PCR Magazine April 2015

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INTEL was named the Components Vendor of the Year at the 2015 PCR Awards. The firm also picked up the top Grand Prix accolade for its hard

work in the channel over the past 12 months.

Check out the full list of winners plus images and speeches on page

24. You can also view more social snaps from the night on page 74, and – if you’re brave enough – the Acer Photo Booth pictures on page 76…

APRIL 2015

The rise of eSportsPCR interviews Team Dignitas’ manager on the PC gaming boom

43 Server shutdownWe look at the migration opportunities around Windows Server 2003

35 Acer UK interviewPCR speaks to marketing boss Linda Hassall about new devices

32

COMPUTER & IT RESELLERS RETAILERS SYSTEM BUILDERS DISTRIBUTORS VENDORS WWW.PCR-ONLINE.BIZ

W W W . P C R - O N L I N E . B I Z W W W . T W I T T E R . C O M / P C R _ O N L I N E W W W . F A C E B O O K . C O M / P C R M A G

INTEL SCOOPS TOP INDUSTRY HONOURS

Chip maker picks up Grand Prix PCR Award Entatech and Exertis also win big

23

Entatech’s commercial director Dave Stevinson (left), presents the Grand Prix award to Intel’s UK and Ireland channel sales manager Matt Birch (middle) and European influencer and sales manager Richard George (right)

CONTENTS & COMMENT

COMMENT

Follow us @pcr_online

CONTENTSREGULARS7 PCR Rising Stars

8 Analysis: Healthcare tech

10 Analysis: Esports growth

11 Analysis: Home

automation

14 Number Crunching

16 Appointments

18 Events

20 Opinion

FEATURES23 PCR Awards winners

32 The Big Interview: Acer

35 Windows Server 2003 end

of support

38 Interview: Synology UK’s

new MD

43 Team Dignitas interview

RETAIL57 In-store security

59 Store of the Month: AT

Computers

60 PCR Retail Advisory Board

discusses laptop sales

62 Mystery Shopper: Laptops

in Ealing

64 Counter Insurgent

64 Synaxon Member Profi le:

Link Sales

PRODUCTS49 Tablets and accessories

53 Laptops and accessories

67 Recommended products

OUT OF OFFICE74 PCR Awards 2015 picture

special

75 Industry Tweets

78 The Last Word: Stuart

Dommett, Intel

In with the new (and old)IF YOU told me a month ago that Google would open its fi rst High Street store, popular PC brand Lenovo will have arguably its worst PR disaster and Jon Atherton was going to leave Entatech, I would have dismissed you as stark raving bonkers.

But the tech industry continues to surprise – and change – faster than a rig running a couple of newly announced Titan X GPUs.

Covering it all on www.pcr-online.biz is exciting, whether it’s that revised MacBook, new PCR Rising Stars event or a fresh (but familiar) face like Dave Stevinson’s as part of a new appointment, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a challenge. But the channel is vast and change is a part of it.

Just when the encouraging desktop market looked like it was picking up, Intel cut $1 billion from its Q1 2015 revenue forecast, due to “lower than expected” demand for business desktop PCs and inventory levels across the PC supply chain. This comes after the chip maker enjoyed a record year in 2014 (helping Intel pick up the Grand Prix PCR Award – see the full list of winners on page 23 and more pictures on page 74). But it wasn’t long ago when the desktop market took a bit of a nosedive, so you could argue resellers are better prepared for another potential dip.

Plus, another big change – one that will perhaps affect your business more directly – is now just a matter of months away. Microsoft will end support for Windows Server 2003 on July 14th, meaning no more security updates for your customers, regardless of version. We take a look at what this means for the market and some of the migration options on page 35. But again, it comes just one year after the big Windows XP switch-off, putting resellers and IT providers in good stead this time around.

So while change can be drastic, haven’t we all been here before? There may be new products, new faces and new challenges, but the industry is certainly cyclical and situations are similar. What’s important is how you face any new challenges and adapt to change.

Hopefully this issue will give you a good indication of some of those key developments so you can prepare. After all, who knows what lies ahead?

Dominic Sacco, editor [email protected]

ISSN: 1742-8440

www.pcr-online.biz

“The tech industry continues to surprise – and change – faster than a rig running a couple of newly announced Titan X GPUs.”

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Incorporating

Dan [email protected]

MEET THE TEAM

Elizabeth ParkerProduction [email protected]

Dominic SaccoEditor [email protected]@Dom_Sacco

Laura BarnesDeputy [email protected]@roradrum

Jade BurkeStaff [email protected]@JadeBurke77

Phil TottmanStaff [email protected]@phil_t707

Andrew [email protected]@pcr_online

Sarah GoldhawkAccount [email protected]@sarzgoldhawk

Jennie LaneSales [email protected]@jennielane1

THE PCR Rising Stars awards will take place on Thursday, June 18th at Sway Bar, London, and is an extension of the popular 30 Under 30 feature published annually in PCR.

The latest 30 Under 30 were announced in February with the individuals highlighted representing all sectors of the PC and tech channel. The PCR Rising Stars event will now award three of them – one in each of the following categories:

Retail & Distribution Vendors (Hardware, Software & Components)

PR, Marketing & Research

HOW IT WORKSPCR will ask each of the 30 Under 30 to provide additional information for their entry in the awards. We will also contact their bosses to get a testimonial/reference. This information will be passed on to a judging panel.

