Lenovo Group became the first PC maker in the world to release
models optimized for Windows Vista and estimates it will sell several million
computers pre-installed with Vista this year.
The world's third-largest
computer maker demonstrated about 10 new computers as well as printers in Beijing and at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las
Vegas yesterday, two days after Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates demonstrated the
software at the CES.
With Microsoft expected to release the new operating
systems to consumers on January 30, computer makers are looking to it to boost
sales.
"Windows Vista has an unprecedented space in the PC industry,"
said Chen Shaopeng, senior vice-president of Lenovo Group and president of its
China operation, yesterday at its headquarters in Beijing.
While
mainstream computers in the Chinese market use one-core processors from Intel or
AMD, Windows Vista requires dual-core processors and a memory of at least 2
gigabytes for optimal performance.
However, Liu Jie, general manager of
Lenovo's consumer desktop computers and head of a Vista migration team in the
firm, said any rise in the price of computers will only be equal to the cost of
a McDonalds meal, thanks to subsidies from Microsoft, Lenovo and other
partners.
For PC makers, which have been looking for something to save
them from price wars and stimulate buyers' demand, Windows Vista promises to be
a strong stimulus.
The world's largest computer maker, HP, plans to
release new desktop products for the Chinese market today in Beijing and Windows
Vista is expected to be a key theme. In November, 17 major PC makers including
Lenovo and HP said they had computers ready for the launch of Windows
Vista.
Lenovo, the biggest PC supporter of Microsoft in China, sold about
5 million computers with Microsoft's Windows operating systems last year, out of
a total shipment of around 8 million units. Liu estimated the shipment of
Vista-equipped machines will be roughly the same.
In November, the
computer giant selected large corporate users as pilots for the migration to
Vista, but other consumers will have to wait until January 30 to get computers
fitted with the software.
Lenovo has been preparing products, sales and
services for the official launch.
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