IBM on Monday launched the world's smallest full functional desktop computer in India within weeks of its worldwide launch to increase its share of the commercial PC market.
"We currently have 12.5 per cent share of the commercial desktop market in India. It will continue to grow as our sales grow 47-48 per cent year-on-year against the market growth of 25 per cent," Neeraj Sharma, vice president, Personal Computing Division at IBM India said.
He said IBM was bullish on the Indian commercial desktop market. "We will continue to grow and look for new avenues for growth," Sharma said.
Sharma said with this launch "we would like to address the business process outsourcing industry and financial sector where the space was at premium."
IBM has priced the ThinkCentre S50 ultra small between Rs 38,000 and Rs 48,000 which brings it within the reach of small businesses and homes. The cost includes a standard 15-inch monitor and Windows operating system.
The ThinkCentre S50 ultra small comes with internal speakers that can enable it to be used in homes.
The PC comes in a tool-free durable chassis which is 28 centimetres wide, 26 centimetres deep and 8.4 centimetres high.
At 13 pounds, the new ThinkCentre S50 ultra small weighs almost the same as IBM's first notebook computer, the 12-pound IBM 5140 PC Convertible launched in 1986.
Simplifying usability, the S50 ultra small also features IBM ThinkVantage Design. Encased in a tool-free durable steel chassis, components inside the machine, such as the hard disk and memory, can easily be removed by the customer.
The ThinkCentre S50 ultra small is 35 percent smaller than the current S50. Its footprint is actually 8 percent smaller than a ThinkPad T41 notebook computer. It is also IBM's quietest desktop PC ever.
The ThinkCentre S50 ultra small features an internal power supply, one PCI slot, one slim-line optical drive slot, one 3.5" internal hard drive, and Intel Pro-1000 Ethernet. It also features an innovative "caddy" that surrounds the hard disk drive, locking it into place without the use of tools or screws.
Rubber bumpers on the caddy decrease vibration and deliver quiet operation. Compared to the first version of the ThinkCentre S50, other mechanical improvements have been made to the overall design, including noise reduced from 41 dBA to 39 dBA, improved air flow, and wider spaced USB ports to fit most memory keys. -- PTI
Neeraj Sharma (L), vice-president of the personal computing division, IBM India, and Rahul Agarwal (R), brands manger (desktops), IBM India, hold the world's smallest desktop S50 Ultra during an unveiling function in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: Raveendran / AFP / Getty Images