The judging panel will be made up of leading

recruitment specialists and HR executives.

The winners will be announced at an informal awards event on the evening of Thursday, June 18th at Sway Bar, Holborn.

The PCR Rising Stars awards will take part during London Technology Week, a week of events celebrating London’s global position as a hotbed of tech innovation, business successes, entrepreneurship and creative talent.

In 2014, more than 40,000 people from over 40 countries came together for 203 events held at venues across the capital. Events ranged from

large international conferences to intimate workshops, face-to-face investor meetings, pitching competitions and hackathons, covering a huge variety of topics including gaming, big data, IT, wearables, education, music, sport, fashion, fi nance and science.

“Our 30 Under 30 feature has been an incredibly popular fi xture on our editorial calendar for many years, so it made sense for us to create a live event around it,” explained PCR publisher Andrew Wooden.

“And we’re delighted to be hosting the awards as part of

London Technology Week, which is a fantastic series of events highlighting London’s importance in the tech world.”

A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available. If interested, please contact Jennie Lane at [email protected] to fi nd out more information.

For any other enquiries get in touch with Andrew Wooden at [email protected].

Tickets are priced at just £35 and can be purchased online – or by sending an email to [email protected]

PCR to celebrate industry’s rising stars with new eventWhile the PCR Awards may recognise the top companies within the UK tech channel, we thought it was about time there was an event which highlighted the IT and tech industry’s most promising youngsters in particular…

NEWS

Check out future tech at Boot CampTHE FIRST vendors and distributors have signed up to show off their latest wares at this year’s PCR Boot Camp.

Microsoft is on board as Headline Partner, and will be presenting a range of products and services to the trade, as well as hosting Microsoft Training sessions.

The 2015 conference and expo will take place at Whittlebury Hall on May 14th – and retailers, system builders and resellers can attend completely free by

signing up at www.pcrbootcamp.com.

Hannspree’s debut wearable tech device – the Smart Sports Watch – will also be on show, as will its award-winning PC on a Stick, AIO Android solutions, Hannspad tablet PCs and HannsG monitors.

LogicNow will be presenting its MAXfocus IT management software, a host of 4K PC monitors will be on show from AOC and Philips MMD, plus PXS Distribution will exhibit key products from security software vendors including Bitdefender and Kaspersky.

Additionally, distributor VIP Computers will be pushing its VIP Club programme, which offers indie PC retailers exclusive deals, rewards and other incentives. Other exhibitors at the show will include Nemesis, Stock in the Channel and more.

Conference speakers include Intel’s Anna Cheng, who will discuss where the tech world is headed, and what Moore’s Law has to say about our current trajectory,

as well as examine the continued reports of the death of the PC.

GfK’s Ranjiv Dale and Megan Moore will take to the stage to analyse the current state of the IT market and examine the figures for more emerging sectors like wearables, the smart home and IoT.

To exhibit, email Jennie Lane on [email protected]

Don’t miss out – make sure you register online now. www.pcrbootcamp.com

“Our 30 Under 30 feature has been an incredibly popular fixture on the editorial calendar, so it made sense to create a live event.”

Andrew Wooden,PCR

www.pcr-online.biz PCR April 2015 | 7

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NEW technologies are transforming hospitals across the UK.

The rise of big data and the Internet of Things is creating fresh opportunities for clinicians, while computers are becoming faster and more mobile, making it easier for healthcare professionals to get the job done quicker.

However, it’s not just new physical products which are making a difference (see our ‘Top three product picks’ for some of the latest healthcare tech from London’s E-Health event in March) – but digital innovations are changing the way the health sector operates.

One of the core themes at the event was the plan for the NHS to go ‘paperless’ by 2018, which Rt Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health, described as his “maddest promise” in a

keynote talk, and hopes that citizens will be able to access their health records online.

Dr Johan Waktare, cardiologist at Liverpool heart and chest hospital, also gave a talk on managing that shift, but admitted that “going paperless is a red herring”.

“This is about delivering IT-enabled healthcare – it’s not about making all of your processes electronic,” he said. “We’re at the closest approximation to ‘paperless’. I hope we’ll be completely paperless in the future.”

Looking at other digital developments, more apps are being specially designed for hospitals in order to improve patient care. For example, the Relax Anaesthetics tablet app is designed to help relax and distract children with art and games while they are being anaesthetised for surgery.

A study has underlined the importance of IT in healthcare. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) research from 91 NHS hospitals in England shows that the better the IT infrastructure in hospitals, the lower the number of patient deaths after hospitalisation.

For many hospitals, however, budgets are tight. There is a £240 million NHS tech fund that helps hospitals from paper-based systems to electronic records, but reports of it being cut to £43 million were dismissed by Hunt.

“What we’ve actually done with the tech fund is stage the rollout rather than cut it in absolute terms,” he said. “My view is it’s really important to increase investment in IT.”

So what kind of tech can we expect to see impact the healthcare sector in the future?

