deloitte predicts that tablet PCs will have their ‘breakout year’ in 2010, with ‘tens of millions’ buying the devices.

Indeed, several major vendors have already announced tablets – Apple’s iPad was launched in January, while Samsung and Microsoft (with the help of HP) have similar devices in development.

>>>

March PCR 55

New Sage Instant Payroll v12 and Sage Instant Accounts v16 Available NOW from Gem

We’ve launched the new Sage Instant Payroll v12 and Sage Instant Accounts v16 with added features and improvements to help you deal with your people, manage your money, quickly, easily and accurately, giving you time to concentrate on your business.

Sage Instant Payroll v12 automatically works out payments and deductions including tax, National Insurance, pensions and sick pay. And it’s accredited to HM Revenue & Customs’ payroll standard.

We’ve made improvements and added new features to the new version: • New look and feel – we’ve modernised the user interface and updated payroll processing workflow (without changing the overall navigation) • New Recover feature - automatically takes backups so it’s easy to correct errors and re-process previous periods • Choose Payslip, P45 or P60 layout to suit your stationery and printer • Set holiday year to any start date - entitlement and remaining holidays are based on a customised holiday year • Year-End Archive helps compliance and quick access to PDF copies of previous year end reports • Keep up-to-date with important information such as support news and changes to payroll legislation with the RSS news feed

Sage Instant Accounts v16 manages your VAT, end of year accounts and invoicing and we’ve improved and added new features to the new version: • New File Import Wizard - makes it easy to map imported data to existing fields in Sage Instant Accounts (including Excel .xls files) • Complies with new VAT rate and other recent changes to EC Sales List rules • Generate and store bar codes for use on any document, including invoices and statements • Add a ‘Pay Now’ button to any invoice statement or letter, simplifying and speeding up customer payments using Sage Pay (formerly Protx) • Improvements to user experience to simplify processes, layouts, navigation and ease of access to data

For more information and to buy today, contact Gem on 01279 822822 or go online at www.gem.co.uk/sage

Also available: Sage Instant Account Plus v16 Sage Instant Financial Package v16 Sage Instant Business Package v16

HARDWARE NETWORKING

[

DEVOLO DLAN 200 AVSMART+ STARTER KIT

]

[

SRP: £129.99 Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro, Northamber They say: Every power outlet becomes a network jack in no time Specs: Two dLAN 200 AVsmart+ LAN adaptors, transfer rate of up to 200Mbps to cable length of 300m, inbuilt LCD display, power-saving technology reducing energy consumption by 60 per cent

[

TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND WIRELESS N GIGABIT ROUTER

]

[

]

SITECOM MD-253 HOME STORAGE CENTER

[

HERCULES WIRELESS N ROUTER

]

SRP: £129.99 Distributor: Meroncourt

SRP: £51.08 Distributor: Interactive Ideas

They say: You can easily store digital photos, music and movies in a central location

They say: Optimum and enhanced coverage thanks to three unique positionable antennas

Specs: Two drive bays, RAID1 and RAID0 drive partitioning, file server for digital media, automatic file backup, backup button, UPnP AV connection, built-in BitTorrent client, USB port, Gigabit network port, FTP server to access files worldwide

Specs: Bandwidths up to 300Mbps, three adjustable antennae, MIMO technology, WPS button for connecting WPS compatible wi-fi devices, software available in eight languages

BILLION BIPAC 2073N

]

[

GETNET WLAN 802.11N 4-PORT DSL ROUTER

]

SRP: £39.95 Distributor: Target Components

SRP: £79 Distributor: EntaTech

SRP: £26.99 Distributor: CCI Distribution

They say: Provides incredibly high wireless speeds

They say: Super fast HomePlug networking with the new generation powerline AV technology

They say: A high performance solution for your home and small business network

Specs: Reaches speeds up to 200Mbps over existing power lines and up to 300Mbps wireless connectivity, extends wireless coverage, power saving feature reduces power consumption by at least 60 per cent

Specs: Data rate up to 300Mbps, complies with wireless 802.11g and 802.11b standards, increases wireless speed up to 12 times faster, Network Address Translation function allows up to 253 clients to share the connection

Specs: Wireless N speed up to 300Mbps, four LAN ports, three detachable antennae, USB port for sharing content over the network, user interface supports web software updates

>>>

“Tablets are definitely an opportunity. With the iPad, reading e-books while travelling and browsing the internet on the couch are even easier, as is watching digital content or listening to music. If you wish to do all these things you obviously need the networking infrastructure, and that’s where we come in,” comments Steve Walsh, sales director at Meroncourt.

Interactive Ideas marketing executive Yen Tru does not believe the hype surrounding Apple’s long-anticipated

www.pcr-online.biz

device. “I don’t actually believe iPads will have a dramatic effect in the short term on demand, but in the long term, once the competitors catch up with more affordable tablets there will be an increased need for networking products,” she suggests.

Despite the growth of wireless N, many users have found at one time or another that they need to boost or expand their network. Some are turning to HomePlug technology, which uses existing powerlines to improve the reach of the network.

Users plug the devices straight into plug sockets, creating additional wireless or LAN access points around the home.

“The new faster speeds of HomePlug AV 200 are offering customers a real tangible benefit over previous versions of the technology. The key to AV 200 is maintaining network speed over distance, a particular strength of the Billion HomePlugs. This is ideal for online gamers and for streaming HD,” says Julian de Selincourt, marketing director at Billion UK.

However, CCI’s business development manager, Cliff Cheetham, does not think the HomePlug revolution has quite hit yet.

“HomePlug networking is slowly starting to gather pace. Most sales are within retail as the product needs to be actively sold with benefits – the USP is difficult to understand just from reading a website,” he notes.

Similarly, it seems consumers need to be convinced of the unique selling point of network access storage, which allows users

>>>

March PCR 57

HARDWARE NETWORKING

OUT OF OFFICE With so many of us choosing to work from home or on the move, software vendor SoThin is offering a solution to the problem of accessing a work network or company PC remotely…

[ [

They say: Secure and convenient access to email, files and programs from home or on the road

SRP: £34.99 Distributor: VIP Computers They say: Superb reliability and a cost-effective solution for home and small business

Specs: S128-bit encryption, Windows authentication, option to allow use of local drives and printers, to allow sound on remote computer, compatible with all Windows

Specs: Complies with ADSL2/2+ standards, reaches wireless 802.11n standard, data rate up to 150Mbps, built-in virtual server and DMZ functions, multi-language setup wizard, supports WPS configuration button

[

Q-WAVES WIRELESS USB TO HDMI EXTENDER

]

]

SRP: £116.33 (plus mandatory one year upgrade protection at £57.58) Distributor: Sigma Software Distribution

]

EDIMAX AR-7284WNA WIRELESS MODEM ROUTER

SOTHIN THIN PACKAGE

[

LEVELONE CEILING MOUNT POE WIRELESS ACCESS POINT

]

[

NETGEAR STORA MS2110 HOME MEDIA NETWORK STORAGE

]

SRP: £99.99 Distributor: Micro-P

SRP: £139.50 Distributor: Mayflex

SRP: £200 Distributor: Gem, EntaTech, Micro-P

They say: A simpler, cable-free way of enjoying digital media

They say: The signal remains unobstructed, offering solid coverage of the entire room

They say: Home network storage that’s comprehensive and easy to understand

Specs: In-room wireless connection, no limit on file format, 3.5mm audio port on dock station, VGA port, streams web content with internet connection

Specs: Super-G 108Mbps throughput, two 4dBi antennae for unobstructed signal, supports multiSSID, easy to install mounting kit included, supports WEP, WPA, WPA2 and IEEE 802.1x for high-level security

Specs: Two serial ATA channels, SATA and SATA II HDD compatible, ethernet port, USB port, RAID1 drive partitioning, embedded 256MB flash memory, supports a variety of file type

>>>

to store files and digital media in a central location.

Research by storage vendor Sitecom found that of 5,000 end users across Europe, 47 per cent did not know what NAS was. After it was explained, however, 75 per cent of respondents said they thought they’d benefit from having such a device.

“End users use their home network for entertainment and they need solutions that allow them to easily share their digital files with their family members or to watch digital movies

58 PCR March

directly on TV with full HD quality.

The markets for NAS-servers and media players are rapidly growing,” comments Walsh.

Home and business users are not the only markets for networking products.

The education sector is proving to be an increasing opportunity, with major vendors including Dell, Samsung and Panasonic debuting new visions for the modern classroom at the BETT educational technology show in London earlier this year. Each of the vendors demonstrated a combination

of devices such as interactive whiteboards, netbooks, tablets, digital cameras and video conferencing tools to enhance the learning experience and improve overall connectivity.

“Historically, wireless products weren’t really a viable option for schools because of their limitations of signal strength, distance and speed.

Now, with the introduction of competitively priced 802.11N wireless and the enhanced security features that they support, wireless networking technology can meet the demands of

this and many other sectors,” observes Lynch.

Slater adds: “With the Government supporting education reform, many educators are adopting integration of collaborative working spaces, which will further enhance the opportunities for wireless products.”

Steel believes it doesn’t end there.

“Any public sector and corporate network has an opportunity to get wireless sold into it, and the wireless platforms on the market now provide great throughput with top security.”

www.pcr-online.biz

A HD home entertainment network directly through your electrical wiring

Imagine streaming flicker free HD movies, lag-free gaming and more all at the same time.

No need for special wiring. With Belkin’s Gigabit Powerline HD Networking Adapters, it really is that simple.

Gigabit Powerline HD **

Enta code: BL-F5D4076UK Benefits

Create an even stronger network

Ideal for ultra-fast, high quality transmission of multiple video streams, reducing online gaming latency and transferring of large data files.

Adding a third or more Belkin Gigabit Powerline HD adaptors to your setup enables the Xtendnet feature that provides more stability and better performance, essentially making the network ‘self-healing’. The more adaptors in your network, the more reliable the connection.

Improve internet connectivity in remote rooms or places hard to reach with wireless connections

1(: ,03529('

ZZZ HQWDRQOLQH FRP

7HO VDOHV#HQWDJURXS FRP

HARDWARE GFK ANALYSIS

Tough times for IT? GfK account manager Sean Fellows reports on the ‘Cloud’ of 2009, highlighting that it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the PC market. Evidence of growth in some segments stem from new products and consumer behaviours. Could this be a sign that the recession is coming to an end...?

“In December the netbook market grew by 62 per cent in volume compared to 2008, while sales in the notebook market dropped by ten per cent.

Five netbooks a minute were sold throughout the whole of December” Sean Fellows, GfK

GfK’s figures show the volume growth rate of the IT market across 2008 and 2009

62 PCR March

LOOKING BACK over last year there is no escaping the fact that the UK has been in a recession and still to this day remains in it. As a result it has been a tough year with Total IT posting an eight per cent decline, but nonetheless there are still segments within the IT market which have managed to grow in 2009. These can be split into two categories – those which have benefited from new products to the market and those which have just continued to grow due to a possible change in consumer behaviour.

