Hardware
Cisco adds the Cius to list of tablet options
Posted: Mon, 05 Jul 2010Cisco is joining the tablet revolution but with a twist as it aims its product squarely at business users rather than the consumer.The vendor will join the ranks of Apple,...Read More »
Novell, Fujitsu team up for flexible clouds
Posted: Wed, 09 Jun 2010Novell and Fujitsu have announced the formation of a new vendor alliance designed to deliver flexible cloud solutions that are scaled to business needs.Under the terms of the alliance, Fujitsu...Read More »
Ballmer tells Jobs it's about what comes next
Posted: Fri, 04 Jun 2010Microsoft's CEO has hit back at suggestions made by rival Apple boss Steve Jobs that the PC is in terminal decline.Earlier this week Jobs said that the PC was in...Read More »
Server sales start to return to pre-recession levels across EMEA
Posted: Wed, 02 Jun 2010The European server market has started to recover from the doldrums of last year delivering double digit growth for the first quarter but still has some way to go on...Read More »
Emerson still wants to make Chloride part of its 'cradle to grave' service
Posted: Tue, 04 May 2010Once bitten, twice shy. Not a bit of it. Not for Emerson Network Power anyway. The company which spans AC and DC power and precision cooling systems, embedded computing and...Read More »
Business sales marching up the hill
Posted: Fri, 30 Apr 2010GfK's month-on-month market comparison shows climb out of decline. Carl West explains the figures With most year-on-year sales comparisons not truly indicating a return to the more buoyant levels of...Read More »
In-depth: 2010 component review - a turning point
Posted: Tue, 27 Apr 2010New technologies and components could transform the fortunes of the channel this year, writes Cliff CheethamThere's no denying that 2009 was a tough year for everyone, with a global economic...Read More »
Extending the life of IT equipment
Posted: Fri, 23 Apr 2010Raising the retirement age of high-tech hardware makes economical and environmental sense, writes Paul Timms, operations director at Maindec.With government drives for public sector efficiency and private sector organisations facing...Read More »
Dell says sorry for magma mountain delays
Posted: Thu, 22 Apr 2010Dell has apologised for the lead time delays in certain consumer notebook shipments caused by the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland. The cloud of ash that cast a shadow across...Read More »
Capturing opportunities in education
Posted: Wed, 21 Apr 2010Ian Curtis, head of UK and Ireland for interactive learning technology provider Promethean, looks at how resellers can ensure they are best placed to capitalise on demand for educational technologyThe...Read More »
Buoyant first quarter builds channel optimism
Posted: Fri, 09 Apr 2010Opinion is divided over whether or not the recession is over, but the outlook for 2010 is positive overall, writes Steve MoyesThe first quarter of 2010 has come to a...Read More »
Managing assets in a virtual world
Posted: Fri, 09 Apr 2010IT managers need complete visibility of physical and virtual assets for control over costs and licensing, writes Matt Fisher, director of FrontRange SolutionsWith organisations increasingly investing in virtualisation, asset management...Read More »
Five minute interview: Martine Dodwell-Bennett, Steljes
Posted: Thu, 08 Apr 2010MicroScope puts its questions to Martine Dodwell-Bennett, group sales and business development director at SteljesWhat is the best advice you have received and from whom?"You should only ever hire the...Read More »
Wi-fi problems highlighted after iPad launch
Posted: Wed, 07 Apr 2010With the iPad launch in the UK just weeks away the arrival of the product in the US has been undermined by technical problems with wi-fi signals.There is a mounting...Read More »
In depth: In search of a killer app for tablet success
Posted: Wed, 10 Mar 2010Apple has joined the ranks of the tablet computing zealots, loud in their praise of the ultra-slim computer as a device set to sell and sell. But, as Tony Glover...Read More »
iPad set to arrive in UK late April
Posted: Fri, 05 Mar 2010One of the most anticipated hardware launches of the year, Apple's iPad, is arriving in the UK next month after the vendor revealed its launch strategy.The tablet is launched first...Read More »
