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While Intel is counting on its Atom-powered PCs to make computing affordable to masses, several of its own IPPs are clueless about how they will get to partake in the opportunities presented by netbooks and nettops.
Says Vinod Jasuja of Jaipur-based IPP, BD Computronics, "We have received no formal training on assembling nettops. Neither has Intel shared its channel plans with us.”
Jasuja also complains of shortage of Atom in the market. “The Atom 230 processor is not easily available and distributors are taking undue advantage of this by forcing us to buy bundles. With one Atom box (processor-motherboard combo), we have to buy 2 Core2Duo boxed processors,” he says.
Vadodara-based IPP, Ocean Inc too has been facing supply issues. “Atom is currently black-marketed in Vadodara. It is being sold at Rs 3,500 instead of its market operating price of Rs 3,200, suggested by Intel,” says Hitesh Shah of Ocean Inc. Shah is largely unaware of what plans Intel has for IPPs. "While we have assembled some nettops and sold them in the market, it’s completely on our own, without any help from Intel," he says.
Indore-based IPP, Netcom believes that Intel is only focused on OEMs. "Shortage of Atom is mainly due to the fact that Intel is more interested in supplying to OEMs. The shortage is so acute that getting even a single box is difficult,” informs Nitin Poddar of Netcom.
Even IPPs in large cities like Mumbai aren't sure of Intel's channel strategy around Atom. "There was some confusion regarding the channel program. Only this month we got some clarity and we are in process of building the first nettop prototype," says Chetan Shah of Xpress Computers.
To these complaints, Intel's Rajesh Gupta says, "Yeah its true that we haven't yet evolved a program for IPP, but over the next quarter we will enable all IPPs. In the initial phase, our focus was on OEMs, as that would create awareness for the new product category and also help build up volumes."
According to Gupta Intel's channel plan will mostly revolve around nettops. "We are working with ODMs to distribute barebone kits for channels but they are currently busy fullfilling their own demand. We will still try to work out some India specific allocations from them," he contends.
Channels still haven't seen any notable demand for Atom PCs. "I doubt if nettops will work in the home segment. Home users still prefer high performance PCs. However, I see it work well in the corporate segment, both as a regular office PC and also as a thin client," says Chetan Shah.
Hitesh Shah agrees, "Although we have sold a few nettops to consumers, I doubt if there will be substantial demand from them due to unfavorable price-performance. For instance, a Pentium D machine, which is much faster than Atom-based variant, costs only a couple of thousand more than the nettop. In all probability, a home-user will prefer a higher performance PC for a slight premium."
Ocean is retailing the nettop—with 1 GB DDR2, 160 GB HDD, 17-inch CRT monitor, DVD writer and Ubuntu Linux—at Rs 13,500 plus taxes.
On the commercial side, Chetan Shah believes that a regular office PC using an Atom will cost Rs 8,000 upwards for the CPU alone. “This by no means can be called affordable. However, its low power consumption and small form factor makes it ideal for offices," he adds. |