Firstly, let’s look at the segments which have grown due to new products being introduced, such as netbooks

and media streamers. These continue to go from strength to strength, so it’s no surprise to see growth rates in excess of 100 per cent year on year.

Many manufacturers are continuing to bring out numerous new netbooks to the market as these devices have proved a popular choice with the consumer as sales exceed a million units for 2009.

In the month of December, the netbook market grew by 62 per cent in volume compared to 2008, while sales in the notebook market dropped by ten per cent. Five netbooks a minute were sold throughout the whole month of December.

When looking at a more mature market – memory modules – this has witnessed a yearly volume growth of 0.9 per cent, helped by a strong Q4 growth of 12.7 per cent. Reduction in prices and a possible change in mentality for consumers to upgrade their PC rather than purchase a new one, is a possible explanation for why this market remains in the black.

On the other hand, another established market – boxed software – is a bit complex to explain its growth of 7.2 per cent. Probably the most widely talked explanation can be attributed to the release of two new operating systems. However it is not only these releases which have helped the software market; other categories such as security suites and office software have all helped too.

So what does the future hold for the IT market? It’s still likely to benefit from some new innovations such as ULV PCs, Smartbooks and tablets, which should in turn help certain categories grow in 2010. There is also talk about the cloud in 2009 – its potential, with the proper education, could see the start of consumers creating their own cloud utilising their wireless routers, media gateways and NAS products helping this markets growth.

Sean Fellows can be contacted on 0870 603 8218.

www.pcr-online.biz

Ingram Micro are proud to have been nominated for

‘Distributor Sales Team’ ‘Distributor Marketing and PR Team’ ‘Distributor of the Year’

We wish everyone the best of luck and look forward to a great evening!

0871 973 3000 www.ingrammicro.co.uk

The Perfect Networking Opportunity Every leading company from the small business and digital home sector is competing at or attending this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PCR Awards in Kensington.

Symantec Interactive Ideas Ltd Enta Technologies Ltd Sapphire AMD Ingram Micro Gem Distribution Integra Office Solutions VIP Computers InďŹ nite Group Realtime Distribution Intellibrands Ltd Sandisk Koch Media Kaspersky Lab UK Varlink BullGuard Westcoast Acer Computer 2000 Livescribe Bear IT StarTech Anglian Internet Utopia Computers Imagitec

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Realtime Distribution Avnet Gem Creative Meroncourt CCI Distribution M2M Direct Target Components Midwich Accountz Microsoft ESET Samsung ASUS Dell Panasonic Livescribe Pulse Pen Elonex iGame Apple iPhone Samsung MP3 YP-P3 Iriver Story Apple Billion Kingston Technology Entanet Hannspree SoThin

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Firewall

Software PCR’s monthly look at recent developments in the software market

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BULLGUARD COMPANY PROFILE We talk to the firm’s UK and Ireland country manager, Alan Case, about its new products and where the market is heading

p 75

SECURITY SOFTWARE SECTOR GUIDE PCR takes a look at the current security landscape and what we can expect from 2010

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GAMES An overview of this month’s top selling titles and some others on the radar

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March PCR 67

FRONTLINE SPONSOR Best of luck to all the finalists

One Integrated Solution www.gem.co.uk

For sales enquiries or to

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SOFTWARE BULLGUARD

Left to right: UK and Ireland reseller account manager Jennifer Kingwill, UK and Ireland channel manager Sarah Wood, UK and Ireland country manager Alan Case

Beware of the Dog BullGuard enjoyed its best ever year in 2009, with top-line revenue growing 50 per cent, and the security firm is looking to replicate this success in 2010. Andrew Wooden talks to UK and Ireland country manager Alan Case about its new products, the nature of free rival software, the potential impact of SoftWide, and the future of the market…

“The new version boasts a really simple, user interface. We gave it a low-tech style of communication to the user, and the technical support we offer is unrivalled in the industry” Alan Case, BullGuard

www.pcr-online.biz

You’ve just launched BullGuard Internet Security 9.0, what are the chief updates and what does it offer that the previous version didn’t?

It’s a revolution in user friendliness, really. The new version boasts a really super, simple, user interface, so it’s now even easier to install and use. We gave it a low-tech style of communication to the user, and the technical support we offer is unrivalled in the industry. Technically, we’ve improved the anti-phishing techniques, so that it now prevents you from entering phishing websites. The firewall is now silent, so it doesn’t bother you when it’s letting traffic through. We’ve improved the instant

messaging protection, and we’ve included a new gaming mode. It was a separate product but we’ve brought that into Internet Security, so that when people are gaming it doesn’t interrupt the full screen application.

And on average the virus scans are about 20 per cent faster, so it uses less system resources and the whole product is a lot faster.

For a retailer looking at his stock, or a consumer considering which product to buy, the security market can seem a little crowded. Why should people opt for BullGuard as opposed to other security firms?

From a retailer or reseller perspective,

we still offer the best commercial proposition. They’ll get the highest margin from selling the product, and then we offer them 25 per cent revenue share on subscription renewals for each licence that they sell. The revenue share is tracked automatically by us, and they can view that through our reseller lounge. Again the reseller gets regular access to our channel incentives, free point of sale marketing material, and dedicated account management. So we have a team of account managers that specifically look after the channel. For the user, it’s simple, and frankly that’s it. We’ve created a product that is made for the

>>>

March PCR 69

SOFTWARE BULLGUARD

>>>

consumer market. So it’s not a spin-off of a corporate network product which is technical and difficult to understand. It’s very simple to install and use, and offers probably the best protection – certainly as good as any of the better known brands – from the online threats, and offers users 24/7 technical support as well.

You told us at the beginning of 2009 you were looking to double your reseller base by the end of that year – how did that go?

Well, 2009 was a tough year for the industry, in fact the whole of the UK, what with the recession and the credit crunch. However, at BullGuard we’ve seen growth in all of our core markets. Our retail channel grew 35 per cent, and during the year in the UK we did double our independent resellers, as we said we wanted to. So we’ve now got over 800 active resellers in the UK, so we’re very pleased about that. On the whole we’ve experienced our biggest revenue year yet for the company. So on a global scale 2009 was actually above budget for us. It’s been the best year yet – quarter on quarter we hit new results.

With operating systems such as Windows 7 containing ever more powerful security, is the dedicated security market under threat?

No. If we were in the business of offering free anti-virus downloads and then trying to convert customers, then yes I’d be concerned. The security that they can get from Windows 7 is probably as good as any of the free downloads that they can acquire. In my opinion consumers are even more aware of the threats online these days from identify theft and online banking, and they’re happy to continue to pay for a secure peace of mind solution, which we offer and so do many of the other leading brands as well.

70 PCR March

opposed to an unaided purchase in a supermarket. To me, this is why so many small independents have survived the recession intact, because they’ve been able to offer this kind of service, whereas we’ve seen so many of the big High Street brands disappear.

So you’ve just come out of your most successful ever year.

What are you planning for 2010?

For it to be even better, with more growth. In the UK last year we grew by over 50 per cent in terms of our top line revenue. We expect to see a similar type of growth this year and we’ll continue to focus on developing the channel, look to increase resource and push into some of the national retail accounts, which is where we’re probably lacking right now.

BullGuard’s new Internet Security 9.0 is user friendly and easy to install

So you’d say that free software doesn’t have the punch that BullGuard has?

That’s correct, yes. Not just BullGuard, but any of our competitors as well. The free software is there to try and tantalise you and convert you into a full package, so they have if you like, a lower catch rate of viruses. They won’t have firewalls, spam filter, antiphishing protection, so you’re always at risk with a free product.

“Last year we grew by 50 per cent in terms of top line revenue. We expect to see similiar growth this year and we’ll continue to focus on developing the channel, look to increase resource and push into national retail accounts” Alan Case, BullGuard

We’ve just seen Tesco has signed a deal with Tribeka for its SoftWide system of in-store software publishing. This essentially removed the need for boxed product, as the software gets printed in-store on demand. Do you think this presents a problem for the security software market the more this is taken up?

We’re a partner of Tribeka, so we may

experience benefits. I think it will be interesting to see how many other national retailers are willing to go to the expense of adopting this type of system. We also need to consider the service consumers receive from the reseller market. They know their hardware and software, and they offer a unique service to the consumer, as

In your experience and the trends you’re witnessing now, where will the software security market be in five years time?

As the online market increases so will the threats. Online fraud is now a major multi-million pound business. It used to be a single hacker that caused a bit of mayhem. Now, it’s an actual business itself. And there’s no doubt the security market will continue to grow in line with the PC market.

Another aspect is that mobile phones are getting smarter and more powerful, so consumers will move a lot of their online activities onto this platform, in fact they’re already doing so. This will invariably encourage criminals to follow suit, so we’re going to see a lot more viruses and malware presented on the mobile phone market. I think that’s an aspect that we’ll see particularly in the next two to three years. We launched an anti-virus product a couple of years ago to test the waters, and we will certainly be revamping that and pulling out a mobile security solution within the next couple of months, as many of our competitors will be doing as well.

www.pcr-online.biz

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Simply answer this question: Which version of AVG Internet Security Business Edition provides faster, lighter business-class protection?

Send your entry to: pcrcompetition@intentmedia.co.uk Closing date 31st March 2010.

Terms and conditions. The prize is AVG Business Internet Security licenses to the amount of £1,000. The prize in this competition is provided by AVG Technologies UK, Ltd. (“AVG”), whose address is Glenholm Park, Brunel Drive, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 2EG. The competition starts on 1st March 2010 and closes on 31st March 2010. The winner will be contacted by AVG within 14 days of the competition close. The winner can claim the prize at any time from the competition close to the date of 31.8.2010, otherwise the claim will expire. The winner can choose any denomination of prize license, up to £1,000 in value. Any licenses purchased by the winner over and above the £1,000 prize must be paid to AVG in accordance with then current prices. This prize is non transferable and no cash equivalent can be given. For example, if only £500 worth of licenses of AVG Business Internet Security are claimed as at 31.8.2010, then no cash alternative will be given for the remainder of the prize.

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BullGuard Internet Security 9.0 is here

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WITH YOU ONLINE TM

At BullGuard we want everyone to enjoy the online world with ease and confidence.

Our products provide comprehensive protection from online risks and secure your valuable data effectively.

CONTACTS

SOFTWARE SECURITY

Bluepoint: 0844 571 8001 EntaTech: 0333 101 1000 ESET: 0800 138 0802

[

Focus Multimedia: 01889 570 156 Gem: 01279 822 822

BITDEFENDER TOTAL SECURITY 2010

]

Distributor: Focus Multimedia SRP: £39.99 (For three users)

Ingram Micro: 0871 973 3000

They say: Provides comprehensive proactive protection against all internet security threats, along with system maintenance and backup, without slowing down your PCs

Interactive Ideas: 020 8805 1000 Koch Media: 0870 027 8700

Features: Low disk usage, antivirus, anti-spyware, identity and fraud protection, IM encryption, spam filtering, parental controls, tune-up and backup

Micro-P: 01282 776 776 Target Components: 01977 739 300 Spire: 01202 828 444

Security check The security landscape evolved hugely in 2009 and will continue to do so throughout the coming year.

