After shattering the personal computer-notebook barrier with a laptop for Rs30,000, Hirji Patel is now all set to storm the personal computers (PC) market.
After shattering the personal computer-notebook barrier 18 months ago with a laptop for Rs30,000, NRI entrepreneur from UK, Hirji Patel is now all set to storm the personal computers (PC) market.
His latest offerings are as covetous as they are contrasting: a sleek aluminium body — frame branded multi-media, Internet-ready wireless laptop — Ethos E — for Rs19,999. Currently, a good PC with the regular software is available between Rs16,000-25,000 — Allied Computers International (Asia) Ltd.’s latest laptop is in the middle category with competing features.
The 2.50 lakh units per annum notebooks (as laptops are commonly known worldwide) market has been growing at the rate of around 10 per cent as compared to the 40-lakh pieces PC market which is growing at 25 per cent in India. Depending on the make and features, branded notebooks cost upwards of Rs50,000 in India.
Patel, (44), is optimistic that with the ACI-Ethos E offer, now there will be a significant leap in the notebooks market — as high as 20-25 per cent per annum — or, more than double the present rate. He expects a downward trend in the prices of other notebooks Of this, ACI alone hopes to capture around 25 per cent. “At this price, customers will chose a notebook over a PC,” said Patel, ACI(Asia) chairman.
Leading market players have always considered the Indian market hostile to notebooks because of the prohibitive price factor. “This (hostility) will end now,” Patel said. Elaborating, he said that laptops and notebooks were technically the same, but ‘laptop’ was an old terminology.
The aluminium body ensures no cracks, 80 per cent of the regular fibre or plastic body laptops in the market suffer cracks within two-three years. Patel has a solution to this. For an additional Rs5,500 a customer can get a comprehensive insurance on the notebook and a three-year warranty, and annual maintenance contract.
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