The hardware and software distributor P&P Plc of Haslingden, Lancashire which recently announced its bid for Personal Computers (CI No 1,112) has launched a new presentation graphics division at the Which Computer? Show. The new division, known as The Graphics Resource, will distribute, market, and support presentation graphics products and services for corporate customers through its dealer network. The core of the Resource’s range will be solutions from General Parametrics Inc, although products from manufacturers such as Lotus Development Corp, Harvard Graphics, and Concord Computer Corp will also be available. Entry level solutions retail at UKP450,000, while an upmarket package called The Professional is priced at UKP19,000 and includes a video camera and an RGB interface to create colours. All solutions enable users to create a visual presentation on their MS-DOS box or Apple Mac by using the appropriate version of the software, which then converts the data for use on videoshow disks. Slidemaking and printing facilities are offered as optional extras, while plans are afoot to expand the products offered to include large high quality monitors. According to P&P’s Steve Brooker, who heads the new division, the Graphics Resource fits into the company philosophy of diversifying from its core distribution business. Brooker sees the UK electronics presentation market as a huge growth industry, which is set to follow in the footsteps of the US market where a growth of 1,400% is predicted in the next four years. While Brooker acknowledges that British firms are not as partial to flamboyant presentations as their US counterparts he feels that the market will take off in Britain, and that as dealers are wary of investing in the back-up and support needed for this type of product P&P is in a strong position to dominate the market. P&P’s core business will remain in the distribution of personal computers, with the Graphics Resource adding to the service its dealers can offer customers. As regards acquisition of Personal Computers, Brooker said there was no connection between the bid for the IBM Systems Centre and the new unit.
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