Matt Grainger speaks to some of the security industry’s key figures about what to expect in 2010…

“As the social networking sites gain consumer share, so the malware and spam attackers will target them more aggressively and we will hear more and more stories in the press” Devid Bennett, Webroot

www.pcr-online.biz

THERE are few devices these days that do not connect to the internet in some way. As the world increasingly communicates and shops online, so the threat from cyber criminals will become more prominent as more information is processed in the data cloud.

More and more often, the threat is directed towards social networking sites, as they expand their user bases to hold the personal details of millions of people around the world. In addition, a growing number of devices routinely use third-party software, opening up application vulnerabilities.

“In recent years, security vendors have had to cope with an ever-growing number of threats, increasing sophistication and shortened ‘delivery time’ afforded by the internet,” observes Kaspersky Labs’ senior security researcher and member of the global research and analysis team, David

Emm. “As a result, security solutions employ a range of technologies.

Signatures continue to provide a valueadd for businesses and consumers alike.

However, the ‘centre of gravity’ of security has been slowly moving towards the proactive – heuristics, behavioral analysis, intrusion detection, sandboxing and more. I believe this will continue to develop.”

The volume of attacks has increased primarily as a result of the sheer number of people who regularly use the internet as part of their day-to-day lives.

Much of this traffic is channelled through Facebook, Twitter and the like.

“As the social networking sites gain consumer share, so the malware and spam attackers will target them more aggressively and we will hear more and more stories in the press,” notes Webroot’s director of EMEA consumer business development, David Bennett.

According to a recent survey by Webroot, 66 per cent of social network users don’t restrict their profile information from being visible through public search, while 30 per cent have experienced a security attack.

Bullguard’s country manager for the UK and Ireland, Alan Case, has observed a rise in threats to another form of social network – online gaming – which can be particularly vulnerable as players are often required to enter their bank details in order to take part.

“We predict that we’ll see an increase in cases of identity theft as well as spam and phishing issues, targeting personal information,” says Case. “Gamers are an easy target because they often switch off their security applications when gaming and consequently we’re currently witnessing growth in the theft of gaming profiles.”

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March PCR 75

SOFTWARE SECURITY

[

ESET SMART SECURITY 4 Distributor: Direct SRP: £39.95

]

[

They say: A comprehensive solution for home users, including spam blocker and firewall Features: ThreatSense proactive protection, precise detection of known threats, lightweight design, fast background scanning speeds, NOD32 anti-virus, anti-spyware and spam blocker

[

KASPERSKY ANTI-VIRUS FOR MAC Distributor: Gem, Koch Media, EntaTech SRP: £39.99

] [

They say: Stops malware before it can be passed from your Mac onto PCs and other systems on your network Features: Protection from all known threats, file scanning, personal data and file protection, automated updates, internet and network security, email scanning, low power and processor usage, Kaspersky self-protection and free support

>>>

Another area of concern is the growing threat towards Macs. For many years, Mac users have been able to sit in the ‘safe zone’ provided by relative obscurity; however, the platform is increasingly popular among users and, as a result, among cyber criminals too.

“I think that advice (that Mac users don’t need anti-viruses) is getting a bit long in the tooth,” says Symantec’s consumer product marketing director, Con Mallon. “Practical experience is now showing that with the dramatic growth in the number of Macs being used, no

76 PCR March

LAVASOFT AD-AWARE PRO Distributor: Koch Media SRP: £29.99

]

[

KASPERSKY INTERNET SECURITY 2010 Distributor: Gem, Koch Media, EntaTech SRP: £49.99 (For three users)

]

They say: Minimal strain on system resources and advanced real-time detection technology to combat even the most complex forms of malware

They say: Stops your PC or netbook being slowed down by cybercriminals and delivers unsurpassed online safety

Features: Comprehensive protection, anti-virus, free technical support, real-time registry and process protection, real-time network protection, ‘do not disturb’ mode

Features: Identity protection, family protection, minimal system usage, gaming mode, virtual keyboard, two-way personal firewall, port protection, safe run, email and IM protection

AVG INTERNET SECURITY

]

Distributor: Koch Media SRP: £59.99 (For three-user, two-year licence) They say: Faster, smarter security that won’t slow your computer down Features: Identity protection that shields passwords and credit card numbers, webshield safe social networking, anti-spam, anti-virus and anti-spyware scans, enhanced firewall

operating system, no browser, no application is 100 per cent bulletproof.

“The game is definitely changing – the fact is that the Mac platform is becoming more attractive to the cyber criminals, so I'm sorry to say that Mac users will find themselves under a greater threat than previously.”

The evolution of the way attacks are made has meant that security vendors have had to change their tactics to keep pace. The traditional method of ‘firewall plus scan’ no longer offers the kind of up-to-the-minute protection that is required.

[

ZONEALARM EXTREME SECURITY

]

Distributor: Interactive Ideas SRP: £49.35 (For three users) They say: The most comprehensive suite on the market. Protects your PC, your browser, and your data Features: Advanced download protection. OS firewall, free credit bureau monitoring, antiphishing and site status updates, keylogger jamming, two-way firewall, anti-spam, virtual browsing, unified scan engine, private browsing, online backup, PC tune-up and parental controls

“The primary strategy has been the anti-malware approach,” says Microsoft UK’s head of security and privacy, Cliff Evans. “This is essentially the blacklist approach whereby you identify programmes that you don’t want on your PC. Really, the only alternative is a whitelist approach, whereby certain applications will run and everything else is denied access.

“I think in future, we’ll see a combination of these approaches. I think you’ll also see more heuristics – looking at the behaviour of software to help identify its purpose.”

Heuristics – or behavioural analysis – in security software is the process of analysing the actions or profile of a certain file and flagging it up as possible malicious code. The technique evolved in response to cyber criminals developing code that alters its own signature in order to evade anti-virus scans.

“All vendors will have to move to behavioural detection as a major protection layer, as every anti-virus vendor receives between 20,000 and 30,000 new and unique bits of malcode every day,” predicts AVG’s chief research officer, Roger Thompson.

www.pcr-online.biz

SOFTWARE SECURITY

[

ZONEALARM INTERNET SECURITY SUITE 2010

]

[

]

[

Distributor: Interactive Ideas SRP: £29.99

Distributor: Interactive Ideas SRP: £74.99

They say: Essential anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall protection for your PC

They say: Provides comprehensive protection from malware, network threats and the many other security issues that Mac users face

Features: Advanced download protection, free credit bureau monitoring, two-way firewall, antiphishing and site status updates, OS Firewall, unified scan engine, parental controls and anti-spam

[

INTEGO INTERNET SECURITY BARRIER X6 FOR MAC

PANDA ANTIVIRUS FOR NETBOOKS Distributor: Micro-P SRP: £29.99

] [

They say: Panda Antivirus for Netbooks is price sensitive, easy to install, extremely light on resource consumption and has been tested on the most common netbook configurations Features: Panda USB Vaccine, email and IM scanning, proactive detection, personal firewall, wireless monitor, anti-phishing filter, anti-banking trojan engine

“The cloud is a tool that is rapidly growing in popularity. This makes attacks on cloud-based infrastructure and services far more likely” Petter Lautin, Panda Security

www.pcr-online.biz

Features: Anti-virus, anti-spyware, two-way firewall, anti-phishing, anti-spam, parental controls, backup and data protection

PANDA INTERNET SECURITY 2010 Distributor: Micro-P SRP: £49.99

] [

They say: A security suite that lets you use the internet with complete peace of mind.

Features: Anti-malware engine with 80 per cent less memory consumption, real-time file and email scanning, generic signature and heuristic scanning, personal firewall

“Most of these are created automatically by generators and are created with the sole aim of acting as a smoke screen to hide the few hundred that will actually be aimed at victims.”

The trend for storing personal information online has grown recently, creating a need for security vendors to provide cloud security too. “We are all using more services delivered from the cloud, often without realising,” comments Panda Security’s UK managing director, Petter Lautin. “But cloud-based services are not limited solely to storage, they are also used for

ESCAN INTERNET SECURITYSUITE Distributor: Bluepoint SRP: £8

]

They say: Blocks security threats effectively at the Windows Socket Layer itself and scans for restricted content in emails, removes malicious attachments and filters websites Features: User-friendly GUI, real-time virus and content scanning, heuristic monitoring, antispam, parental controls, registry scanning, firewall and extensive logs and reports

AVG IDENTITY PROTECTION 8.5 Distributor: Micro P SRP: £19.99

]

They say: Sits on top of your existing anti-virus, shielding your passwords, credit card numbers, and other digital valuables from prying eyes Features: Free upgrade to version nine, identity protection, up-to-date protection with no updates, fast and invisible, blocks new and unknown threats, compatible with all major security products

processing data. The cloud is a tool that can help save considerable costs for companies, and as such is rapidly growing in popularity. This makes attacks on cloud-based infrastructure and services far more likely.”

The security problems faced by cloud storage operators could be one of the enduring struggles of the year, if not the decade. As more people opt for remote storage, so those services become an increasingly tempting target for criminals.

“The problems of security and privacy on the web are getting

dramatically worse,” observes Bennett.

“People are doing more on the web, for example sensitive financial transactions, e-commerce and sharing personal information through social networks.

It’s happening through an expanding array of devices – PCs, netbooks, smartphones and the like, and at the same time we’re seeing literally millions of new, increasingly sophisticated, security threats emerge every year.”

Emm has also observed the implications cloud computing holds: “It’s difficult to assess the security readiness of

>>>

March PCR 77

SOFTWARE SECURITY OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS Roger Thompson AVG

[

BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY

]

[

Distributor: Gem, EntaTech, Target Components, Spire SRP: £44.99

NORTON 360 V4

Con Mallon SYMANTEC

]

Distributor: Gem, Ingram Micro SRP: TBC They say: Offers the industry’s most comprehensive, all-in-one protection against digital dangers

They say: Built exclusively for the everyday user, putting safety, simplicity and an easy-to-use design first

Features: Cloud heuristics and reputation service, proactive download scanner, anti-spam, web-based access to backup, Norton system insight to improve PC and application performance

Features: User-friendly interface, anti-virus, antispyware, firewall, anti-phishing, spam filter, backup, free tech support, gaming mode and IM protection

Cliff Evans MICROSOFT

David Bennett WEBROOT

David Emm KASPERSKY LABS

[

NORTON GHOST

]

[

Distributor: Gem, Ingram Micro SRP: TBC

Features: Cold Imaging for backup without installing Ghost, Blu-ray support, full system or specific file backup, incremental backup saves only those files that have changed, Offsite or NAS backup, advanced compression and LightsOut Restore

Con Mallon, Symantec

78 PCR March

]

Petter Lautin PANDA SECURITY

Distributor: Gem, EntaTech SRP: £39.99

They say: Protects your applications, settings, folders, files and everything else on your PC with professional grade backup and recovery

“Through their common experience, we can gather that up and serve it out amongst all our users for the betterment of all. It is very much the way forward for the future”

WEBROOT INTERNET SECURITY ESSENTIALS 2010

>>>

They say: Keeps your PC protected without sacrificing speed. It loads and protects faster, requires less disk space, and doesn’t create confusion with an overload of unnecessary features

Alan Case BULLGUARD

Features: Low disk usage, spy sweeper, complete protection against viruses, worms, trojans, keyloggers and rootkits, automatic backup, ‘shredder’ function, email monitoring and global response network

specific companies and I believe it would be unfair to try. In general terms, however, it’s important that all public-facing organisations take account of security.

