★ PEOPLES ★ £135m for Amstrad portable on its way?|Popular Computing Weekly) ★ |
| Amstrad Portable |
AMSTRAD last week announced pre-tax profits of nearly £136 million, showing an increase of over 80 per cent over 1986 figures of more than £75 million. Amstrad chairman Alan Sugar made a lengthy statement to accompany the results, in which he warned that the phenomenal growth experienced by the company in recent years would not be sustained in the future ' “To go forward we must realistically accept that we cannot achieve the doubling effect we have experienced in the past." he said “The current financial year is going to be one of consolidation and seed planting in formula! mg our firm plan of growth for the future " Sugar took the opportunity to round on his critics - in the computer industry and financial community alike - who had been less than impressed by Amstrad's moves into the PC market "We are not a company that lives or dies by the success of any one product.” he said, perhaps admitting the company s hopes for the PCs had not been met “(The PC 1512) attracted tremendous interest and. in my opinion, has revolutionised the so-called computer industry in the UK. “The Amstrad effect' of low price high volume production and marketing has taken the wind out of an industry cocooned In a sedate and uncompetitive environment, encapsulated In a hyped-up aura of mystical high technological sophistication," Sugar stormed He added that Amstrad has plans for over 20 new products over the next 12 months, as well as moves into satellite TV and "two completely new. exciting product areas", as yet undisclosed
Perhaps the most important feature o» the portable, is the screen To compete with the current crop of portables. Amstrad must use both supertwist technology, and some form of backlighting In order to keep to the price range Amstrad has budgetted (supposedly £400) this is going to be very difficult, unless they use badged technology, something that seems very unlikely after Alan Sugar's comments on laser printers (see Popular Computing Weekly, 2 Oct) The most likely date for the launch is next month's Comdex Show in the USA. Popular Computing Weekly
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