IBM TARGETS CONSUMERS WITH BUNCH OF NEW PRODUCTS
By Adnews Staff
U.S.-based International Business Machines Corp. announced a slew of new computer and software products for the consumer market last week. The new computers are in the Aptiva, Ambra and ThinkPad Lines.
There are six new Aptiva models: three French language and three English language. The new machines feature 15-inch monitors and come preloaded with Windows 98, up to 64MB of SDRAM memory, hard disk drives from 4 gigabytes to 12 gigabytes and DVD-ROM drives. The computers are also the first Aptivas to support various networking options including file and printer sharing. The Aptivas are available in North America.
There are four new Ambra Ispirati models that feature up to 128 MB of SDRAM, 4GB to 8GB hard disk drives and 36X CD-ROM drives. All of the models come preloaded with Windows 98 and Lotus SmartSuite. The Ambra computers are only marketed in Canada.
The new Thinkpad notebook is called the 385. It is the first Thinkpad computer using Windows 98. The machine also features a 233 MHz Pentium processor and a 12.1-inch color screen. IBM also introduced an accessory for its Thinkpad computers: a backpack with a separate velcro fastened computer section to protect the machine from accessories and books. The computer and the backpack are available in North America.
There are also three new software programs from IBM available in North America. ViaVoice 98 Home Edition is a continuous speech dictation product and can be used to create letters, reports, recipes or e-mail. The new 1999 IBM World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia will be available in late August. Edmark is a set of educational software for children aged four to 12. In Canada, advertising for IBM is done by Ogilvy & Mather of Toronto. PR is handled by Goodman Communications of Toronto.