Results from HP and Dell expected to benefit from hardware
Posted: Tue, 16 Feb 2010It has been a while since the idea of hardware got pulses racing but with widespread expectations this year of PC spending rising more eyes than usual will be focusing...Read More »
In-depth: A game-changing year
Posted: Thu, 11 Feb 2010The last year of the 'noughties' was a big one for the technology sector, and many of the developments will have repercussions throughout this year and beyond. David Binning reportsWe...Read More »
Building IPTV opens new opportunities for resellers
Posted: Thu, 11 Feb 2010by Colin FarquharGrowing consumer familiarity with and access to high-quality digital TV and video drives expectations for these technologies in public, work and school environments. This offers enormous opportunities for...Read More »
Global IT spending recovery won't fully bounce back until 2011
Posted: Wed, 03 Feb 2010The lingering impact of the recession will peg back the recovery in global IT spending to just 3% as credit and demand remain limited commodities.According to IDC the recovery over...Read More »
Microscope Media Centre
Posted: Tue, 02 Feb 2010MicroScope.co.uk Media Information MicroScope is the longest established weekly newspaper for computer manufacturers, distributors and resellers who need to maintain a competitive edge in the channel. Hard-hitting opinionated editorial covers...Read More »
Analysis: Educators fear IT budget cuts
Posted: Thu, 28 Jan 2010Although the weather might have hit the numbers, more than 30,000 visitors were expected to walk the floors of London's Olympia at this year's BETT Show over its four-day span.One...Read More »
Apple enters tablet market with iPad
Posted: Wed, 27 Jan 2010Apple has finally taken the wraps off the iPad, its entrance into the tablet market, ending months of waiting for the vendor's next technology development.The first mentions of an Apple...Read More »
Getronics numbers down as parent's profits soar
Posted: Wed, 27 Jan 2010Incumbent Dutch telco and Getronics-owner KPN has seen its Q4 net profit spike over 100% year-on-year on the back of a €705m tax gain, hitting €1.09bn (£945m) on sales of...Read More »
In depth: Lessons from BETT 2010
Posted: Tue, 26 Jan 2010Heavy snow, icy pavements and frozen roads only heightened the buzz at last month's BETT show at London's Olympia. The world's largest annual technology in education show, the event had...Read More »
Commercial sector stymies UK PC market recovery
Posted: Tue, 19 Jan 2010The PC market recovery in Europe failed to materialise in the UK during the fourth quarter as recession-hit businesses continued to steer clear of new purchases. Preliminary data...Read More »
Teachers call for more technology investment in schools
Posted: Wed, 13 Jan 2010The majority of teachers across Europe have urged governments to free up more cash to drive greater adoption of technology in schools, according to a survey commissioned by Intel. The study,...Read More »
Compal revises laptop shipments upwards for Q1
Posted: Mon, 11 Jan 2010Compal, one of the largest global manufacturers of laptops, has revised its forecast for the first quarter upwards citing renewed demand as the reason to be optimistic about the next...Read More »
Microsoft slate steals march on Apple
Posted: Thu, 07 Jan 2010With all eyes on Apple waiting for its tablet launch later this month its rival Microsoft has beaten it coming to the market earlier with its Hewlett-Packard slate PC.Steve Ballmer,...Read More »
Apple tipped to be weeks away from Tablet launch
Posted: Tue, 05 Jan 2010Apple is tipped to enter the Tablet market later this month with the vendor’s biggest launch since its foray into the smart phone market with the iPhone. Expectations...Read More »
Tech trader: Ecotek customers save money on standby
Posted: Wed, 09 Dec 2009Once in a while, an idea that is pitched to the entrepreneurs seated in leather chairs flanked by piles of their own cash on Dragon’s Den is for a product...Read More »
Analysis: Combating counterfeit consumables
Posted: Wed, 09 Dec 2009The world is full of counterfeit products. Walk through any street market and you will find stalls full of “designer” clothes, watches and handbags at unbelievable prices. The prices are...Read More »