Looking at wearable tech, while it hasn’t yet become a key new consumer category some predicted, the medical sector is one area where it could take off. Smart glasses and wristbands can be used to bring up patient information or simulate operations using Augmented Reality, while apps for the upcoming Apple Watch can help individuals keep track of their heart rate, sleeping patterns, diet and more.

“Telehealth is very underestimated at the moment as a resource in terms of care for the elderly,” Hunt added. “The ability to connect to a hospital doctor or nurse through your TV screen by pressing a red button is something I think could be incredibly powerful in terms of keeping people healthy and secure.”

Tech and the NHS: A healthy market?Apps that help children relax before surgery, antimicrobial tablets and hospitals going ‘paperless’ by 2018 are just some of the ways tech is changing the NHS. Dominic Sacco visits London’s E-Health trade event and speaks to Jeremy Hunt to round up the latest changes…

ANALYSIS

8 | PCR April 2015 www.pcr-online.biz


HP ELITEPAD 1000 G2The computing giant showed off a tablet at the event designed for the healthcare sector. The HP ElitePad 1000 G2 boasts clean antimicrobial plastic, a barcode reader and bio scanner, with 16 hours’ battery life. It has just launched and is sold both through distribution partners and to hospitals direct. HP Enterprise Services also announced its web-based patient record system HCIS is now available to NHS Trusts through the NHS England OpenSource programme.

PANASONIC DEVICESA new range of rugged tablets and smartphones graced the front of Panasonic’s stand, including the FZ-G1 ToughPad, which can withstand heavy knocks. These are targeting paramedics and can be used in tough environments or emergencies, for example while treating a patient on the side of a road. A Panasonic spokesperson said the CF-19 rugged laptop has a 90 per cent share of the ambulance market. These devices can be ordered through distributors such as Tech Data and Centerprise.

LENOVO THINKPADS PC vendor Lenovo presented its standard range of ThinkPad laptops and tablets at the show for clinicians and healthcare professionals. A company spokesperson told PCR Lenovo rarely sells direct to hospitals – sales tend to be made through distribution and reseller partners.

TOP THREE PRODUCT PICKS

More tablets and apps are being developed to help improve care

“My view is it’s really important to increase investment in IT.”

Jeremy Hunt,Secretary of State

for Health

PC on a Stick

“In a modern office it could serve as the ultimate hot-desking tool.”PC Pro

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ANALYSIS


FOR YEARS we’ve heard that eSports and the world of competitive PC gaming is going to be huge.

But while we haven’t yet seen million-pound sponsorships, wages as high as professional footballers or teams that are true household names in the UK, many predicted that 2015 could be the year that eSports hits the mainstream on our shores. And recent developments prove they could be right.

In March, tournament provider Gfinity and its partner Pitch International opened the first eSports arena in the UK at the Vue Fulham Broadway multiplex. The Gfinity Arena has a capacity of 600 people and expects to accommodate more than 1,000 fans over the course of a weekend and more than 25,000 throughout the season. It will include a player lounge for up to 50 gamers, Gfinity’s own entrances and a ticketing hall.

Also in March, retailer GAME purchased gaming events and services firm

Multiplay in a £20 million deal. Multiplay organises several Insomnia gaming consumer events throughout the year (its latest attracted 67,000 gamers in person and some 1.4 million online).

Both of these moves illustrate the growth in eSports – and the growing opportunity for PC brands and retailers. Several vendors like Cooler Master and system builders such as Overclockers already exhibit at Insomnia events, and Multiplay says despite having a new owner, it will be business as usual.

“We don’t plan on placing any new restrictions on exhibiting at the Insomnia events; both GAME and ourselves want the event to be the best gaming festival it can be, and we don’t foresee our relationships with current or new retail-focused clients changing,” a Multiplay spokesperson tells PCR. “If anything we’ll be making the show bigger, and more valuable for exhibitors.”

It’s clear that Gfinity believes there will be further

growth too. It is planning to open another eSports arena in the UK, and is seeing greater interest from brands.

“The boom in the popularity of eSports as a spectator sport continues to grow,” adds Gfinity CEO Neville Upton. “The [Vue] deal highlights the growing interest from leading brands here in the UK in the eSports market, which provides an excellent opportunity to reach 18 to 34 year olds.”

“There are already over five million fanatics in the UK and this number will increase. The 70 million people who viewed eSports regularly last year were watching 19 times a month. What this demographic isn’t doing is watching TV, they’re watching or playing games instead. And its only set to rise in value.”

Kevin Styles, UK and Ireland MD of Vue, comments: “This collaboration with Gfinity underlines this and heralds a new era for eSports in the UK. eSports has seen explosive growth both in the UK and throughout the world.”

However, Michael O’Dell, the manager of pro gaming outfit Team Dignitas (which has just signed a sponsorship deal with networking vendor TP-LINK), says the UK still has some way to go before it can become a true force in eSports.

“We’re lagging behind a lot of the other countries,” he explains. “I think it’s mainly educational. A lot of the companies coming in need to do some homework on what eSports is.

“So in the UK we definitely need to catch up. We have the players here that can compete on a global level, but the problem is as they’re so young they have the choice of school and university, which is important and doing their education first is something we advocate. So they’ve got the choice: “Do I become a pro gamer or go to university?”