Most organisations are public-facing and, in the internet age, this means they are online – so online security is essential.

This is particularly important for organisations that hold personal data.”

One solution that every security vendor PCR spoke to advocated is the development and maintenance of a strong user community. A community can serve as a sensor network above

and beyond the ones that vendors already use, whether by actively participating or simply agreeing to host certain security programmes.

“Despite all the recent noise in the market about the benefits and advantages of protection from the cloud, only by developing a system that leverages the power of the user community is it possible to take advantage of detection in the cloud,” says Lautin.

Mallon also thinks that user interaction will be a defining path for the security providers in future: “All

security providers are now talking about their communities. Some of the most effective assets we have are the 50 million Norton customers out there on the internet second by second – because in effect they are a massive sensing network for us.

“Through their common experience, we can gather that up and serve it out amongst all our users for the betterment of all. That has been a key concept that we brought to market with Norton 2010, and it is very much the way forward for the future. It has to be the way.”

www.pcr-online.biz

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FINALIST

SOFTWARE PC GAMES

Game On PCR looks at the best-selling PC games and those due for release over the coming months...

GAME OF THE MONTH ALIENS VS PREDATOR Publisher: Sega Distributor: Centresoft Released: February 19th Price: £29.99 EVER since the eighties, when the original Aliens and Predator films were released, there seems to have been something about the two franchises that fans want to see melded together.

Rebellion gained a lot of critical and commercial success with the original Aliens Vs Predator video game back in

1999, and has returned to develop the new title, which is again a tense first person shooter, allowing you to play as the deadly creatures from both Predator and Aliens, as well as the Colonial Marines from the latter. The plots of all three characters intertwine in an overarching story line, which centres around an ancient pyramid buried beneath the surface of an alien planet.

This is the first of a series of Aliens games from Sega, following a lucrative licensing deal with 20th Century Fox.

NEW RELEASES TITLE

ON THE RADAR

GENRE

PUBLISHER

TELEPHONE

DISTRIBUTOR

DATE

Aliens vs Predator

Action

Sega

0121 625 3388

Centresoft

February 19 2010

Alabama Smith: Escape From Pompeii

Casual

S.A.D

01582 436043

PlayV

March 5 2010

Alice In Wonderland

Action

Disney Interactive

0121 625 3388

Centresoft

March 5 2010

Assassin’s Creed II

Action

Ubisoft

01279 822800

Gem

March 5 2010

Battlefield: Bad Company 2

FPS

EA

0121 625 3388

Centresoft

March 5 2010

Discover Great Britain

Simulation

First Class Simulations

01869 338833

Open

March 5 2010

Gourmania

Casual

S.A.D

01582 436043

PlayV

March 5 2010

Machinarium

Casual

Mamba Games

01273 202220

Lace

March 5 2010

Magic Encyclopedia

Casual

S.A.D

01582 436043

PlayV

March 5 2010

Pet Show Craze

Casual

S.A.D

01582 436043

PlayV

March 5 2010

Sacred 2: Gold

RPG

Deep Silver

0870 027 0985

Koch

March 5 2010

Silent Hunter 5

Action

Ubisoft

01279 822800

Gem

March 5 2010

Supreme Commander 2

Strategy/Action

Square Enix

020 8987 5730

Open

March 5 2010

Dawn Of War II: Chaos Rising

Strategy/Action

THQ

0121 506 9585

Advantage

March 12 2010

Dawn Of War II: Gold

Strategy/Action

THQ

0121 506 9585

Advantage

March 12 2010

Dawn Of War II: GOTY Ed

Strategy/Action

THQ

0121 506 9585

Advantage

March 12 2010

M.U.D TV

Strategy

Kalypso Media

0121 506 9585

Advantage

March 12 2010

Supreme Commander 2 Publisher: Square Enix Contact: 020 8987 5730

Assassin’s Creed II Publisher: Ubisoft Contact: 01279 822800

FULL PRICE TOP 5

BUDGET TOP 5

1

Football Manager 2010

1

World of Warcraft

2

Mass Effect 2

2

Championship Manager 2010

3

The Sims 3

3

Assassin’s Creed

4

The Sims 3: World Adventures

4

Sniper: Art of Victory

5

Call of Duty

5

Command and Conquer

The top five charts are based on monthly sales figures supplied by Chart Track, figures are for January 2010

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Consumer

Electronics PCRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly look at recent developments in the consumer electronic market

P 91

TABLET PCS Since the launch of the iPad, major manufacturers have been announcing their own tablet PCs left, right and centre. We take a look at what can be expected from this growing sector

p 87

GPS DEVICES With free alternatives available on mobile phones, PCR asks the experts about the future of the dedicated sat nav

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March PCR 85

86 PCR March

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CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TABLET PCS

Good things come in

small packages From the moment Steve Jobs announced Apple’s latest product, the tablet market became a much larger blip on everyone’s radar. But there are many other technology giants leveraging their considerable budgets behind the sector as well. Andrew Wooden asks what we can expect of the fledging market…

“Many vendors will try and emulate the iPad, but we’ll see the same effect as in the mobile market, where people have been trying to copy the iPhone” Carolina Milanesi, Gartner

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AT CES 2010, HP and Microsoft announced a joint tablet PC venture at the keynote speech, beating Apple, which was at the time preparing to launch its own answer to the sector.

However, it is the iPad that has gained the most attention, largely thanks to Steve Jobs and his highly efficient marketing engine.

Apple’s device has been called a ‘game-changer’ by some, and a waste of time by others. It split commentators at

its launch, with plenty of people lining up to pour praise or scorn on it in the aftermath of the release last month.

But the Apple fan base, and the firm’s apparent ability to effortlessly reach out to new demographics (as it did with the iPhone and iPod), seems likely to ensure Apple does well out of the device regardless.

To a varying degree, the tablet sits neatly between the smartphone and the laptop. While not offering as

much computing power or flexibility as a fully blown PC, it is more portable, and most companies involved have positioned it as a device for consuming media and web browsing. The budding market is now one of the most talked about areas of the PC industry, but some believe vendors won’t have an easy a time in the market as Apple.

“I think many vendors will try and emulate the

>>>

March PCR 87

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TABLET PCS

>>>

iPad, but not having the ecosystem will create the same effect that you see in the mobile market where people have been trying to copy the iPhone. You might get the hardware right but this is not the whole story,” says Carolina Milanesi, research director for Mobile Devices Technology and Service Provider Research at Gartner.

Alex Tatham, sales and marketing director at Westcoast, adds: “Firstly, as Apple’s largest UK distributor, we are excited about the iPad as it is clearly desirable and will sell well, with lots of opportunities for add-on accessories, and it will inevitably create some tremendous excitement in the consumer channel. But that is where it will sit – in the consumer channel.

“It is not a computer, but an entertainment device. Hence, I do not believe it will re-energise the tablet market as these are business computers for niche applications.”

However, plenty of other hardware vendors, such as HP, Lenovo and Dell, are seriously looking at ways in which to develop the tablet concept, and many have already launched products of their own. And they certainly don’t believe Apple has the market sewn up.

“Larger than a feature or smartphone, but smaller than a netbook or laptop; Dell sees the tablet space as a landscape, widescreen experience compared to a constricted portrait experience,” says Ellen Murphy, EMEA product PR at Dell.

manufacturers. Four or five years ago, many firms were pushing ultra mobile PCs, which share very similar properties to tablets. So why will tablets succeed where UMPCs failed?

“The value proposition of these devices will be critical to their success; expect more of a focus on consumers this time around,” comments Tim Coulling, analyst at Canalys. “Apple already has a content delivery solution based around iTunes, App Store and now iBooks. The market is unlikely to be huge and in order to compete with Apple, content accessibility and delivery will be key.”

Murphy adds: “Technology has changed, and user experiences and demands have changed. There have

“The value proposition of these devices will be critical to their success; expect more focus on consumers this time around. The market is unlikely to be huge, and in order to compete with Apple, content accessibility and delivery will be key” Tim Coulling, Canalys “With personal web habits evolving and people wanting a large-screen experience on a small device, we believe consumers will prefer the landscape, data first experience, with full features that allow them options to enjoy content, share their lives and connect with the people close to them.

They want devices that make it easy to get through their day and enable their lifestyle. The versatility of tablet PCs provides this unique user experience, especially in terms of consuming content.”

It should be noted that this isn’t the first time we have seen these types of devices pushed by computing

88 PCR March

been massive developments in mobile processors, operating systems, glass technology, access to mobile broadband and the incredibly gifted pool of application developers. The overall user experience has evolved to be easier, more intuitive and featurerich for consumers.”

While Apple may be grabbing the limelight in the sector at the moment, other technology giants are serious about the devices as well, and are investing heavily in them. With so many firms looking to drive the sector, you can be sure we’ll be seeing much more of this burgeoning market over the next year.

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CONSUMER ELECTRONICS GPS

New directions It’s been a tough year for personal navigation. During the recession the market steadily declined and unit prices plummeted. Is there light at the end of the tunnel, and how can the vendors compete with free sat nav software? Nicky Trup spoke to those in the know to find out…

“Phone applications work fine but the screen size, battery life and processor are not built to run a fullyblown GPS application for longer than a very brief period of time” Bart Hoorntje, Widget

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WHEN NOKIA released a free version of its Ovi Maps application in late January, many saw it as a major blow to personal navigation devices. After all, Ovi Maps can do practically everything a sat nav can do – it has talk and drive navigation, turn-by-turn guidance and updated traffic information. More importantly, it can be downloaded free to smartphones already owned by millions and is due to come pre-installed on new handsets this month.

But the vendors involved are not so convinved of the threat. Following Nokia’s announcement, Garmin told PCR that it was unconcerned as it

already had “a large amount of competition” in the sector, not to mention a GPS-enabled mobile phone of its own. TomTom, meanwhile, issued a statement insisting customers were “willing to pay for the best user experience”, and that’s a view the firm continues to subscribe to.

“I’ll give you a simple analogy, and that’s digital cameras. Most phones have cameras built in, yet people still buy digital cameras because they do the job significantly better than the devices trying to do several things at once,” TomTom’s vice president of sales and marketing for the UK and Ireland, Damian Woodward, tells

PCR. “The way we look at mobile phone technology so far is that it’s not really able to deliver a great solution.”