Netbook sales grow across Europe
Posted: Tue, 08 Dec 2009Netbook sales continue to climb across Europe fuelled by attractive price points and subsidised offerings from mobile operators. Figures from Context show a sales increase of 37.7% last...Read More »
In depth: Sustainable technology solutions
Posted: Mon, 07 Dec 2009In April next year, the British government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) scheme comes into effect and with it a minefield of fines and other penalties for companies that fail in...Read More »
Worst may be over despite EMEA server sales decline in Q3
Posted: Fri, 04 Dec 2009Revenue from European server sales fell more than 25% in the third quarter but sequential growth from the second quarter has led market research company IDC to suggest the...Read More »
Server market stabilising despite continued declines
Posted: Tue, 01 Dec 2009Gartner’s latest report on the worldwide server market has indicated that the sector is beginning to show signs of stabilisation despite continuing to book year-on-year declines in both shipments...Read More »
UPS market has the power to perform
Posted: Fri, 27 Nov 2009Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) may well be designed to protect devices against power outages and surges, but they can’t do anything to protect the market from its own ups and...Read More »
HP warns of printer supply woes until end of year
Posted: Tue, 24 Nov 2009Hewlett-Packard has cautioned that printer availability may continue to be tight until the start of January but that it should have freed up by the time a concerted refresh kicks...Read More »
Sony makes AIT kit to order
Posted: Tue, 17 Nov 2009Sony is only manufacturing AIT drives and automation systems to order ahead of its planned withdrawal from the market in March 2010. The technology never really recovered from backward compatibility...Read More »
In depth: Bright ideas in the cloud
Posted: Tue, 10 Nov 2009It has been a long time since a concept was hyped by the IT industry quite as much as cloud computing. Just about every vendor and many a channel partner...Read More »
Recession’s impact on IT
Posted: Tue, 10 Nov 2009In 2009, we have seen the effects of global and local pressure on the retail and business sectors in the UK IT environment. With lower levels of growth or...Read More »
In depth: Recession has reshaped the components market
Posted: Tue, 10 Nov 2009One of the interesting things about the components sector is that its performance tends to mirror that of the wider economy. This is because there are relatively few products on...Read More »
In depth: Selling Windows 7
Posted: Thu, 05 Nov 2009It is the biggest release of the year and arguably the most important in Microsoft’s history, but will Windows 7 live up to expectations and erase the ill will caused...Read More »
Five minute interview: Craig Whitney, Axway
Posted: Tue, 20 Oct 2009MicroScope puts its questions to Craig Whitney, vice-president and managing director of AxwayWhat is the best/worst advice you have received and from whom? Always have a ‘plan B’ – from...Read More »
The driving power behind the cloud
Posted: Fri, 02 Oct 2009As many companies move into the cloud there is a growing need for tools that can monitor, analyse, optimise and secure the supporting infrastructure. There are a number of benefits...Read More »
Storage Expo 2009: preview
Posted: Fri, 02 Oct 2009We highlight the product launches happening at the data storage and information management event next week.It is a measure of how far things have changed over the past year or...Read More »
In-depth: Tap into Middle East tech boom
Posted: Tue, 29 Sep 2009At a time when European markets have reached saturation and organisations in the developed economies are cutting back on IT expenditure, the Middle East offers sellers and resellers a rapidly...Read More »
In-depth: Selling digital displays
Posted: Mon, 28 Sep 2009Given the slow-down in corporate and domestic spending, the AV market has held up surprisingly well in the past 12 months. Although product pricing at the bottom end of the...Read More »
Encryption hardware a data lifesaver
Posted: Tue, 22 Sep 2009The first thing most of us do when we get into a car is put on a seatbelt. Whether we are driving or just along for the ride, it is...Read More »