“And it’s very hard to be a pro gamer. You’ve got to be really, really good to earn the money at the moment.”Check out PCR’s full interview with O’Dell on page 43.

PC brands embrace eSports boomCompetitive gaming in the UK is enjoying “explosive” growth right now, with Gfinity planning to open more arenas and GAME purchasing Multiplay. Experts tell Dominic Sacco a new era for eSports is underway…

“There are over five million eSports fanatics in the UK and this number will increase. The 70 million people who viewed eSports regularly last year were watching 19 times a month.”

Neville Upton,Gfinity


THERE WERE many new products shown off at Distree EMEA in Monaco this year, including waterproof peripherals, LED backpacks and health trackers. But one theme that kept cropping up was home automation.

A recent MarketsandMarkets report suggests that the home automation industry will be worth $13.81 billion by 2020, and with successful advertising initiatives including the Nest campaign, which was launched in October 2014, it’s no wonder the industry is starting to make an impact.

The trouble is, consumers are still reluctant to incorporate smart products into their home, causing unwilling retailers to continue ignoring the growing sector.

Adam Simon, global managing director for retail business and development at Context, tells PCR: “Consumers are still ignorant about smart home products, and remain to be convinced about the extra benefits they can bring.”

The potential for growth is enormous, as according to

research carried out by Berg Insight, the market will be worth €2.6 billion in 2017 and will cover 30 million homes, providing retailers with ample opportunity to build up a demand for smart products. Plus, the Government has just unveiled a £40 million plan to improve the ‘Internet of Things’ in the UK.

During the trade show, vendors took the opportunity to spread the word about their new home automation products, including Chuango who presented its smart home technology brand Smanos featuring a burglar alarm system, as well as a smart home camera.

The Mustard Concept, a market entry expert company, also took to the stage during Distree’s ‘60 Seconds to Impress’ session this year, to showcase Icontrol Network’s smart home security device Piper. The product allows consumers to monitor what’s going on in their home via a mobile app.

Russell Ure, executive VP and general manager at Icontrol, commented: “We’ve

seen fast growing interest in the sector as a whole, and believe the time is right to increase our focus and make sure Piper is positioned to win in this important market.”

With larger retailers in the UK also jumping on the bandwagon, including Currys/PC World owner Dixons Carphone, and Maplin, it seems it will only be a matter of time until indie stores get on board.

Last year, Dixons Carphone opened Connected World departments in five megastores to showcase home automation, such as heating, lights and security cameras, as well as some of the latest wearable tech.

Distributors are beginning to notice the growth in this emerging sector, with the likes of Exertis taking on vendors specialising in home automation, including Nest Labs, Hive and Piper.

Exertis’ network business manager, Rod Slater, said: “This market has legs and will be around for a while to come; we are already starting to see key ecosystems

appear that outline an interesting future for everyone involved.”

PXS Distribution has also witnessed this growth, after telling PCR at Distree that the company is looking to take on more home automation products in its portfolio.

Robert Hall, MD of PXS Distribution, added; “We are hoping to add a vendor who is a specialist in the home automation field shortly. We recognize that this is an exciting growth area and we are looking forward to being able to offer our customers these new technologies.”

While home automation seems to be an unconvincing sector for some, the growth it has seen within the industry shows a promising start.

Jean Kiessling, head of international business Development at Deutsche Telekom, concludes: “As the number of smart objects in the average home grows over the next few years, retailers need to be ready to take advantage of the opportunities this expanding market has to offer.”

Smart home solutions show growthJade Burke reports on this emerging sector of connected devices from the Distree EMEA trade show in Monaco…

ANALYSIS

“This market has legs and will be around for a while to come.”

Rod Slater,Exertis



Above: Piper allows users to monitor their home

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STATS


Number

crunching A round-up of the most important stats and facts in the tech channel…

8 in 10 The majority of consumers (eight in ten) are hesitant about using mobile

payments services. (Walker Sands)

There are 1.2 billion B2B connected devices today globally, and the Internet of Things is set to grow this to 5.4 billion by 2020. (Verizon/ABI Research)

1.2bn

UK PC sales grew by almost 20 per cent year-on-year in January 2015, including desktops, notebooks and

PC workstations. (Context)

19.1%

Apple is investing €1.7 billion in two new data centres powered by renewable energy: one in Ireland and one in Denmark. (Apple)

Almost three quarters (71 per cent) of UK organisations are spending 10 per cent of their IT

budget – or less – on cloud services. (KPMG)

The first consumer 2,000 watt power supply has launched – the Super

Flower 80+ Platinum PSU. (Overclockers UK)

79%79 per cent of British consumers don’t trust retailers to keep their information safe. (Symantec)

1.7bn

10%

2,000w

Delivering Value in DistributionSales: 0871 622 7500

© Copyright VIP Computer Centre Limited. 2015. Information correct at time of publication E&OE.

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RECRUITMENT


Atherton departs EntaDave Stevinson to head up distributor Synology UK gains new MD

ENTATECH: JON ATHERTON has stepped down as director/VP after working at the distributor for 22 years. He first joined the firm back in July 1992 and will be replaced by former VIP Computers director Dave Stevinson.

