ACi to Launch Cheaper Laptops in India

Allied Computers International (Asia) Ltd, which launched a Rs 19,999 laptop in India last year, plans to go a step further by offering a compact laptop costing around Rs 15,000 by mid-2008.

ACi's CMD Hirji Patel said that following a good response to the sub-20k range of laptops, the company will open its own showrooms all over India and enter into tie-ups with supermarkets or malls and retail showroom franchisees.

It also plans to set up a manufacturing unit exclusively for laptops in Thane district, near Mumbai.

"We plan to increase our production from the existing 10,000 laptops to 100,000 per year. As a first step towards achieving this, we hope to garner Rs 60 million through the IPO which opened Friday," Patel said.

Patel managed to cut costs through innovations like providing an aluminum body rather than fiber or plastic.

Within the first three quarters of 2006 ACi captured 40 percent of the estimated total market of 250,000 laptops from the SME segment in India in which it operates.

"Now, the hostility to laptops in the Indian market has disappeared, and customers are choosing a laptop over a PC since the price barrier between them has been erased," Patel said.

Sony Launches 2 New Cybershot Cameras

Sony has revamped their Cybershot T-series cameras. The new T200 and T70 Cybershot cameras are equipped with a 3.5 inch and 3 inch LCD touch screen displays respectively. This touch screen technology allows the user to select the subject they wish to focus on by simply touching the screen. The same can also be used for zooming into images taken. These cameras also have a feature called the ‘Smile shutter function’ that helps focus on the subject’s simile.

The DSC-T200is an 8 megapixel camera and also comes equipped with a 5x Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens and is available in silver, black and red. The DSC-T70 camera is also an 8 megapixel camera and comes equipped with a 3x Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens. It will be offered in silver, black, white and pink.

Both cameras offer users the ability to watch their home movies and view their photographs in full 1080 high-definition resolution. They can be hooked up to an HDTV via HD component cable or a cradle. It’s recommended, of course, to go well with the new Sony BRAVIA HD TVs. They also incorporate face detection, image stabilization and a high sensitivity (ISO 3200) features, as well as a selection of designs or frames, and stamps to enhance the images. There are also options for re-sizing photos to 4:3 ratio or a 16:9 aspect.

The Cyber-shot DSC-T200 and DSC-T70 digital cameras will ship in September for about Rs. 16,373 ($400) and Rs. 12,279 ($300), respectively. They can be also be purchased online at sonystyle.com.