Power management focus moves to desktop
Posted: Tue, 08 Sep 2009The focus for power management is moving from the data centre to the desktop as resellers become aware of the opportunity to save customers costs.Traditionally great efforts have been made...Read More »
Analysis: MPS offers hope as printer sales falter
Posted: Fri, 28 Aug 2009The latest figures from Gartner for EMEA printer, copier and multifunction product (MFPs) shipments are a wake up call to those in the industry who have viewed the market as...Read More »
Portables drive improving PC sales
Posted: Thu, 27 Aug 2009IDC has upgraded its UK PC sales forecast for the year on the back of sustained growth in consumer netbooks but the relatively low price of these devices will...Read More »
Seagate plans plant closure and loss of 2,000 jobs
Posted: Wed, 05 Aug 2009In a sign that the cost cutting efforts are continuing at Seagate the vendor has announced plans to axe a Singapore plant and bid farewell to 2,000 staff. ...Read More »
Open source hardware flagged as model of future
Posted: Mon, 03 Aug 2009The concept of open source is well established in the software world but there are signs that there efforts being made to transfer that approach to the hardware sector....Read More »
Lexmark pins hopes on future upgrades as Q2 numbers dip
Posted: Wed, 22 Jul 2009The hotly tipped upgrade in the enterprise client market next year is unlikely to ignite a corresponding replacement cycle for printers according to Lexmark CEO Paul Curlander. The...Read More »
Netbooks and MFDs defy the downturn
Posted: Tue, 21 Jul 2009The worst of the recession might be over but in some technology areas the last six months have seen continued growth, particularly with netbooks and the multifunction printers. ...Read More »
Channel warned that netbooks are set to evolve
Posted: Thu, 16 Jul 2009Netbooks have not yet overtaken PCs but will continue to take market share as they develop over the next couple of years but pose challenges to both vendors and...Read More »
Interview: Sir Peter Rigby finds fortune favours the brave
Posted: Thu, 11 Jun 2009As is the case with most successful entrepreneurs, it is possible to look at the winner of this year’s MicroScope Awards for Channel Excellence lifetime achievement award, Sir Peter Rigby,...Read More »
Virtual servers set to overtake physical product
Posted: Thu, 14 May 2009The number of virtualised servers in Europe is set to overtake the physical number later this year as more users cut hardware budgets and look to squeeze costs out of...Read More »
In-depth: The enthusiast market
Posted: Mon, 11 May 2009The enthusiast market for PCs is often overlooked by the business channel that sees it as dominated by teenage gamers with little money to spend. But the channel may be...Read More »
HANNspree looks to build channel for netbook product
Posted: Thu, 07 May 2009HANNspree is looking to expand its portfolio and is working through channel partnerships to determine which distributors will carry its netbooks. The Taiwanese vendor which sells own-branded PC...Read More »
LG targets hotels market
Posted: Thu, 23 Apr 2009LG is launching an assault on the hospitality market to encourage resellers to start selling into the hotel arena. Fuelled by the requirement for hotels to upgrade TV screens...Read More »
UK PC ownership hits 70%
Posted: Wed, 15 Apr 2009The level of PC ownership has hit 70% in the UK and just shy of half of all online teenagers are on social networking sites according to the...Read More »
IDC slashes UK server outlook after slow start to 2009
Posted: Mon, 23 Mar 2009Resellers surviving on hardware run rates should take note that IDC has forecast a dramatic downturn in the fortunes of the UK server market this year, with SMEs and...Read More »
Epson integrated toner will cut out third party supplies
Posted: Thu, 05 Mar 2009Epson is piloting a consumables free inkjet printer that comes pre-loaded with enough toner to produce 8,500 colour pages, a strategic move that would effectively cut out third party...Read More »
HP celebrates 25 years of the LaserJet
Posted: Thu, 05 Mar 2009Hewlett-Packard is marking the 25th birthday of the LaserJet pointing to the improvements it has made environmentally with the products as one of the main reasons to celebrate. ...Read More »