During his last day at the distributor, Atherton told PCR: “After over 22 years I have decided to leave the business and take some time out.

“I do feel humble and honoured to have worked for so long in this fantastic company who have great staff and a desire to punch above their weight, and I’m sure they will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Entatech also expressed its sadness over Atherton’s departure. A spokesperson for Entatech added: “After such a long and successful relationship, Jon will be missed by the Entatech team, and we wish him well.”

Former VIP Computers director DAVE STEVINSON is replacing Atherton as the company’s new commercial director. Stevinson also has an extensive career within the industry, spanning over 20 years, where he has worked for firms including CTX Europe, TECO, VIP and more.

In a statement, Entatech said: “A familiar name to many within the technology channel, Dave has extensive experience and is no stranger to Entatech.”

Stevinson added: “I’m very excited to be joining Entatech. It’s a great opportunity and I look forward to doing a great job there.”

SYNOLOGY: Flash storage company Synology has revealed its new UK MD, YI-LIN HUANG.

Huang joins the UK office after working for the firm in Taiwan for over 10 years. He first started out in January 2005 as a product developer for the company, as well as working in roles including technical support manager and product department senior manager.

Huang replaces MIKE CHEN who will now move back to Taiwan to work on

other challenges at Synology’s head office.

Huang said: “We have had good sales and marketing momentum in the UK, Ireland

and Nordic countries for the past three years.

“We will continue to expand the business channels and provide our customers and partners with the best support possible.”

Huang brings his knowledge of Synology NAS devices and the DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system to the new role, with plans to develop the technical support team and continue the company’s steady sales growth in the UK, Ireland and Nordic countries.

TECH DATA: COLIN SHEPHERD has been hired as the new head of Tech Data’s supplies business unit.

Shepherd has more than 15 years of experience in specialist supplies roles within distribution. Shepherd said: “Tech Data has access to leading brands such as HP, Epson, Canon and Xerox and a tremendous and unrivalled capability to assist resellers in driving their business.

“I intend to take full advantage of those resources to ensure that our customers have the opportunity to maximise their sales of cartridges and other consumables supplies and accessories they can offer on

leading brands with the support of Tech Data.”

Tech Data’s specialist audiovisual unit TDMaverick has also bolstered its team with new members.

SHAUN ELLIOTT has joined the business as sales director with responsibility for further growth of the business, while SIMON MILLIDGE has been

appointed as education channel manager.

The marketing department has also been bolstered with the addition of CARMEL KEIGHTLEY as Maverick’s new dedicated marketing manager. Prior to her new role, Keightley worked within the public sector team at Maverick. She will now take responsibility for the company’s customer focused campaigns, supporting business growth for both AV and B2B resellers.

SIMON FAGAN, director of Maverick UK, said: “These appointments are a measure of the confidence and commitment we have in our business.”

Jon Atherton (left) and new director Dave Stevinson (right)

Synology UK MD Yi-Lin Huang

Tech Data’s Colin Shepherd

PHILLIPPE ROGERS, ACCOUNT MANAGER, CASEKING

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF…

A TYPICAL day starts at 7am. After checking my emails, and having a quick bowl of cereal, I set off for the offi ce, picking up a couple of colleagues on the way.

Once at my desk, I reply to emails and update my ‘things to do’ list. Each day I meet with the product managers to get an update on what’s new, what’s hot and current stock levels. Working in such a fast paced and dynamic industry means keeping up with new hardware and products is key.

I check sales reports and brush up on specs for new products. I like to focus on product groups that will fi t in well with my customers’ current range, then it’s on the phone to make lots of calls.

Being into my tech, I love to get down and dirty with my upcoming products, fi nding out their features and benefi ts. Not only that, I enjoy building systems myself which makes recommending products to my clients very easy. I’m currently building a Core i7 4790k watercooled system with a GTX 980, Avexir Core Red, all wrapped in a stunning Lian-li PC-O5SX case.

Working for Caseking is defi nitely the highlight of my career. The people here are very helpful and working here is never dull. Knowing market trends and predicting which products customers will be able to sell and make a profi t on helps me gain their trust and leaves them wanting more.

Organising meetings with clients is important too, as face-to-face interaction helps create bonds and is a way to show off our products in a physical form.

After work, it’s off to the gym. The hour that I spend there allows the traffi c to clear and gives me time to refl ect on my day, evaluating where I need to improve and plan for tomorrow.

I get home at about 7pm and make a start on dinner. I love to cook and enjoy trying out new recipes or putting twists on existing ones. Once dinner is over, I relax by playing a few computer games or get out my Surface Pro and read reviews on new hardware or watch reviews on tech shows. I’ll also spend some time on the Overclockers forum in the build log sections and the general hardware pages to see what people are doing with their shiny new kit.

Well, that’s me in a nutshell. I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes:“Strive to be of value and success will follow.”

“I love to get down and dirty with my upcoming products, finding out their features and benefits. I also enjoy building systems myself.”

