Umax PC gambit gazumps rivals

The Mac clone vendor is signing PC dealers in an effort to win marketshare before the competition

Macintosh clone manufacturer Umax has signed PC dealers, including Simply Computers, Software Warehouse and Tech Direct, as the company scrambles to grab UK market share before its competitors launch products.

The firm hopes Mac and PC resellers that cannot take advantage of Apple's loyalty and volume discounts will turn to its range, which includes a newly launched Apus line of PCs.

Andrew Williams, director at Umax's UK distributor IMC, is trying to recruit more Windows-based PC resellers after Apple targeted the clone market with its discounting policy. 'Apple got aggressive with us,' he said.'They offered Apple Centres things not available to others in the channel.'

Williams said the moves will polarise the channel as resellers can afford to carry Apple hardware or clones but not both.

IMC hopes to add to the 30 regular buyers of the 2,000 in its reseller database when more clones arrive in the UK soon. 'Power Computing have announced product without even having chips for it, Motorola are coming and there is IBM and Sharp,' said Williams.

Umax will launch a product under the Common Hardware Reference Platform with Mac and Windows NT OSs installed.

Alpha Tsay, computer systems director at Umax, said the manufacturer intends to get into the PC market. 'We will have a version with both OSs in Q1 1997, shown at Comdex in November.'

IMC has appointed five staff in the past six months to handle the Umax hardware, and will write to PC dealers regarding its strategy to get into new channels.

The Apus Power PC line now includes the entry-level Risc 603e-based Apus 2000 and 3000 machines, priced from u949.