Colour printing in SMEs boosted by downturn
Posted: Thu, 26 Feb 2009Belt tightening by SMEs has had a beneficial impact on the colour printing market as companies cut back on using external marketing agencies as they do it themselves. ...Read More »
Mobile World Congress 2009: What's new
Posted: Wed, 25 Feb 2009“Don’t slam on the brakes,” mobile bosses urge in Barcelona. Optimism came out with the sun at this year’s big mobile show in Barcelona. Mobile operators in particular were saying...Read More »
Interface increases Sun server partner levels
Posted: Thu, 19 Feb 2009Interface has reported a swift expansion in its Sun Microsystems reseller numbers to support its ambitions to increase its x86 server sales. The distributor has been building...Read More »
Printer market suffers in 2008 due to economic uncertainty
Posted: Tue, 17 Feb 2009The downturn is likely to fuel the market shift to print services and other systems that help businesses save costs as traditional hardware sales look set to limp along...Read More »
LG Electronics latest to tighten corporate belt
Posted: Mon, 09 Feb 2009LG Electronics is going to follow in the widespread trend of belt tightening after revealing plans to cut costs by 30% to counter continued drops in demand. ...Read More »
Lenovo CEO resigns after Q3 loss
Posted: Thu, 05 Feb 2009Lenovo has reinstalled a Chinese executive at the top of the business after reshuffling its management to try and claw back its fortunes after Q3 sales dropped and it...Read More »
Samsung reports first ever quarterly loss
Posted: Fri, 23 Jan 2009Samsung has reported its first ever quarterly loss as the slump in demand impacted demand for hardware and components. The loss of $662m for the last three...Read More »
Netbooks bolster Q4 PC shipment figures
Posted: Mon, 19 Jan 2009The EMEA hardware market was buffered from the cold wind of recession late last year as a result of strong sales of mini-notebooks in the run up to Christmas....Read More »
Key notebook supplier slashes forecasts
Posted: Tue, 13 Jan 2009Notebook SKU builder Compal has slashed its annual shipment and spending forecast in the face of the shrinking market. The Taiwan-based firm is the world’s second largest contract...Read More »
Growth opportunities in digital imaging
Posted: Mon, 12 Jan 2009In the current financial climate many resellers are looking for ways to move into new markets and generate revenues and customers outside their traditional base. Digital imaging has been one...Read More »
A host of new components
Posted: Mon, 12 Jan 2009It seems 2009 is going to be another big step up for the component market, with another version of Windows on its way, and the inevitable upgrades that follow,...Read More »
Will 2009 be the year of the netbook?
Posted: Mon, 12 Jan 2009During 2007 notebooks outperformed desktops for the first time in sales, and the future of the laptop looked bright. But 2008 brought a new trendsetter with the arrival of the...Read More »
SaaS, netbooks and smartphones bright spots for 2009
Posted: Fri, 09 Jan 2009At this time each year I am often asked about my predictions for the coming 12 months. While the current economic crisis makes this forecasting exercise more difficult this time...Read More »
Lenovo unveils direct sales via web
Posted: Wed, 07 Jan 2009Lenovo has followed in the footsteps of its competitors and set up a web store to sell direct to the home based office market and smaller SMEs. ...Read More »
Logitech cuts staff and scraps 2009 forecasts
Posted: Tue, 06 Jan 2009Peripherals specialist Logitech has announced plans to cut 15% of its workforce and has withdrawn its 2009 fiscal year targets. The global recession was blamed by Gerald Quindlen,...Read More »
Lenovo planning acquisition
Posted: Thu, 11 Dec 2008Lenovo has confirmed that it is in preliminary talks with an unnamed third party with a view to a possible investment or acquisition.Chairman Yang Yuanqing said: “The directors confirm that...Read More »
2008 a ''forgettable'' year for memory
Posted: Tue, 02 Dec 2008Research house and market intelligence consultancy iSuppli is reflecting on a “forgettable” year after revealing sobering preliminary market-share figures for the semiconductor industry. Despite steep declines in sales...Read More »