“ The PR Room’s creativity and ability to always come up with

unique and interesting angles for stories is just one of many

reasons they continue to represent BullGuard for PR. ” Cam Le, CMO, BullGuard

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in which you have represented us and our clients. ” Jamie Plumridge, Founder & Managing Director,

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them an important part of our team. ” Victoria Chernih, Public Relations Manager,

Sennheiser Communications

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several months on end, they have proven to see their

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OPENING DOORS THE PR ROOM

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Diary DatesAPRIL 2015 GADGET SHOW LIVE APRIL 8TH-12TH – NEC, BIRMINGHAMBack for its seventh year, Gadget Show Live will showcase the latest products to hit the High Street as well as the best of British innovation and technology of the future. The Super Theatre, Game Zone, Future Tech Zone and Innovation Theatre will all return this year. New for 2015 will be an area dedicated to building your own gadgets.

MAY 2015PCR BOOT CAMP MAY 14TH – WHITTLEBURY HALL, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Free for retailers and resellers to attend, PCR Boot Camp will provide a day of conference sessions, as well as an exhibition where retailers can see the new product lines on offer from vendors. There will also be networking opportunities throughout the day and during the after party, giving dealers the chance to discuss with other like-minded individuals.

JUNE 2015COMPUTEXJUNE 2ND-6TH, TAIPEI, TAIWANAs the largest ICT trade show in Asia, Computex celebrates its 35th year in 2015. Top execs, innovators and entrepreneurs from around the world gather at the event to showcase new computer products to more than 38,000 international visitors. Expect new goods from the likes of Acer, AMD, Asus, Gigabyte, Intel, Microsoft, MSI, Nvidia, SanDisk, Transcend and more.

PCR RISING STARSJUNE 18TH – SWAY BAR, LONDON The PCR Rising Stars awards is an extension of the popular 30 Under 30 feature published in PCR annually. The latest list of young guns was announced in February with the individuals highlighted representing all sectors of the PC and tech channel. Awards will be given in three categories: Retail and Distribution; Vendors; PR, Marketing and Research.

EVENT PLANNER

The UK’s channel calendar is full of important events.Here are some highlights for upcoming dates…

TOP: Boot Camp this year will take place at Whittlebury Hall in Northamptonshire. ABOVE: This month PCR has launched the PCR Rising Star Awards


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THE IT sector has started the year on the front foot, up by 20 per cent in January 2015 versus last year, with software, mobile computing and media gateways leading the way. The predominant trend across PCs has stemmed from declining prices, which has largely contributed to overall market value remaining flat versus January 2014.

Media tablets has also been one of the largest contributors to this trend – not withstanding a volume decline of 25 per cent – the category registered a 35 per cent value decline compared to the same time last year.

The mobile computing market, led by notebooks, has benefitted from a downturn in average prices over the latter half of 2014, leading to a 13 per cent volume growth against January 2014 – yet given the decrease in average prices, the segment did not register any value growth over this time.

The computing tablets sector (full OS tablets and two-in-one devices) also experienced strong growth in the latter half of 2014 – led predominately by low cost slate tablets entering the market, helping double the size of this segment within the space of 12 months.

The mediabooks segment grew by 13 per cent in January 2015, again following the traditional PCs trend of achieving this via lower market prices. This time a decline of nine per cent of prices facilitated this growth. From a deskbound computing perspective,

traditional (tower) desktops continue to grow in the retail channels, again aided by ten per cent average price declines versus last year. The allure of lower cost desk computing has for now stemmed the share growth of high-performance gaming devices.

All-in-one (AIO) desktop computing continues to register double-digit growth, standing at 45 per cent in January. Again this was also achieved via lowering of prices, which at a drop of 24 per cent compared to last year is one of the largest rates seen across the PCs sector.

On the peripherals front, dashboard cams have helped drive the visual

cams sector to 98 per cent growth versus January 2014.

The only other category to register such growth has been media gateways, which has been a strong growth category throughout 2014 and continues to skim prices to achieve over 200 per cent volume growth

compared to last year, with market value also doubling over this period.

Overall, given the promotional opportunities that January brings, where average prices are expected to be lower at this time, they are beyond that of previous years and ultimately have encouraged the recent growth of the traditional PCs market in the latter stages of 2014 and into the New Year.

Most markets are also in similar sways of price erosion, with few high-value areas delivering consistent growth through higher prices.

“All-in-one (AIO) desktop computing continues to register double digit growth – 45% in January.”

WHEN SEARCHING the internet, the word ‘diversity’ brings up 219 million hits, spanning a variety of definitions that include phrases from ‘inclusion’ to ‘differences’. There is no one-size-fits-all practice of diversity. I’m personally very aware of the fact that the technology industry has a greater challenge than most as we work in a traditionally male-dominated sector. In fact, the talent pool of female IT professionals has been decreasing over the years and the number of female CIOs remains at around 11 per cent worldwide.

Awareness needs to translate into action. It’s not enough to just talk about encouraging women in the workplace – it’s vital that leaders are the drivers of this change. Leadership teams need to understand that the inclusion of female talent at every level is not just a ‘nice thing to do’ but that diverse teams drive tangible business benefits. This helps the rest of the organisation feel a stronger sense of purpose and activate opportunities to encourage the inclusion of female talent.