Widget UK’s sales director, Bart Hoorntje, agrees: “Phone applications may work fine, but the screen size, battery life and processor are not built to run a fully-blown GPS application for longer than a very brief period of time. My feeling is that a lot of people will be using them, but I don’t think they replace the PND category on their own.”

And a lot of people are using them.

In the first two weeks of its release, the free version of Ovi Maps achieved 1.4

>>>

March PCR 91

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS GPS

>>>

million downloads â&#x20AC;&#x201C; equivalent to more than one a second. Nokia told PCR that the move was about â&#x20AC;&#x153;providing the customer with the best technology availableâ&#x20AC;?, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;providing the customer with a choiceâ&#x20AC;?. Google, meanwhile, has launched a beta version of its own navigation tool, while a similar service is available to Vodafone 360 users.

mobiles as complementary to what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing because, quite frankly, the more people that get experience of navigation, the more likely they are to come and buy a bespoke device,â&#x20AC;? he observes.

One thing the industry figures agree on is the difficulty of enticing new users to the PND market, which declined in value by 15 per cent last

Bart Hoorntje, Widget

Š Copyright VIP Computer Centre Limited. 2010.

Information correct at time of publication E&OE

Thilo Koslowski, research vice president at Gartner, notes that because Ovi Mapsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; data is supplied by Navteq â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a navigation software company owned by Nokia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is at a level similar to that of dedicated devices. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we have is a major consumer electronics company offering a high quality navigation service for free, and that will have an impact on the way consumers evaluate the value and benefit they can get from navigation services,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I imagine that prices could come down pretty hard. Later in 2010 weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see even more aggressive pricing than we saw last year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you may get a pretty decent navigation device for under $100. It may not be fully comprehensive, but it will do its job functionality pretty well.â&#x20AC;?

However, Woodward argues that the typical cost of manufacturing a PND, combined with consumer demand for top-end features, means that there is little scope for prices to drop further.

In fact, TomTomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s average selling price began to slowly rise again towards the end of 2009. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We very much see

vendors need to provide solutions that differentiate them from free navigation applications â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as more location-based tools, social networking options and improved user interfaces.

However, Garminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s answer to the encroachment of mobiles into the sat nav space has been

Thilo Koslowski, Gartner

year*. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saturation of the market is still not very high â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a couple of months back you were looking at penetration of around 30 per cent, so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a

Damian Woodward, TomTom

to retaliate by creating its own Nuvi range of phones. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That would have been a good move if the company had

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we have is a major consumer electronics company offering a high quality navigation service for free, and that will have an impact on the way consumers evaluate the value and benefit they can get from navigation servicesâ&#x20AC;?

Thilo Koslowski, Gartner lot to be had, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting to a stage where people are repeat buying,â&#x20AC;? says Hoorntje. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve kind of got mixed up between trying to get people into the market at a very fast rate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still talking about a market thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really only about four years old â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and then trying to explain the technologies that are moving us forward,â&#x20AC;? Woodward adds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to concern ourselves more with getting clarity of messaging on what differentiates us instead of just trying to shove technology in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faces.â&#x20AC;?

Analysts have suggested that, in order to justify their price points, PND

launched it a couple of years ago, before anybody else had done it. Now, because pretty much every new cell phone is capable of running a nav application, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little bit late,â&#x20AC;?

Koslowski points out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By launching its own phone, a PND manufacturer will have partnered with another hardware manufacturer to build it and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also having to compete with other smartphones that are out there. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pretty tough market.â&#x20AC;?

Woodward dismisses any notion of TomTom putting out a phone of its own. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you look at how difficult it is for big, established mobile phone

operators to bring phones to market, if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not your expertise then I suggest itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even more difficult to bring to market and make it a profitable line for you,â&#x20AC;? he notes.

While Nokia is the first major mobile manufacturer to offer a navigation tool free of charge, it almost certainly wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the last. So, with the floodgates open, is the solution for sat nav vendors to start giving away their applications?

Apparently not â&#x20AC;&#x201C; despite the fact that TomTomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iPhone app costs ÂŁ59.99, it has proved extremely popular. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can see that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still up there among the top grossing applications ever for Apple, so I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be slightly foolish to start giving away what people are very happy to buy at the moment,â&#x20AC;? Woodward concludes. *GfK figures, December 2009

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CHANNEL EXPO2010

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Where the channel does business Channel Expo is a unique event which brings the whole IT channel together in one place and at one time. If you want to discover all the latest products and services, make new contacts, learn from the experts and ultimately boost your bottom line, then make sure you attend Channel Expo 2010.

Who should attend?

• VARs

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Confirmed exhibitors include: A Server, Bullguard, Cables to Go, Compellent, Fujitsu, Gamma Telecom, Gen-X IT, Griffin Internet, Ingram Micro, Intel, Kaseya, Microsoft, Norman Data, RET Group, Ricoh, Sophos and TP-LINK Technologies

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March PCR 95

MARKETPLACE NEWS

NewsBytes INTERACTIVE SIGNS UP HUBB Interactive Ideas has signed a new distribution deal with Hubb Accessories. The distie will handle Hubb’s growing product range in the UK. The arrangement covers the vendor’s back catalogue of gaming accessories as well as new ranges due to be launched later this year. “From what we have seen of its products and its plans for the UK market, we believe that Hubb will be a great success,” said Michael Breeze, Interactive Ideas’ marketing manager.

OKI KICKS OFF MIDAS CHANNEL CAMPAIGN OKI has started a new channel campaign to inform MIDAS programme partners that they could be earning a quarterly commission by selling the vendor’s Flatrate printing package. The scheme is based on invoiced print volumes every time an OKI printer is sold with a Flatrate plan – a payper-use programme targeted at SMEs with up to five printers. Until March 10th, individual employees of MIDAS resellers can earn themselves capital bonds by referring a customer to Flatrate.

LACE MAMBA GEARS UP FOR MORE PC GAME RELEASES Lace Mamba is bolstering its range of PC games with two new releases in February – Memento Mori and Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island – and three more due this month. The March releases begin with Machinarium, followed by Making History 2: War of the World and Mata Hari towards the end of the month.

WIDGET SNAPS UP POGOPLUG PROJECTOR Widget UK has inked a deal with San Francisco-based Cloud Engines to distribute the Pogoplug in the UK. The device is a tool for connecting any external hard drive or USB stick to the internet, allowing users to share their files via a web-based interface that can be accessed from anywhere.

Widget is also working with electricals giant 3M to launch a new pocket projector into the UK retail market.

96 PCR March

TRUST UNVEILS PORTABLE NOTEBOOK CHARGER Trust has launched a new device for charging laptops on the go. The 120W Notebook Power Adapter plugs can be used in most vehicles as it plugs into a 24V cigarette lighter socket. The device comes with eight different notebook tips and a carry bag, and has a sevenstep selectable power output to ensure compatibility with a variety of major notebook brands. It is also protected against overload, short circuit and overheating.

PEEWEE DEBUTS NEW KIT FOR KIDS Children’s computer vendor PeeWee PC unveiled its new PeeWee Kit at last month’s Toy Fair in New York.

The kit, which is customised for netbooks, turns any computer into an age-appropriate PC for children.

It features a USB drive, PeeWee Security suite for online and offline safety and seven different games and software titles that can be loaded to three different age levels.

KINGSTON LAUNCHES NEW SD CARD Kingston Technology has unveiled its new high-capacity memory card.

The Kingston 16GB microSDHC allows users to transfer files between a mobile device and PC and is available either as a standalone card or with adaptors. “Host devices such as high-definition cameras and the latest smartphones are being designed to optimise their write performance, which will take advantage of performance of the class ten card,” said Steve Hall, product development manager of flash at Kingston Technology.

HANNSG REVEALS NEW 22-INCH DISPLAY LINE HannsG has launched a new range of 22-inch monitors, all featuring 1680 x 1050 resolutions and the vendor’s X-Contrast technology for a sharper image and broader contrast. The displays also include extra wide viewing angles and VESA mount ability. The HH222DPB comes in glossy black, the HP222DJ0 in silver and the HP222DGB has a tough acrylic screen surface.

Simon Pettit

VIP enters the cloud

VIP Computers is taking its first steps into cloud computing through an exclusive agreement with online storage provider Livedrive.

Livedrive allows users to access files and media from anywhere, using militarygrade encryption to keep data secure.

According to VIP, the product provides resellers with healthy margins and add-on opportunities with the sale of hardware.

“When you look at its product offering, the list is extensive and currently unchallenged within the

channel. If you sign-up to Livedrive, you are privy to unlimited storage space and bandwidth, even with its basic ‘Backup’ package,” said VIP product manager Mark Lynch.

Dominic Cross, sales director at Livedrive, added: “We are extremely excited about our distribution agreement with VIP Computers.

Resellers across the UK have been calling out for a boxed version of our product for a long time – we know there’s a huge market out there for it.”

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NEWS MARKETPLACE

Stone Group signs up to Home Access scheme IT supplier joins forces with Orange to offer PCs to low-income families under Government scheme

By Nicky Trup

STONE GROUP has been named an approved supplier of PCs for the Government’s Home Access programme, which brings free computers to underprivileged children.

Stone – already a key provider of IT products to the public sector – is partnering with internet service provider Orange to offer PC and broadband connectivity packages worth up to £520, which can be bought at Orange’s High Street stores.

The firms join the likes of Comet, TMobile and Misco in becoming part of the Home Access scheme, which the

Government launched in January. It offers families with children in school years three to nine (aged around seven to 14), who are entitled to free school meals, the chance to apply for a grant to buy a computer and broadband connection. Children in care or with special needs up to the age of 18 are also eligible.

Families awarded the grant are given a pre-paid debit card that can be used towards purchasing a package only from approved retailers.

Simon Pettit, contracts director at Stone Group, told PCR: “We are delighted to have been appointed as an approved supplier of the Home Access

scheme and are proud to be helping provide low-income families with the IT equipment they need to aid their education. As recent research shows, 82 per cent of schools are facing ICT budget cuts this year. Therefore, initiatives such as the Home Access drive are increasingly important in today’s technology-focused curriculum to ensure all children, regardless of their financial situation, have access to additional IT learning resources outside of the classroom.”

Through the programme, approved suppliers are granted a licence to supply Home Access packages and accept the Home Access Grant as payment.

Varlink becomes Unitech ‘mobility partner’ York-based distie to help vendor improve visibility in UK market VARLINK HAS signed a deal with Unitech to distribute its handheld portable terminals, RFID readers and industrial PDAs as part of the vendor’s ongoing push for a greater presence in the UK market.

The distributor is now a Unitech ‘mobility partner’ and is stocking products such as the new PA600 Phone Edition Mobile Computer, PA600 Healthcare PDA and PA600 Mobile Clinic Asssistant. Varlink will also be distributing the hardwearing HT680 mobile computer, which is aimed at the manufacturing, retail, logistics and transportation industries.

“Working together with a distributor with such experience in the mobility

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market, including a business scope outside that of traditional Auto ID resellers, gives Unitech the confidence to keep improving its level of visibility within the UK market and beyond,” said Raymond Wolfert, Unitech Europe’s sales and marketing manager.