HP holds sway over EMEA server market
Posted: Tue, 02 Dec 2008Hewlett-Packard has tightened its grip on the server market in EMEA after third quarter results showed that it was the only major vendor in the region to grow revenues...Read More »
Memory market consolidation set to stabilise prices
Posted: Tue, 25 Nov 2008Kingston president and co-founder John Tu has predicted consolidation in the memory market next year will help to stabilise ever falling prices that have dogged the channel in recent...Read More »
CCD to pull out of PC and print distribution
Posted: Tue, 25 Nov 2008CCD has announced plans to pull out of PC and print distribution to focus on storage, servers, software and services. In a growing sign that low margin business...Read More »
Proving that the grass is greener
Posted: Fri, 31 Oct 2008In business, we are always listening to customers and trying to understand what they want. The ability to be ‘green’ has quickly emerged as one of the major challenges facing...Read More »
Sony hands Midwich and Imago premier status
Posted: Wed, 22 Oct 2008Midwich and Imago have come out of a distribution consolidation process being carried out by Sony unscathed but C2000/Maverick has lost its right to handle the vendors products....Read More »
Logitech looks to channel for growth
Posted: Fri, 17 Oct 2008Logitech is increasing the emphasis it puts on the channel after as it looks to ramp-up its activity in the business market. The conclusions from Yehia Oweiss, regional...Read More »
Mini-notebook sales rise across Europe
Posted: Fri, 17 Oct 2008Shipments of mini notebooks in EMEA could almost double to 4 million in the final quarter if the phenomenal sales rate of netbooks continues after 2 million units were shipped...Read More »
The Apricot brand returns
Posted: Thu, 16 Oct 2008In an announcement that will spark a feeling of nostalgia for a generation of thirty something’s the brand of Apricot Computers is making a comeback. Apricot is the...Read More »
Abacus falls to Avnet
Posted: Fri, 10 Oct 2008Components distributor Abacus has fallen to Avnet in a £42m cash deal after failure to execute on a planned acquisition strategy meant it put itself up for sale last...Read More »
iSuppli warns of trouble for chips
Posted: Fri, 10 Oct 2008Technology market intelligence specialists iSuppli has adjusted its forecast for 2008 worldwide semiconductor growth downward from 4% to 3.5%, but is warning that the chip market could be in...Read More »
Logitech signs Enta as OEM distributor
Posted: Thu, 02 Oct 2008Enta Technologies has become an OEM distributor for Logitech handling the range of peripherals including keyboard and mice. Jon Atherton, vice president at Enta Technology, said that the addition...Read More »
Logicalis backs mainframe apprenticeship scheme
Posted: Thu, 25 Sep 2008Logicalis has put its weight behind the Advanced IT Apprenticeship, as part of a move designed to plug the skills gap and develop mainframe expertise. The channel player...Read More »
Oracle enters hardware market with HP assistance
Posted: Thu, 25 Sep 2008Oracle’s OpenWorld event is likely to be remembered for the moment that the CEO Larry Ellison announced that the vendor was entering the hardware market. After 30 years...Read More »
Acer talks up growth prospects
Posted: Mon, 22 Sep 2008Against a backdrop of turmoil in the global financial markets and the ubiquitous uncertainty it has created the PC market will continue to grow in double digits, the CEO and...Read More »
Toshiba profits warning could scupper SanDisk approach
Posted: Mon, 22 Sep 2008Toshiba is looking less likely to make a rival bid for SanDisk to try and get the flash memory specialist in the place of Samsung. Samsung has made...Read More »
Canon hands Midwich large format range
Posted: Fri, 19 Sep 2008Midwich has extended the products it carries by Canon after being given access to the vendor’s large format printer range. The distributor already handles document scanners and the...Read More »
BT offers hardware services
Posted: Wed, 17 Sep 2008BT has thrown down the gauntlet by stepping up the services it offers that compete with other resellers. The telco giant has taken the wraps off its Onsite...Read More »