On an ever quickening treadmill of new product releases, Compaq Computer Corp has launched a new range of Presario personal computers in the US and believes they will increase its share of the consumer market. The primary attraction is the new low price tag and re-engineered design, with the entry-level machine, the Presario 2200 Series starting at $800. The company says new features such as the Creativity Imaging Center on the Presario 4800, which enables users to capture still and motion images from a camcorder, video recorder, television or stereo via standard RCA jacks, will make home personal computers more useful and enjoyable. Presario also includes features such as Compaq’s One Touch Internet access, the embarrassingly-named Awesome Home Theater Experience and Digital Video Disk functions. The new machines are expected to be released in Europe later this month, although it is not clear which features will be included. Coinciding with the launch, Compaq has also announced a version of its Armada 1500 notebook family aimed at small to medium business users. Pricing pressure shows no sign of slackening in the PC market: Compaq’s arch-rivals Dell Computer Corp has cut the prices of its higher-end Optiplex range three times since January, a total reduction of up to 44% over the six months.
