PURCHASING NOTES

By Staff -- Purchasing, 7/13/2000

Lexmark has cut prices on several of its Optra T laser printers by up to 36%.

Lexmark has cut prices on several of its Optra T laser printers by up to 36%. The company has reduced tags on its Optra T610 from $999 to $899, the Optra T614 from $1,729 to $1,099, and the Optra T616 from $2,299 to $1.899. At the same time, it added several new products to the Optra line. For more information, check page 207.

Compaq Computer has reduced prices by up to 13% on select TFT Notebook 100 models.

Compaq Computer has reduced prices by up to 13% on select TFT Notebook 100 models. The company cut tags on the Notebook 100 12.1 TFT with Microsoft Word 2000 and the Notebook 100 12.1 TFT with Microsoft Office 2000 SBE to $1,299 and $1,399, respectively, a savings of $200 on each model. A third model in the line, the Notebook 100 12.1 HPA is available at its introductory price of $1,099.

Watch for systems integration costs to rise

Watch for systems integration costs to rise as a result of the break up of Microsoft, warns a new report by Aberdeen Group. In it, Aberdeen estimates that the financial damage caused by the split will exceed $43 billion and that the remedy will increase systems integration costs for IT buyers and consumers, erode stockholder value, burden U.S. taxpayers, and stifle innovation. While Aberdeen agrees that Microsoft has behaved in an anti-competitive manner, it disagrees that the breakup will create opportunities for smaller companies to compete with the software giant. Says Peter Kastner, executive VP and chief research officer, "Without the inter-application integration that Microsoft has been providing, consumers and IT professionals will be faced with additional and costly burdens."

In other Lexmark news:

In other Lexmark news: The printer company has filed suit against a New York company, seeking permanent injunction to stop the distribution of counterfeit laser printer toner cartridges and damages for trademark infringement, counterfeiting, unfair competition and unfair trade practices in connection with the distribution of the cartridges. In the suit, Lexmark alleges that in February 1999, EFAM Enterprises LLC (dba Finetone) sold three types of counterfeit Lexmark toner cartridges. Buyers who believe they may have purchased counterfeit imaging products can contact the Imaging Supplies Coalition at (859) 278-3032.

IBM captures the number-one rank on the list of the world's fastest computers

IBM captures the number-one rank on the list of the world's fastest computers, according to a report issued at the Supercomputer 2000 conference in Mannheim, Germany. IBM has 29 of the top 100 fastest computers; runner-up Sun Microsystems has two. Perhaps more important, the list underscores an important trend: The emerging number of supercomputers used in business applications, mainly as Web-hosting servers. Of the elite top 10 business supercomputers in the world, eight are IBM RS/6000 SPs. The list is compiled by the University of Tennessee and the University of Mannheim.

International Computer Negotiations has scheduled the following high-tech workshops:

International Computer Negotiations has scheduled the following high-tech workshops: "E-Commerce: Untangling Web Deals," Aug. 2-3 in Las Vegas and Dec. 6-7 in Orlando; "Software: Preventing the Gotchas That Getcha," July 31-Aug. 1 in Las Vegas and Dec. 4-5 in Orlando; and "High Tech Procurement: Managing the Acquisition Process," Oct. 18-20 in San Francisco. For information, call (407) 740-0700 or visit www.dobetterdeals.com.