“Varlink’s business capabilities, combined with extensive application knowledge, will be beneficial to Unitech’s VARs and business partners.

Varlink will offer our channel partners well-trained technical support staff, excellent marketing services and business matching warehouse facilities,” added Wolfert.

Sabine Kelly, Varlink’s marketing manager, said: “We are very excited

“Initiatives such as the Home Access Scheme are increasingly important in today’s technology-focused curriculum to ensure all children, regardless of their financial situation, have access to additional IT resources outside the classroom” Simon Pettit, Stone Group

Unitech’s PA600 Healthcare PDA and PA600 Phone Edition Mobile Computer will be distributed by Varlink across the UK

about the opportunities that Unitech is going to open up for Varlink.

Unitech recently brought to market outstanding data capture devices designed for the Healthcare market and we are confident that they will be very well received by our resellers.

“We are seeing an increasing number of enquiries for ‘outside the four walls’ scanning PDAs, where scalability, rich functionality, performance and robustness are key – Unitech products tick all these boxes at very competitive price points.”

March PCR 97

MARKETPLACE APPOINTMENTS/EVENTS APPOINTMENTS

New sales exec for PCR team O’Donovan joins PCR StarTech promotes Carrillo Ipswitch appoints global strategy VP AEG hires Browning INTENT MEDIA CRAIG O'DONOVAN has joined the PCR commercial team as a sales executive. He will work alongside executive advertising manager Katie Rawlings and fellow sales exec Carly Bailey in offering account management support for clients across print, online and events.

O’Donovan arrives with experience in the resource management sector and is well suited to the needs of IT companies. He joins as PCR continues to develop its range of services for clients through 2010 – including an ever-growing daily news website and biggest ever PCR Awards.

STARTECH Backwards-compatible connectivity and technology products vendor StarTech has appointed XIOMARA CARRILLO to the new position of director of sales EMEA. She moves from her previous role within the firm as UK country

PCR’s Craig O’Donovan

manager. Vice president and co-owner of StarTech Ken Kalopsis said: “Xiomara has done an excellent job for us in the UK and I have no doubt she will continue this good work with our expansion plans in Europe.”

IPSWITCH Global technology provider Ipswitch has hired former Gartner analyst L FRANK KENNEY as vice president of global strategy. Kenney has almost

StarTech’s Xiomara Carrillo

two decades of technology experience, specifically in managed file transfer, SOA governance, application integration, business process management and cloud computing. In his new role at Ipswitch, Kenney will be responsible for defining the company’s vision and strategy.

AEG POWER SOLUTIONS AEG Power Solutions has hired GARY BROWNING as its new EMEA

AEG’s Gary Browning

channel development director. Gary joins the company with ten years’ experience in the IT industry and a proven track record of developing IT channel business for market leader APC. “I am really looking forward to establishing the AEG Power Solutions brand in the data and IT channel. I genuinely believe that we can provide a real alternative to the other major vendors currently operating in the marketplace,” Browning said.

DIARY DATES 2010 The UK’s channel calendar is full of important events. Here are some upcoming highlights of the year ahead…

MARCH CEBIT MARCH 2ND – 6TH DEUTSCHE MESSE CONVENTION CENTER, GERMANY

PCR AWARDS

CeBit, one of the world’s largest IT trade fairs, will be showcasing leading technology from around the globe.

With products ranging from telecommunications equipment, IT infrastructure and mobile consumer devices, this year’s event should prove to be as exciting as ever.

PCR AWARDS 2010 MARCH 25TH ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL, LONDON The third annual PCR Awards is set to be the social event of the year for anyone involved in the PC sector, and a well deserved celebration for the

nominees. For information, booking details and/or sponsorship opportunities, please call Katie Rawlings on +44 (0) 1992 535 647 or email Katie.Rawlings@intentmedia.co.uk.

APRIL THE GADGET SHOW LIVE APRIL 7TH – 11TH NEC, BIRMINGHAM The Gadget Show Live is the UK’s largest consumer electronics show, attracting around 200 exhibitors, from major vendors launching new products to smaller firms displaying their offerings. This year’s event also features a number of new areas.

MAY RETAILVISION EUROPE MAY 10TH – 12TH SOFITEL, LONDON HEATHROW

RetailVision gives retailers and distributors the chance to find the latest products to bring to market and meet vendors face-to-face in a structured business setting. Attendees can also make the most of relaxed networking events in the evenings.

CHANNEL EXPO MAY 12TH – 13TH KENSINGTON OLYMPIA, LONDON Building on the success of last year’s show, Channel Expo 2010 will feature in-depth education and discussion areas, as well as exhibition stands from all the leading distributors and vendors operating in the UK channel.

It’s the largest and most influential trade show of its type in the UK. Reduced room rates are also available in the hotel if you are too ‘tired’ to go home at the end of the night.

If you would like to promote your event, please contact: andrew.wooden@intentmedia.co.uk CEBIT 98 PCR March

This information is believed to be correct, but potential visitors should confirm details with show organisers before making arrangements to attend

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BRIGANTIA OPINION

Are tablets the future?

CONTACT IAIN SHAW info@brigantia.com 0870 160 3215 www.brigantia.com Iain invites opinions from PCR readers and will respond though this column

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Brigantia’s Iain Shaw weighs up the pros and cons of the popular tablet PC and suggests that Microsoft will be the market leader...

BARELY a day seems to have gone by recently without a new tablet PC being launched. The question really is whether there is an actual need for such a device outside of certain established niche markets. Apple and many others certainly seem to think so.

The first thing to consider is whether the potential requirement for this sort of device is geographically biased insomuch as will what goes down well in certain affluent areas of the United States also be readily adopted in Asian, (and more importantly for us), European markets?

So far the statistics seem to indicate that adoption outside of the US is much slower for this sort of device but how long that trend will remain true for remains to be seen. After all, most of us can think of plenty of examples from devices to business practices that started in the US and then became popular elsewhere.

The next question is, which sectors are potential markets for a slate PC? I mean it would make a great device for a sales orientated road warrior or a self important office based executive but when it comes to actually bashing the keys in a high output work environment will a slate really be as much use as a PC or a notebook? I

think not for now and unless the technology improves significantly, that will remain the case for the time being.

“Microsoft will do well in this market as a large percentage of the population appears to have the opinion that a computer is not a computer unless it carries a Microsoft operating system” Domestically however, I can see real benefits to these devices as the Graphical User Interface, (GUI), should be far more intuitive than on a regular PC especially with the multitouch functionality becoming more the norm. Anyone who has used an iPhone or one of the Android phones like the HTC Hero, will probably tell you about how easy it was to get the device to work without having to read the manual or have it explained. In my opinion even if the device itself evolves out of all recognition from the current slate form, the intuitive GUI and variants of it will shape how we interact with computers in the future.

The slates that are currently offered seem to be taking an interesting direction with operating systems from the usual incumbents – Microsoft and Apple – but also with Google stepping up with Android based offerings. This ties in with these devices’ feel of being more about communication than previous computers, so the entry of mobile phone born Android based systems should not really be a surprise to anyone.

It would appear that those who have bought Apple in the past will continue to do so as the devices are good looking, slick and user friendly in their own way. The functional limitations seem to not really trouble the users as I believe many think that one does not miss what one has never had.

Microsoft will do well within this market as a large percentage of the population appears to be of the opinion that a computer is not a computer unless it carries a Microsoft operating system. The same resistance to significant change as the Apple users have shown will also apply and as a result Microsoft devices will hold the majority of the slate market (unless of course Microsoft manage to build in some fundamental flaw which puts them out of the running).

March PCR 99

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OPINION TCA

How much bigger can Apple get?

TCA director Robert Peckham comments on the massive news story that is the iPad, pointing out that this is hardly likely to be the last development from the Apple stable. So what’s next for the hugely successful company? Multi-touch iMacs, gaming? The sky’s the limit...

SO THE iPad, Apple’s first tablet computer, is now officially launched and on its way to an eagerly waiting Apple community. And I use ‘first’ advisedly, as there is much evidence of component purchases and design blueprints which indicate that the iPad is just the first of a new line of similar devices which Apple will be launching.

So what next? A ‘multi-touch’ touchscreen iMac is now the next hotlyrumoured product.

THE MONEY’S IN THE BANK But since the beginning of this year, Apple has announced some quite staggering – actually mind-boggling – financial statistics: quarterly sales revenue of $15.68 billion (£9.8 billion) and a net quarterly profit of $3.38

billion (£2.11 billion). Sales outside the USA accounted for 58 per cent of this revenue, and gross margins were 40.9 per cent (yes, you read that right, although this margin is enhanced by its iTunes music store sales).

Apple is now officially a $50 billion company, and has more cash in the bank than any other American computer hardware manufacturer.

But if you look further at the actual product sales built in to these figures, it gets even more amazing: 3.4 million Macs (70 per cent were portable), 8.7 million iPhones and 21 million iPods sold in just three months.

So where can Apple go next, with all of the huge capital resources it has at its disposal? Well, as cloud computing is growing, and Apple is already there

with the superb MobileMe service, how about a move into internet service provision? It could easily swallow many of the internet providers out there currently, including AOL, which already supplies the backbone for its iChat IM service, and even build a new search engine to rival Google, perhaps.

“Apple is now officially a $50 billion company and has more cash in the bank than any other American computer hardware manufacturer”

A GAMBLE ON GAMES? Perhaps Apple should consider a move back into home gaming systems; it was in that sector years ago with Pippin, so is it time it returned to be a new challenger for Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft and company?

All I can tell you for certain is that we won’t know exactly what Apple’s next move is until Steve Jobs takes to the stage and announces it.

Robert Peckham is a director of The Technology Channels Association. email: robert.peckham@tcauk.org.

102 PCR March

www.pcr–online.biz

TCA OPINION

Who are the guardians of our digital life?

Keith Warburton, president of the Technology Channels Association, talks about the importance of knowing who we’re dealing with...

“Virtually all of us are reliant upon technology, whether in our business life or in our personal world. And yet there is no reliable, standard way for us to assess the professional skills of the enterprises that we trust to advise, supply, support, maintain and repair our digital needs”

Keith Warburton is the president of The Technology Channels Association. email: keith.warburton@tcauk.org.

www.pcr–online.biz

HOW OFTEN do we put our future or livelihood in the hands of a solicitor or lawyer? Because of their skills and professionalism they are able to charge us fees that may often make our eyes water.

But at least we have the understanding that if they do indeed rip us off or give us unprofessional service, they can be hauled before their professional bodies and disciplined.

Virtually all of us are reliant upon technology, whether in our business life or in our personal world. And yet there is no reliable, standard way for us to assess the professional skills of the enterprises that we trust to advise, supply, support, maintain and repair our digital needs.

While some people in our channel may have some academic or technical qualifications, or may have participated in vendor training, there is no straightforward way of recognising this.

How can an enterprise be sure that all the people from the supplier or support companies that might be involved in its purchasing or support issues are up to the mark, or that they have insurance cover in the event of a catastrophic problem? The answer is they can’t. In fact, many independent resellers do not even have the basic protection of some standard terms and conditions.

