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Cover and spine 47:Layout 1 12/7/07 16:26 Page 1 PC Retail www.pcretailmag.com Issue 47 August 2007 incorporating THE TRADE MONTHLY FOR ALL COMPUTER RETAILERS AND IT SUPPLIERS AUGUST 2007 AUGUST • Revolutionary Second Generation Ultra Mobile PC • Genuine Windows® Vista™ Home Premium • 7” wide touch screen display • Built-in QWERTY keyboard imagine classic style, with cutting edge technology Samsung Notebooks are available from Interface Solutions - the notebook specialists. Call our Samsung sales team now on 0871 230 2481 or email [email protected] INCORPORATING Delivering your solutions imagine Samsungs new ‘Black Aura’ notebook series R20 from £395 excl. VAT R70 from £563 excl. VAT Stunning new black notebook with serious power and gaming Premium all round hi-gloss black notebook for work and home capability. users alike. As part of the Aura range, the R20 sets a new standard in optimised The Samsung R70 delivers the ultimate in multimedia experience. Packed with a performance. Hidden within its elegant casing is the kind of technology you host of fl exible features and a stunning 15.4” widescreen display its the perfect would expect to fi nd in a high performance notebook. companion for work and home. • Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T5300 (1.73GHz) • Intel® Centrino™ Duo Processor Technology • Genuine Microsoft Windows® Vista™ Home Premium • Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7100 (1.8GHz) • 14.1” WXGA Super Bright Gloss/Non-Gloss Display • Genuine Microsoft Windows® Vista™ Home Premium • 1GB Memory • 15.4” WXGA Super Bright Gloss/Non-Gloss Display • 120GB SATA Hard Disk • 1GB Memory • DVD Super Multi Dual Layer Writer • 120GB SATA Hard Disk • DVD Super Multi Dual Layer Writer Q45 from £605 excl. VAT Q70 from £709 excl. VAT Stylish black notebook with the perfect mix of mobility, looks Top of the range ultra slim, ultra portable notebook solution and capability. weighing in at less than 2.03 kg. If you want good looks and mobility then the Q45 is your ideal companion. As Delivering the optimal balance of mobility and performance the Samsung part of the Aura range, its curvaceous lines and meticulous fi nish make the Q45 Q70 is a powerful notebook solution to satisfy the needs of even the most one of the most fashionable models around. And yet it also boasts the very demanding business user. Ultra slimline and stylish this notebook makes a latest in smart technology. lasting impression with its good looks and lightweight design. • Intel® Centrino™ Duo Processor Technology • Intel® Centrino™ Duo Processor Technology • Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7100 (1.8GHz) • Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7300 (2.00GHz) • Genuine Microsoft Windows® Vista™ Home Premium • Genuine Microsoft Windows® Vista™ Home Premium • 12.1” WXGA Super Bright Gloss/Non-Gloss Display • 13.3” WXGA Super Bright Gloss Display • 2GB Memory • 2GB Memory • 160GB SATA Hard Disk • 160GB SATA Hard Disc • DVD Super Multi Dual Layer Writer • DVD Super Multi Dual Layer Writer, Lightscribe Samsung Notebooks are available from Interface Solutions - the notebook specialists. Call our Samsung sales team now on 0871 230 2481 or email [email protected] Delivering your solutions Celeron, Celeron Inside, Centrino, Centrino Logo, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel Viiv, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. 5481 PC Retail Cover Wrap.indd 2 11/7/07 14:38:36 3 PCR47_v3:3 PCR46 17/7/07 17:48 Page 1 PCRetail ISSUE 47 AUGUST 2007 27 REGULARS What’s the 5 News 14 PCA problem? 16 Appointments 18 Indie Profile A COMMON THREAD running through this month’s issue, and indeed many prior 20 Agony Uncle: Problems Solved to this, is the concept of solutions. For as long as I can remember members of the FEATURES technology industry have been proclaiming, to the point of cliché, that 23 The Big Interview: Ingram Micro they are “solution providers, not box 41 27 Hot Topic: Margin Makers shifters,” the inference being that they do more than simply pile ‘em high and sell 31 Sector Guide: Broadband ‘em cheap. 