For the channel, the new Chromebook Enterprise models, and the addition of the Chromebook OS to Unified Workspace turns their Chromebook business from selling a box to schools into a differentiated enterprise solution.
HP Sure View is available as an option on two HP commercial models, HP EliteBook 1040 and HP EliteBook 840.
The new models include Lenovo’s first Yoga form factor for the K-12 market. Combat kits for the new offerings are also coming to channel partners.
Dell commercial boss Kirk Schell reiterated Dell’s commitment to the space and discussed some ways Dell intends to differentiate itself from the competition.
HP’s new Spectre is a consumer product, so won’t be sold by the channel, but it of channel interest because of some interesting design decisions made to create the world’s thinnest notebook – while still using Core i5 and i7 processors.
Dell unveiled a host of new products at this year’s CES including new monitors and consumer notebooks, but for the channel, the main story is new commercial notebooks with consumer features taken from Dell’s XPS line.
The increasing impact of style and functionality from the consumer segment to the commercial PC space is not a new trend, but HP believes it has taken it to a new level with its latest announcements, designed to appeal to millennial customers both in their esthetics and through a new commitment to improving the notebook PC as a communications device.
Several new desktops, all-in-ones and notebooks were announced, with HP emphasizing new design, security and collaboration features, some of which are unique to them.
Dell’s hardware designers explain their original mandate, to turn Dell from a follower to a leader in product innovation, and discuss their design philosophy and principles that underlay the large degree of success they have in this area now compared to a decade ago.
Dell reverses an earlier decision to make the Latitude its SMB notebook product in North America, and responds to customer demand with new 14 and 15 inch models.
Today, the app supports four Windows 8 Lenovo devices, with more on the road map for this year. An Android version is in development.
Compared to last year, the changes to Dell’s partner program as the company begins a new fiscal year are much more modest, although the extension of rebates for new business to Registered partners will cause much cheer in that quarter.
Dell sees a strong channel play for this extended support bundle for endpoints, and expects partners will do even better than they did with the initial bundles for the data centre.
The Zbook 15u checks in at 6.3 lbs compared to 4.23 for the HP Zbook 14, while both have 5th-generation Intel Core processors, up to 16 GB of memory and up to 1.25 TB of storage.
Dell is leveraging its software portfolio in its hardware products here, something we will likely see more of from them, as they have assembled and consolidated their software offerings to the point where they are now ready for a more aggressive push.
The new modular ThinkCentre Tiny-in-One 23 was designed to deal with the issue that repairs for AIOs have traditionally been more expensive.
Acer’s financial numbers announced Thursday exceeded expectations, with strong channel sales assisting its improved performance.
The rugged notebook and tablet vendor is looking to build its channel in Canada
HP Canada’s Phil Smith offers his advice on helping place the hot new thin-and-light notebook category
CJ Bruno on why Ultrabook will be as transformative as Centrino was in its day