We know what we need to do and we’ve taken an approach called the ‘Legacy of Good’, comprising of 21 ambitious goals. For example, our women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG), Wise, aims to create a stronger gender balance across Dell and provide opportunities for women in the workplace. This programme also extends to the wider community, with members of

the Dell team speaking about careers in IT to help encourage girls into the industry.

But it’s important to note that gender imbalance is not an issue for women alone to address. We recently became the first in the IT industry to sign up to Catalyst’s Men Advocating Real Change (MARC) pilot, a six-month initiative that fosters a learning community for men committed to achieving gender equality in the workplace. Diversity is also not just a gender issue. We need to make sure that our team is truly reflective of the very diverse marketplace in which we operate. To help this goal, we’ve

set up a number of additional ERGs, such as Pride, Building Relationships in Diverse Group Environments (BRIDGE), Adelante, and Asians in Motion. These ERGs aim to

help team members from all backgrounds find a welcoming and communicative home within Dell. We need to get to the point where diversity is not about being activists; it’s also about simply being honest and part of an inclusive environment.

In the future, it would be amazing to work in a world where every organisation is taking action, every leadership team is guiding by example and individuals are becoming driving forces for change. Until that day, we will continue to focus on activating change within Dell and being an active part of the conversation to keep pushing for better female representation at every level of our industry.

“We need to get to the point where diversity is not about activism.”

Andrew Walsh is a member of analyst GfK’s IT panel. www.gfk.com/uk

Tim Griffin is Vice President and Managing Director for Dell UK. www.dell.co.uk

Andrew Walsh, a member of GfK’s IT panel, highlights the encouraging growth seen in the IT industry and why PC sales are on the rise…

Dell’s managing director Tim Griffin explains the importance of highlighting the gender gap in tech and what the company is doing to improve matters…

IT industry sees positive growth

OPINION

Diversifyingthe workforce


Thetech elite

PCR AWARDS

The UK’s PC and tech industry gathered for a night full of celebrations

at this year’s PCR Awards. Attendees enjoyed the

ceremony, which took place at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington on Thursday March 12th, where 20 awards were given away to the tech industry’s finest.

Comedian Ian Moore kept those in attendance entertained whilst handing out the awards during the event, which included the brand new vendor award for Service and Support that was given to Microsoft. Other revised accolades included

System Builder and Online Retailer of the Year, which went to Overclockers UK and Ebuyer.com, respectively.

This year, Intel took home the prestigious Grand Prix award, while Entatech secured the award for Distributor of the Year. That wasn’t the only award the distributor won during the evening, scooping three awards in total including Components Distributor and Marketing and PR. Other winners from the evening included reseller Stone, retailer Utopia Computers, distributor Westcoast and vendor AOC.

The UK PC industry’s finest were honoured at the 2015 PCR Awards in March. PCR takes a look back at some of the biggest winners and speeches from the night…


GRAND PRIX: Intel

“To win this award is a huge honour, and PCR’s recognition of all the efforts we make to bring new and exciting products and experiences to technology users around the world is very much appreciated.”

Matt Birch, UK&I Channel Sales Manager, Intel

From Left: Matt Birch, UK&I Channel Sales Manager, Richard George, EUR Infl uencer Sales Manager

Check out more images from the ceremony and the Acer Photo Booth on page 74 and 76…READ MORE

PCR AWARDS


SYSTEM BUILDER:Overclockers UK

NATIONAL RETAILER:John Lewis

INDEPENDENT RETAILER:Utopia Computers

RESELLER:Stone

“It is fantastic that our efforts have been recognised within the industry. This award is dedicated to everyone in our team who made it possible. A big thank you to PCR for a great event and to everyone who voted for us.” Steve Ling, Executive Director, Overclockers UK

“We are thrilled to win the National Retailer award – the competition is fi erce so you have to be restless to succeed. To be voted for by our industry peers is particularly rewarding – many of whom we wouldn’t have won this award without.” Chloe Harris, Tablet and Computing Assistant Buyer,

John Lewis

“This award is signifi cant because it is voted for by our partners and the wider industry and is testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of the team. To be a fi nalist, and then a winner of this award is a fantastic acknowledgement of our steadfast reputation for excellence within the industry.” Peter Berks, Purchasing Director, Stone Group

“Utopia has a great history at the PCR awards, with this being our 7th PCR award in six years. My team and I try so very hard to work to the best of our abilities, giving our partners and customers an experience unlike anyone else. It’s extremely humbling and exciting to have our hard work recognised in this way.” Craig Hume, Director, Utopia Computers

PCR AWARDS


ONLINE RETAILER:Ebuyer.com

SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTOR:Tech Data

“This is a great achievement and recognition of the time and effort the Tech Data team have put into growing our software business over the last year. Initiatives such as TD-Activate-here, now offering a range of over 4,000 software titles, are keeping us at the leading edge of technology designed to enable retail growth.” James Reed, Director of PC Systems and Software, Tech Data

“We are delighted to receive the PCR award in such a competitive marketplace with some of the biggest names in the industry. Ebuyer has had a great year and we appreciate the effort from our partners in helping us grow.” Danny Young, Features Editor, Ebuyer.com

PC GAMING & HARDWAREDISTRIBUTOR: VIP Computers

COMPONENTS DISTRIBUTOR:Entatech

PERIPHERALS DISTRIBUTOR:Exertis

“Being rewarded with the Components Distributor of the Year award is a great achievement, and we are delighted to be successful in such a strong category.” Steve Parker, Marketing Manager, Entatech

“Exertis are honoured to win Peripherals Distributor of the Year award, it’s a lovely recognition to stand out from the crowd in an area where we’re very passionate. Thank you to all those who judged and voted for us.” Mike Buley, Retail Director, Exertis

“It is with great pleasure that we accept PCR’s PC Gaming and Hardware Distributor of the year award. We have worked hard to make great strides and have developed an extensive portfolio of gaming brands.”