37 Logic 3 interview Probably the biggest single driver of this tendency has been the 41 The Education Channel Internet, which has allowed the likes of Amazon to pile ‘em higher and sell ‘em cheaper than ever before. This left everyone else 45 Product Focus: Top-end Kit having to either follow suit or justify not doing so. 51 Reference Software The Internet has Which brings us to the solution- sell. Most people haven’t taken the 55 Sector Guide: Networking made retail time to suss out how technology 61 In-car Technology either follow suit works. This is where retailers come 65 Microsoft’s ABU to the rescue; offering their or justify why it knowledge and judgement to ensure 51 67 Mid range AMD card overview hasn’t done so they make the right choice for them. 70 Notes From The Frontline So this month we see Commodore present its mobile content solution (p6), Sony unveil its new laptop retail concept, designed to help consumers relate their lifestyle to FACTS AND FIGURES the kind of laptop they need (p7). 73 Plug and Play Further on we have an exclusive interview with Bhavesh Patel, commercial director at Ingram Micro (p23). It seems that solution 75 Games Releases selling is a key feature of Ingram’s business, with the many uses of 76 GFK Analysis digital storage getting particular attention in the interview. 79 Hardware Charts One conclusion was that network attached storage is of growing 82 Software Charts importance as domestic wireless networks become more widespread. I take a look at home networking on p55 and find that MARKETPLACE 85-113 any retailer that can do an effective ‘solution’ sell on a home network could be unearthing a goldmine. WIN A MICROSOFT WINDOWS DESKTOP One of the things that has always intrigued me about the use of SOLUTION FROM INGRAM MICRO 58-59 the word solution is that, grammatically at least, it presupposes that there is an existing problem the solution solves. I guess if there is a problem in this instance, it’s the oldest one of all: how do I make PCRETAIL CONTACTS more money? Editor Advertising Executive Scott Bicheno Carly Bailey [email protected] [email protected] Scott Bicheno Staff Writer Production Manager [email protected] Ben Furfie Suzanne Powles [email protected] [email protected] Production Editor Designer Samantha Loveday James Martin [email protected] [email protected] DEMAND THE BEST. Managing Editor PUBLISHER: 01992 535646 INSIST ON FREECOM. Lisa Foster Stuart Dinsey [email protected] [email protected] DataTank Gateway WLAN Advertising Manager EDITORIAL: 01992 535646 Katie Rawlings ADVERTISING: 01992 535647 Network enabled external hard drive Store & access MP3 and Video files [email protected] FAX: 01992 535648 anywhere in the world Connect using wireless for home networking Impressive 1000GB of data storage! PC Retail - Total average monthly net circulation for Built-in protection and security! January 1st to December 31st 2006: 11,796. Intent Media is a member of the Periodical Publishers Associations Call for pricing PC Retail is published 12 times a year by Intent Media - Saxon House, 6a St.Andrew Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire For full details on products, prices SG14 1JA Fax: +44 (0)1992 535648. © Intent Media 2007 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. and current offers, SUBSCRIPTIONS UK: £50 Europe: £60 Rest of World: £90. The international cost applies per subscription and covers call our sales team on airmail dispatch of 12 issues. To order your subscription via Visa, MasterCard, Amex Switch or Delta contact 01423 704 700 [email protected] or call 01580 883848. Alternatively visit our website www.pcretailmag.com WWW.FREECOM.COM Subscriptions Manager: Hannah Short, [email protected] ISSN:1742-8440 PCRetail July 3 MS pc retail July07 ad/01 9/7/07 17:00 Page 1 Its that time of year when thoughts turn once more to preparing for the new academic year and to help your customers ease back in we are pleased to offer you savings of up to 25% on a range of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac products. Microsoft® Office 2004 for Mac provides all the intuitive, intelligent tools required to transform creativity and ideas into action. Put Office 2004 to work for your customers today and let them start to reap the rewards. 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