Stand-alone dedicated word processors may have died the death in the US and Europe, but they are still big business in Japan, and Hitachi Ltd is changing its marketing approach for Japanese language word processors in an effort to increase its sales by 13% over last year to total of 180,000 units: it has sold 40,000 units since it brought out its Word Pal 160 in May, and is also planning a model with a built-in modem; under the plan, additional sales outlets such as industrial machine distributors and electric appliance stores will be wooed, alongside traditional computer and office equipment stores.
