Computer Industry Update: 27/05/09

 

ACER DEBUTS GATEWAY AND EMACHINE RANGE OF PCS IN INDIA
New Delhi
Financial Chronicle    

Personal computer maker Acer today launched two global PC brands -- Gateway and eMachines -- in India targeted at distinct user segments.

The Gateway brand starting from over Rs 28,000 is targeted at the premium segment of the market while the eMachines priced at Rs 9,999 is targeting the core value customer.

All Gateway models would be preloaded with original Microsoft windows operating system.

"We believe in a new multi-brand strategy. With the growing and changing needs of end-customers, it is not enough to fulfill all the consumers needs with one brand," Acer India Managing Director W S Mukund said.

"With the availability of the new brands, Acer will now be able to deliver tailored products for different customer segments in India," he added.

The Gateway range of products, which includes notebooks, netbooks and desktop, would be initially available through Croma retail outlets in the first phase of rollout.

Acer has tied-up with Tata group's electronic and consumer durables mega-stores Croma as its launch partner for the Gateway range in India.

The eMachine range, which includes notebooks and Nettop, will be available through other retail channels.

OFFSETTING E-BLUES WITH GREEN TECHNOLOGIES
Pravin Mehta
The Economic Times

As an emerging force in the global IT and telecom field, India produces and uses a huge volume of electronic equipment. And, the subsequent technological obsolescence, degradation and failure generate large quantities of waste. It has been estimated that manufacturers and assemblers of electronic equipment in India alone generate about 1200 tonnes of electronic waste per year. India’s burgeoning scrap business also attracts substantial amount of degraded components from the developed countries, which adds to the alarming volume of e-waste. In the current scenario, proper disposal of e-waste is a critical issue. However, this problem has been addressed to a certain extent through the initiation of environmental protection and pollution control measures across the globe. According to Kurian Joseph, Associate Professor, Centre for Environmental Studies, Anna University, “Though e-waste is a source of different metals and plastic, it comprises hazardous substances also, effective separation of which is an issue. In India, most of these components are being separated through informal methods, causing environmental problems.”

Towards SME growth

The Government of India has made amendments in Hazardous Waste Management & Handling Rules, 1989 for regulating the generation, accumulation, storage, treatment, disposal, export and import of hazardous wastes. “A legal framework is being developed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to regulate proper disposal and recycling of e-waste products. Currently, a legislation is on its way with certain guidelines, which will hand out a mandate to the major generators of e-waste in India along with the SME firms. These SMEs will tie up with various formal waste recyclers and licensed waste disposal firms to overcome the situation,” stated Prof Joseph.

As SMEs are becoming more aware, they are opting for eco-friendly, e-waste management technologies for lowering the volume of waste, along with effective recycling and disposal of hazardous materials. “Along the supply chain, we need to ensure proper handling of waste components in an eco-friendly way, while recycling and disposal should be done only by licensed formal recyclers”, opines K Vijaya Lakshmi, Vice President, Development Alternatives.

Initially, SMEs in India could not adopt energy efficient green technologies due to lack of funds and limited operability in R&D for acquiring the expertise. However, in recent times, several collaborations have been made between Indian SMEs and various global firms to develop green technologies for minimising e-waste generation and environment friendly recycling and disposal.

Concepts like green data centres can be of potential aid to the SMEs in reducing the volume of e-waste generated, while optimising the use of space and power in IT and electronics industries. Software and hardware virtualisation is another green technology, which can be leveraged upon for effective e-waste management. Dr Lakshmi suggests, “It is the responsibility of both the manufacturers who should minimise the use of hazardous substances and that of the users who should dump their waste only with formal recyclers.”

CREATE SEPARATE MINISTRY FOR ELECTRONICS, HARDWARE: ASSOCHAM
New Delhi
Business Standard

Industry body Assocham today said there is a need to create an independent ministry for electronics and hardware industry, which will reduce dependence on imports.

India would need 250 million units of mobile telephones and lakh of computers, besides laptops, amounting worth Rs 20,000 crore by 2011-12, Assocham said.

"The import of input components is expected to be more than 90 percent and demand for local components is merely 10 percent due to high taxes," the chamber said.

Currently, electronics and hardware fall under the Ministry of Communications and IT. Since, the ministry has huge responsibilities in putting India on communications and IT roadmap of the world, a separate ministry is required which could focus on hardware and electronics segment, it said.

It pointed out that indigenous manufacturers are willing to invest Rs 60,000 crore to manufacture electronics hardware and other products in the country. But in the absence of a definite approach, India is unable to attract investment.

Assocham said electronics and hardware sector has remained neglected as it is subject to inadvertent duty structure to an extent of 30 percent and other local levies. There is a need to bring down the taxes to give a boost to the industry. This would also generate over 25 million jobs in due course of time, it said.

The setting up of a separate ministry would give a face lift to the entire sector.

BELKIN LAUNCHES LAPTOP COOLING SOLUTIONS
New Delhi
The Financial Express

Belkin India, the leading global provider of interconnectivity solutions across computing and consumer electronic devices, launched its latest laptop cooling hub and cooling pad in India.

The laptop Cooling products will enable consumers to prevent laptops from overheating.

Belkin Laptop cooling pad enable use of laptops while sitting anywhere at home or office.

Belkin laptop cooling hub is elevated by a flip-out stand in the back, and slip-resistant rubber pads that cover the laptop contact points to keep notebook elevated at a prime viewing angle. The platforms are equipped with an embedded fan that helps cool down a hot laptop and features four USB ports that can be used to connect USB enabled devices like an external hard drive or mouse.

The cooling hub can accommodate up to a 17" laptop and it's available with a rubber padding and runs on external AC adapter or laptop battery power via attached USB cable.

“In scorching summer conditions, working with a hot laptop can be quite uncomfortable,” said Mohit Anand, country manager, Belkin India. "Designed to offer maximum cooling comfort and easy connectivity for USB enabled external devices, the cooling hubs make it more convenient and comfortable to use laptops anywhere in a home or office."