Intel offers DIY notebooks
Vendor focuses on system builders
System builders continue to be the focus of Intel's notebook drive, as Ingram Micro has been signed up as the UK's second Mobile Value-Added Distributor (MVAD).
The move follows the signing of Microtronica as the first MVAD last year and will see Ingram offering system builders and generic resellers a chance to put together their own notebooks.
Ingram has claimed its barebones systems will include a chassis, Intel processors, hard disk drives and memory, saving partners the trouble of sourcing components themselves.
Most system builders have shied away from the notebook arena in the past, despite the temptation of higher margins and burgeoning customer demand.
Traditionally, sourcing good components has been difficult and costly, while notebooks are also more fragile, harder to repair and more expensive to replace than PCs.
"System builders have stayed away because sourcing components was difficult and failure rates for notebooks were quite high," said John Fitzgerald, general manager of Ingram's components business.
"Those days are behind us now. We are offering a barebones product with A-list components, such as a chassis from AOpen, memory from Kingston, Seagate hard disk drives and processors from Intel.
"Mainstream notebooks don't really give resellers the chance to make much in the way of margins. This way allows them to build a notebook tailored specifically to their customer's needs and offers better margins.
"Also, notebook sales are growing faster than desktop sales and are set to overtake them in the next few years."
System builder Compusys started building its own notebooks last year and says the market opportunity is strong.
Terry Fisher, business development manager at the company's High Performance Computing division, said: "There is a great opportunity in the notebook space, but failure rates and warranties have put many system builders off. We started building notebooks ourselves relatively recently and have already landed some sizeable orders."
All models will feature 15in screens and support a range of Intel processors, including Centrino, high-end Pentium 4s and Celerons. According to Fitzgerald, the main components of each notebook can be assembled in about 15 minutes.
Ingram has also created a configuration tool on its web site for helping partners choose components and assemble the products.
Each chassis is covered by a two-year warranty and a 14-day DOA guarantee.