IBM Aptiva Number One in PC Desktop Retail Sales in March
Strong Demand Seen Across Entire Product Line
Research Triangle Park, NC (May 01, 1998) – IBM Aptiva personal computers were the top-selling PC desktops at U.S. consumer electronics stores in March, according to a recent retail computing report by Market Metrics, an industry leader in retail analysis for home computing.
According to the report, IBM’s first-place finish came as a result of strong sales of its entire family of home PCs. The value-configured Aptiva AMD-K6® processor-based models accounted for more than two-thirds of IBM’s sales for the month, while the high-performance Intel® Pentium® II processor-based E76 accounted for the balance of the volume.
“IBM has demonstrated its ability to fulfill the needs of a broad range of consumers,” said Stella Kelly, president of Market Metrics, Inc. “In attaining the number one sales position, IBM has validated the needs of value-conscious consumers as well as power users, building acceptance for the Aptiva brand by creating solutions designed around the way customers live, work, study and play.”
IBM, which spearheaded the market’s embrace of the AMD-K6 processor, designed the Aptiva E Series to bring the latest technology to a wide range of consumers, including first-time buyers, families purchasing a second PC, or anyone for whom long-term value is a consideration.
“Our current sales performance demonstrates that consumers recognize Aptiva’s enduring value,” said Jim Bartlett, vice president of marketing for Aptiva. “PC buyers are seeking performance and expandability at affordable prices from a company that’s going to be around five years down the road. We are committed to satisfying customers’ computing needs, backed by IBM service and support, without compromising their budgets.”
Aptiva customers also enjoy special privileges that help them unlock the full potential of their home PC when they join the IBM Owner Privilegesä program. The first year of membership in Owner Privileges is included with a new Aptiva purchase1 and consists of Service Privileges, Protection Privileges, Discount Privileges and Advisory Privileges.
For more information about IBM Aptiva PCs, visit the IBM home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.us.pc.ibm.com/aptiva or call 1-800-426-7235 ext. 4340. Additional information about IBM’s Owner Privileges program can be obtained through the Web site located at http://www.us.pc.ibm.com/privileges or by calling 1-888-PRIVILEGES.
IBM Consumer Division, a leading manufacturer and developer of hardware and software solutions for the home, was established as a business unit within IBM in 1995. The Consumer Division’s products have been widely recognized for technology innovation and product design. These products include the Aptiva family of personal computers, Consumer Options and Solutions, the IBM Brings You Crayola® family of software, the Edmark® brand of educational software and IBM reference software products including the World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia.
Source: IBM