Furthermore, there are, at present, few useful ways in which employers in our channel may reliably assess job applicants, or give them a clear

professional development path. And there are no barriers to entry – anyone can set themselves up as a provider of advice, products or solutions, irrespective of their technology or business skills.

All it needs is for a large-scale scandal to develop around some sales or support issue or other (I’ll leave the lurid headlines to your imagination) and we’ll start to hear demands for ‘Government regulation of this cowboy industry’.

A true vendor-neutral industry standard accreditation for end-user facing individuals and their employers is overdue, as is mandatory professional indemnity assurance. And once we have this we need to promote it as hard as we can to our customers. They must be made aware of the benefits of dealing with a properly qualified and accredited individual or company, and the risks inherent in failing to do so.

And why am I writing about this right now? Quite simply, resellers who attended the TCA Conference on February 25th will have heard about our drive to establish the TCA Academy as a means of co-ordinating the myriad of professional and academic qualifications and accreditations. We’re also making professional indemnity insurance available to all of our resellers who operate acceptable terms and conditions. In case you hadn’t noticed, the TCA’s strapline is ‘Building Professionalism in the Digital Technology Channel’. It’s about time.

The TCA is the not–for–profit trade body with membership made up of businesses from all parts of the channel.

Visit www.tcauk.org for more information

March PCR 103

OPINION

ITACS

NASCR

INDEPENDENT TRADE ASSOCIATION OF COMPUTING SPECIALISTS YOU CAN CONTACT ITACS ON 08445 763 760 OR VISIT WWW.ITACS.ORG.UK

Money for

nothing

The standard of your trading NASCR committee member Geoff Carr expounds on the virtues of Registered Trader Schemes...

ITACS chairman Matthew Woolley says saving money begins at home. See how the Government can support you for less financial stress...

ALL OF US like to be self-sufficient and independent, but during these difficult financial times, it is important for people who are struggling financially to ask for the help they need. Council Tax Benefit and Working Tax Credits are two benefits that can improve the finances for many who are selfemployed and who cannot earn enough to pay the bills.

in life. Call the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 (knowing your National Insurance Number will speed things up), and it will send you the necessary paperwork and help you fill it in. This benefit could be worth £10 to £80 per week, depending on your circumstances.

The online ‘Benefits Advisor’ at www.direct.gov.uk can help you discover the benefits you might be

“If you are suffering from regular penalty charges from your bank, consider cancelling most or all of your Direct Debits and write regular payments on a calendar. This puts you in charge of your finances” Council Tax Benefit is available to people on low income. Ask your local council for an application form. Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to a 100 per cent reduction in your council tax bill. This only applies to your home address, though. This benefit won't put money in your pocket directly, but it can reduce your household bills by as much as £25 per week.

Working Tax Credits are a way of increasing your income when your income is too low. If your application is successful, the Government pays you regularly so you have enough for the essentials

104 PCR March

entitled to. Other useful websites for those in financial difficulty are www.adviceguide.org.uk and www.cccs.co.uk.

If you are suffering from regular penalty charges from your bank, consider cancelling most or all of your Direct Debits. Use a debit card to pay your bills over the telephone instead and write regular payments on the calendar or in a diary. This puts you in charge of your finances so you are less likely to go over your limit.

Finally, don't hide from your problems or put things off. Open your mail each day, talk to your creditors and seek advice when you need it.

“The principles, aims and objectives of this scheme let consumers know that they are dealing with traders that comply with all the regulations that apply”

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPECIALIST COMPUTER RETAILERS YOU CAN CONTACT NASCR ON 08456 440715 OR VISIT WWW.NASCR.ORG

OUR LOCAL Trading Standards Office runs a Registered Trader Scheme. Anyone who registers is listed on the website and receives materials to display in their premises and online. There are stringent checks and requirements before joining and during the membership term. Customers are encouraged to comment on the service they receive.

It stands to reason that this kind of positive reputation building should bring great rewards in increased business. The principles, aims and objectives let consumers know that they are dealing with local traders that comply with all the regulations which apply to their business and offer high standards of workmanship.

One of the concerns regularly voiced by businesspeople is that consumers get all the rights while theirs are compromised, but I think this scheme’s requirements seem reasonable, fair and balanced.

Unfortunately, schemes like this are only set up by local TSOs and are not nationally available. Anyone who is interested should contact their own Trading Standards Office to see if it runs one.

There are parallels between a scheme like this and membership of NASCR. The quality of membership is high and should be displayed to enhance the standing of the business.

In fact, requirements are so high that anyone who successfully joins such a scheme would be an asset to any trade association that wants to improve the quality of service in their sector.

NASCR would love to include any reader that gains such a status, so we will award one year’s honorary membership once you show us that you’ve made it. This will apply to existing as well as new members.

Drop me an email on info@nascr.net.

www.pcr-online.biz

CCI Distribution T 01423 704 700 sales@ccidistribution.co.uk www.ccidistribution.com

Realtime T +44 (0) 1480 442437 sales@realtimeltd.co.uk www.realtimeonline.co.uk

Bluepoint Corporation T 0870 121 8001 sweex@bluepoint.net www.bluepoint.net

Northamber T 0208 296 7066 sales@northamber.com www.northamber.com

Spire Technology T 01202 828444 sweex@spire.co.uk www.spire.co.uk

Š Copyright 2010 Sweex Europe B.V. Technical specifications may be altered without prior notice. Sweex and the Sweex logo are registered trademarks of Sweex Europe B.V. All other brand and product names are the property of their respective holders.

MARKETPLACE

Enermax upgrades power supplies German vendor revises popular Modu 82+, Pro 82+ and LibertyECO PSU lines ENERMAX has unveiled a number of upgrades that it has made to its power supply unit product lines.

A key change is the introduction of DirectX 11 compatibility, which means that the devices now carry the 8-pin PCIe connector heads required for the next generation of graphics cards, while the addition of HeatGuard cooling functionality to all models means that the fans will continue running for up to a minute after shut-down to ensure that the device properly discharges any excess heat.

The power cable itself has also been overhauled and now features CordGuard, a simple solution that clips the power supply connection in

106 PCR March

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The introduction of DirectX 11 compatibility, means that the devices now carry the 8-pin PCIe connector heads required for the next generation of graphics cardsâ&#x20AC;? place to ensure that an accidental trip on a power cord does not result in lost data. Internally, the 12-volt power cable that hooks in to the CPU socket has been extended as a growing number of cases hold the power supply at the bottom of the chassis.

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MARKETPLACE

Simms goes to market with ultra-secure flash drive Device does not suffer from the vulnerabilities that affect other NISTcertified products

SIMMS HAS revealed that its IronKey encrypted USB flash drive is among the safest in the world, as it is not subject to the security flaws that have plagued other NISTcertified devices.

Unlike similar products, the IronKey does not rely on the software

“It also features a hardened epoxy compound that completely covers the drives within the military grade tamper-evident casing, as well as electromagnetic shielding”

of a host PC, which is the vulnerability posed by other drives. Instead, it randomly generates its own AES encryption key, which cannot be exported from the device.

It also features a hardened epoxy compound that completely covers the drives within the military grade tamper-evident casing, as well as electromagnetic shielding and hard-wired encryption key selfdestruct defences.

The IronKey is compatible with Windows 2000 through to Windows 7, Mac OSX and Linux 2.6+.

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MARKETPLACE

Movea unveils new ‘Air Mouse’ Motion-sensing pioneer develops PC control away from the desktop

MOVEA HAS revealed its Gyration Air Mouse Elite, a motion-sensing air mouse that enables the user to control their PC through the natural movements of their hands.

“Whether in the boardroom or classroom, presenters and digital media enthusiasts everywhere have used these in-air mice to bring presentations to life” Greg Smith, Movea The device utilises proprietary motion sensing technology to allow the user to issue commands and initiate presentations by slight wrist movements in the air.

A tiny internal gyroscope measures the angle and speed of the movement to manoeuvre the cursor and the device uses radio frequencies, meaning that it can be operated from a range of up to one hundred feet, including through walls.

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Software support comes in the form of MotionTools, a suite of effects and tools that recognise hand gestures and help to enliven presentations. For example, the user can transform the cursor in to a text highlighter, laser pointer or pen and can activate embedded media or special effects with in-air movements.

“Whether in the boardroom, classroom or living room, presenters and digital media enthusiasts everywhere have used these in-air mice to bring presentations to life and to control their entertainment while enjoying freedom of movement,” said Movea’s vice president of marketing, Greg Smith.

“The Air-Mouse Elite and the newlyimproved MotionTools suite are the culmination of our continued commitment to allow customers to master the art of motion for more effective communications and more immersive entertainment experiences.”

March PCR 109

MARKETPLACE

Computer Gear heads for the retro look New line of headsets incorporates the style of yesteryear “Available in pastel pink, green or blue, these headsets look like the full ear-covering models that were popular throughout the 1970s”

COMPUTER Gear has unveiled its latest range of stereo headsets, taking an inspiration from the designs and colour schemes of previous decades.

Available in pastel pink, green or blue, these headsets look like the full ear-covering models that were popular throughout the 1970s.

As well as boasting a distinctive retro design, the device includes a 6.5mm inline moulded microphone that has been moulded to the cable and can easily clip to a tie or collar.

Naturally, the product has an adjustable headframe to ensure that it fits properly, as well as activation and volume controls on the device itself. It supports VoIP, multimedia and voice recognition applications.

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MARKETPLACE

Trust makes itself comfortable Vendor launches range of ergonomic laptop cooling mounts and monitor stands â&#x20AC;&#x153;Its range of laptop cooler stands and monitor mounts has been specifically designed to improve the seated posture of the userâ&#x20AC;?

112 PCR March

TRUST has unveiled a number of ergonomic products that aim to reduce the number of injuries suffered by office workers or PC users from sitting in the wrong position.

Its range of laptop cooler stands and monitor mounts has been specifically designed to improve the seated posture of the user, a selling point that can prove invaluable at a time when research has found that 40 per cent of work absenteeism is due to back problems caused by incorrect posture.

The Notebook Cooling Stand Xstream and the Stylo notebook Stand are suitable for screen sizes of up 17.4inches and 16-inches respectively. The Xstream has five different height settings and two integrated cooling fans, while the Stylo features rubber pads to negate the possibility of damage from the laptop slipping.

The Desk Mount for LCD Monitors and Full Motion Desk Mount for LCD Monitors are designed for desktop PCs and allows the user to set the monitor at the optimum height and distance to

reduce stress on the shoulders and neck. The Full Motion Desk Mount can be moved in any direction as well as allowing for tilting to produce the perfect viewing position.

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Expand your visual real estate with ATI Eyefinity technology,1 whose revolutionary multi-display capabilities create a completely immersive viewing experience.

