Tulip Computers NV, Den Bosch, Netherlands-based personal computer manufacturer, is having another go at the high volume retail market with its re-vamped Impression Line, through deals with office superstore Staples UK Ltd, and specialist computer distributor Micro Peripherals Ltd. Last year it launched an earlier version of its product, which it sold in the UK through the cash and carry outfit Makro, which is no longer selling Tulip products, apparently because they are not cheap enough to fit the store’s pricing strategy. But the companies are only, says Tulip’s UK retail and distribution sales manager, Philip Munro, taking a friendly sabbatical. Tulip, which claims to be the third largest computer manufacturer in Europe with 5% to 6% of the market, and is one of the top 10 UK suppliers, said the line had been repackaged due to the demand for a higher specification of entry level machine than they had offered last year with the 25MHz 80486SX. The choice of five machines now starts with an 80486DX2/66, 4Mb memory and 420Mb disk, bundled with Microsoft Corp’s Works at ú950, and goes up to a 75MHz Pentium Multi Media mini-tower machine with 8Mb memory and 540Mb disk for ú1,750. Staples UK is a joint venture between Staples Inc, the US office superstore chain, and the Kingfisher Group Plc, UK-based owner of, among others, the high street chain Woolworths Plc and its Comet consumer electronics retailer. The UK operation is rapidly expanding, with five stores opening within the next two weeks, bringing the nationwide total to 22. The company plans to have 30 stores by the end of this year. It is currently selling Tulip’s DX2/66MHz and DX4/100MHz machines. Staples also sells personal computers from AST Research Inc, Apple Computer Inc, Compaq Computer Corp, Ing C Olivetti Co Spa and ICL Plc. Basingstoke, Hampshire-based Micro Peripherals Ltd, which sells only to trade, said the Tulip line will join its personal computer range from Olivetti and Mitac International Corp. Tulip also announced a new television board, which will slot into its multimedia personal computers, giving television reception that is controlled under Windows. The company said the board will be available in the next couple of months, but will not be sold as a stand-alone item, and future plans are to integrate the circuitry into the motherboard. While all lines currently use Intel chips, Tulip suggested it might be talking to Cyrix Corp.
