IBM Corp is ready to simplify its business personal computer lines, Reuter reports, killing off the PC 700 line, and making the PC 300 better to look at and easier to upgrade. It also aims to cut the cost of ownership with a one-stop shopping package so that customers can lease personal computer hardware for a monthly fee that will cover financing, service, maintenance, support and upgrades. The package, code-named Spruce, will be offered by IBM and its authorized resellers and partners, and has been brought in to meet increased competition from the direct sellers Dell Computer Corp and Gateway 2000 Inc, which have lower costs. IBM Credit Corp is making $17bn financing available for corporate resellers. A key attraction will be that a company will be able to swap the personal computers, servers or laptops it leases from IBM and replace them with more current technology, which changes more rapidly each year. Dell however, is not going to get left behind, and has formed Dell Financial Services LP with Newcourt Credit Group Inc of Toronto, to offer a wide range of leasing and asset management services.
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