Accelerate video conversion and the most demanding apps on your PC with ATI Stream technology.2 Enhance your trips down memory lane with stunning high-definition entertainment on your PC – from Blu-ray/HD DVD discs or other HD sources.3 To turn your PC into a state-of-the-art home entertainment center, visit www.amd.com/radeonHD5450 today. www.sapphiretech.com 1 ATI Eyefinity technology works with games that support non-standard aspect ratios, which is required for panning across three displays, and to enable a third display you require one panel with a DisplayPort connector. 2 Requires application support for ATI Stream technology. 3 HD monitor required to view HD content. HD DVD drive required for HD DVD playback. Blu-ray drive required for Blu-ray playback.

© 2010 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. AMD, the AMD arrow logo, ATI, the ATI logo, Radeon, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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StorDigital offers protected duplication New SafeTower incorporates DVD copy protection STORDIGITAL has unveiled its new SafeTower stand-alone CD and DVD duplication system.

The SafeTower uses a combination of hardware and Copy Protection Software (CPS) to embed digital rights management directly onto a master DVD disk, which can then only be duplicated by another CPS enabled machine. This technique offers an effective solution against piracy as duplicates of this master disc will also include copy protection.

“Piracy has never been a more important factor for publishers than in today’s increasingly specialised

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market,” said StorDigitals founder Nic Ranshaw. “We’re aware of the efforts made by our customers to create unique and engaging content, and we are very pleased to provide them with the tools necessary to both produce their content and protect their assets.

“We see a big market for those publishers that are producing DVD video such as wedding videos, self help videos, guides, information and video tutorials. Many of our customers go to great efforts to produce high quality, engaging original content and it’s only fair that they have the tools at hand to protect their property.”

March PCR 115

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New Norton 360 hits the shelves Security vendor unveils new portfolio offering a range of features and upgrades online backup “Security and backup go hand in hand. What we’ve done with Version Four is add the ability to share and access that data once it’s been backed up” Con Mallon, Symantec

116 PCR March

SYMANTEC has released its Norton portfolio for 2010, which includes a wider range of features and an upgraded online backup service.

The lynchpin of its product lines in recent years has been the Norton 360 suite – an all-encompassing security solution that is now in its fourth incarnation. Norton 360 Version 4.0 offers a range of new technologies such as cloud heuristics, Symantec’s Reputation Service and SONAR2 heuristic analysers, as well as bringing Brightmail spam filters, download scanning, and Norton Insight performance monitors.

Although local backup can be handled by Norton 360, a much broader range of backup options is provided by Norton Ghost. This software offers professional grade backup and recovery for all

applications, settings, files and folders.

The disk image service can provide full system backup and can be tweaked to provide the service where needed, or the newly introduced Cold Imaging solution allows for file backup without

even installing the Ghost software.

Ghost offers offsite and NAS backup too, but for those who want a further solution, Symantec has upgraded its remote storage. Unlike previous incarnations, the new offering allows users to access the data from anywhere and on any PC, making for a much more flexible and usable storage solution.

“We’ve always said that security and backup go hand in hand,” Symantec’s UK and Ireland country manager, Con Mallon, told PCR. “What we’ve done with Version Four is add the ability to share and access that data once it’s been backed up. It’s not just about backup – which can be quite dry and boring for some people – it’s about opening up the data so it can be used in whatever way the user wants.”

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MARKETPLACE RECOMMENDED

TOMTOM GO 750 LIVE WITH THE explosion in Android smartphones and the arrival of sat nav on the iPhone, prices for smartphone sat nav software have plummeted in the past 12 months. It’s now a commodity rather than a luxury, and that puts standalone products such as the new TomTom Go Live750 in a somewhat precarious position.

It can’t compete on price, but that doesn’t mean this is a poor product. In fact, this TomTom continues along the successful vein of last year’s Go 740 Live. It offers excellent routing, with IQ Routes to ensure its calculations are based on real average speeds rather than posted speed limits. Map Share allows you to take advantage of user-submitted map corrections and send in your own.

And if you choose to pay the £8 monthly charge, you get all the benefits of TomTom’s live traffic updates and data services (via the built-in GPRS radio). The services also include a live fuel price search POI look-up via Google, and speed camera alerts.

It works brilliantly too. In our road tests, the TomTom Go 750 Live, just like its predecessor, was the only product to come close to reliably finding the fastest routes in and around London, and its instructions are clear and timely.

So what’s new? Well, not a lot. The user interface has been given an update, including a long-overdue revamp of the dashboard panel and route overview screens. The map graphics have been added to the traffic bar on the right of the main screen. In the routing options, you now have the option to go ‘Eco’, which will pick the route likely to use the least fuel.

We’d love to have seen a sleeker device with a nicer screen, but it’s still packaged in the same 127 x 24.3 x 85mm shell. Although the Go 750 Live is beginning to look old-fashioned, and it isn’t worth an upgrade from the Go 730 or Go 740 Live, it’s still the best in the business. And at a price considerably lower than its predecessors.

[

URL: www.tomtom.com SRP: £200

]

ALIENWARE AURORA ALX

MOST ALIENWARE systems are unashamed aspiration monsters that place as much emphasis on first impressions as they do frame rates and the Aurora ALX is no different.

The exterior features the dramatic lines and matte-black finish that we’ve come to expect and every crevice is filled with light that can be changed to a colour of your choice, or made to pulse and flash. The roof has a row of motorised fins, which can open to let more air into the case should the temperature inside reach a certain level.

Inside, the major components are sequestered into their own areas to improve air flow and heat dissipation, while the processor is water-cooled.

There’s even a light that illuminates the interior of the chassis when the side is removed, in line with Alienware’s claim that the Aurora ALX is one of it’s most easily upgradeable machines ever.

The Aurora scored 2.04 in our 2D benchmarks. Not a bad result, but we’ve

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seen overclocked systems effortlessly top 2.50 in recent months. The ATi Radeon HD 5870 breezed through our Crysis benchmarks, managing 37fps in our 1,920 x 1,200 Very High test. Unlike the choice of CPU, we can’t argue with the HD 5870’s inclusion – the only better option is the dual-GPU HD 5890, but that’s stupidly expensive.

The rest of the specification offers little to excite. There’s no Blu-ray drive and the 6GB of DDR3 isn’t even installed in a triple-channel configuration. At least there’s plenty of storage, with two 1TB hard disks arranged in a striped RAID0 array.

Alienware’s systems normally come with high prices. This particular package, with its GPU and hard disk boosted beyond the standard options, retails for eye-watering £2,259.

“Every crevice is filled with light that can be changed to a colour of your choice, or made to pulse and flash”

[

URL: www.alienware.co.uk SRP: £2,259

]

March PCR 119

OUT OF OFFICE

THE IT CROWD

THIS MONTH: A human frog, an army of Trekkies and an award for Micro-P...

EMEA CHANNEL ACADEMY AWARDS GET ACROBATIC As this year’s Distree came to a close, around a thousand executives from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa descended on Monte Carlo’s Chapiteau de Fontvielle for the EMEA Channel Academy Awards 2010.

As well as the awards themselves, the guests were treated to an impressive array of entertainment – including acrobatic roller skaters, jazz singers, the ‘human flag’ and the ‘human frog’.

Clockwise from top right: the ‘human frog’, the ‘human flag’, a group of jazz singers, roller skaters, a second jazz band

120 PCR March

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OUT OF OFFICE

Send your pictures to: andrew.wooden@intentmedia.co.uk

A WINNING PARTNERSHIP

A day in the life ountry Manager Jerry Lee, UK C Thermaltake

Micro-P was awarded the ‘New Partner of the Year 2010' prize at Lenovo’s Channel Partner Forum. The winning firm was chosen by Lenovo’s VP panel and presented to Mark Kahr, Micro-P’s commercial and marketing director, by Lenovo CEO Yuang Yuanqing.

TREKKIES INVADE LONDON FOR WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT Games vendor Namco Bandai recruited an army of Trekkies to mark the European release of PC roleplay game Star Trek Online. The stunt, which took place in central London, broke the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Star Trek characters.

Xx

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"Shows are a major thing for Thermaltake, because products like the Level 10 gaming station are gorgeous and need to be seen ‘up close and personal’" Daybreak: The day begins around 6am when my beloved 10-month-old daughter does her best to make sure I get up.

Yawn/stretch: By 7.30am the whole household is up and about. At this stage I am firmly into my emails – catching up with all of the communications that have crossed the globe overnight between the various Thermaltake offices.

Breakfast: Finally, a chance to grab a bite before a long day on the motorway seeing customers from London to Liverpool, Birmingham to Bolton.

Meetings: Having launched Thermaltake’s UK office, I now spend almost no time in it!

UK business: Doing business in the UK is all about relationships – and that means face-to-face contact.

Early evening: Logistics and planning are a massive part of any manufacturer’s role – and that’s certainly true for a global company like Thermaltake. After spending some time with the family (so they don’t forget what I look like!), I then go through all of our customer orders and make sure that everything is running smoothly.

Planning: Any spare time during the evenings and weekends is spent planning. Shows are a major thing for Thermaltake, because our products, such as the Level 10 gaming station, are gorgeous and need to be seen ‘up close and personal’.

Overall: After growing up in Taiwan and spending several years in Holland, I’m now loving the UK and looking forward to a great year with Thermaltake!

March PCR 121

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PCR Editorial Planner

In the

HOT SEAT This month, Quinton Watts, marketing VP at ESET UK, tells us a little bit about himself...

APRIL 2010 Advertising deadline: March 24th Photography Self improvement and creative Motherboards and processors To advertise call Carly Bailey on +44 (0) 1992 535647 or email Carly.Bailey@intentmedia.co.uk For editorial please contact Andrew Wooden on +44 (0) 1992 535646 or email him at Andrew.Wooden@intentmedia.co.uk

MAY 2010 Advertising deadline: April 19th Channel Expo issue Margin makers Printers EVENT: CHANNEL EXPO, RETAIL VISION

JUNE 2010 Advertising deadline: May 19th Channel Expo review Cooling and cases Distribution focus Memory GPS devices EVENT: COMPUTEX

JULY 2010 Advertising deadline: June 16th Mac special Mac peripherals Business software EVENTS: TCA GOLF DAY

AUGUST 2010 Advertising deadline: July 21st Back to school issue Back to school hardware and software

SEPTEMBER 2010 Advertising deadline: August 18th Gaming issue Graphics cards Peripherals Displays Games hardware EVENT: PIXEL EXHIBITION

OCTOBER 2010 Copy deadline: TBA Security special Security software Digital storage Photography EVENT: STORAGE EXPO 122 PCR March

Describe yourself in three words Tigger. Positive. Driven.

How do you relax away from work?

Renovating my boat.

What is your favourite: Book: Motorboats Monthly Film: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Album: Greatest Hits – Queen What was your first computer?

Spectrum ZX (showing my age!).

What is your best memory from working in the industry?

Showing the McAfee staff why we had a better anti-virus at Infosec 2009.

Who is the funniest person you’ve ever met?

My kids. They make me laugh every time they ask for pocket money.

What did you want to do when you were younger?

Be a pole-dancer.

When were the ‘good old days’?

Pre-technology.

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