Rich Marsden, Director, VIP Computers

PCR AWARDS


SERVICE AND SUPPORT:Westcoast

DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR:Entatech

SOFTWARE PUBLISHER:Microsoft

“Entatech are delighted to be selected as Distributor of the Year. The accolade is a great reward for a year of continued hard work from our team.” Steve Parker, Marketing Manager, Entatech

“Microsoft is really proud to be awarded Software Publisher of the Year 2015 and recognised for the steps we have taken to ensure we provide great service and support.” Microsoft spokesperson

MARKETING AND PR:Entatech

“I would be a liar, if I didn’t admit to earmarking the PCR Marketing and PR award as one of our goals. The marketing team at Entatech dedicate a lot of effort to promote our vendor brands, and it’s fantastic for their work to be rewarded with this accolade.” Steve Parker, Marketing Manager, Entatech

CONSUMER ELECTRONICSDISTRIBUTOR: Exertis

“We’re absolutely delighted to win the Consumer Electronics Distributor of the Year award for the third year running and it’s brilliant to be recognised by our industry peers. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who judged and voted for us this year.” Mike Buley, Retail Director, Exertis

“Westcoast are delighted to receive recognition for delivering outstanding service and we will continue to ensure that we support our partners by adding value to their business.” Justin Turrell, Account Director, Westcoast

PCR AWARDS


PERIPHERALS VENDOR:AOC

COMPONENTS VENDOR:Intel

“We are very honoured to have been elected the winner in the peripherals vendor category at this year’s PCR Awards. We would like to express our gratitude to our UK and Amsterdam team, our customers and industry friends who have supported us. We are humbled, and my only regret is that I could not be there with Nathan to receive the award. I’m very much looking forward to next year’s event.” Paul Butler, Regional Sales Director, AOC

“We are delighted to win this award, and thank all our customers and distribution partners for all their collaboration and business in 2014.” Matt Birch, UK&I Channel Sales Manager, Intel

COMPUTING VENDOR:Lenovo

NETWORKING VENDOR:TP-LINK

SERVICE AND SUPPORTMicrosoft

“Winning Networking Vendor of the year again is a massive achievement for TP-LINK UK Ltd. I’d like to thank the TP-LINK team, our distributors, value added resellers and retailers for their support and commitment over the last 12 months.” Nelson Qiao, Assistant General Manager, TP-LINK UK Ltd

“Last year was an important year for Lenovo, we launched a number of amazing products and forged stronger and relationships with our retailers. This award is testament to the strength and depth of our team, which I’m proud to lead.” Alex Ebeid, Consumer Director, Lenovo

Congratulations and Thank You!AOC would like to congratulate all the winners of this years event and thank everyone who made it possible for us to win Peripheral Vendor Award 2015!

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THE BIG INTERVIEW


As the number two PC vendor across EMEA and with ambitions to take an even larger share of the market, Acer is known for standing out from the crowd. PCR speaks to Acer UK’s head of marketing Linda Hassall about its popular Chromebook and 2-in-1s, exciting Windows 10 developments and growth in both wearables and gaming…

Ace in the pack

THE BIG INTERVIEW


What’s new for Acer this year? What can your retail,

reseller and distribution partners expect to see?Our focus is on innovation, product leadership and meeting market trends. We believe this is paying off and the evidence can be seen in our Q3 financial results and increase in market share.

We continue to solidify our existing core business while also stepping up the pace to innovate in new areas such as cloud computing.

Having invested significantly as a company over the last few years into research and development, we are looking to produce products that give the best user experience at every price point.

According to IDC you had a 7.8 per cent share of the global computer market in 2014, making you the fourth largest vendor. What are your future ambitions in this space?It is our ambition and we have plans in place to increase our market share.

Across EMEA we are the number two PC vendor.

How was last year for Acer overall? What were your highlights from 2014?PCs continue to be our core business, but we also saw good traction in the Chromebook and 2-in-1 segments and with high-end models for the gamer crowd.

In the third quarter of last year, Acer posted solid year-on-year growth. In EMEA, PC shipments exceeded overall market growth of 10.4 per cent. This achievement was the result of a strong product mix, especially 2-in-1 devices and Chromebooks.

Across the market, laptop sales are up while tablets have fallen slightly. Will tablets return to favour?The notebook market has stabilised and we are excited about the opportunities Windows 10 represents across our entire ecosystem.

Research suggests that a tablet buyer is not a laptop

buyer. They have different usage models. A tablet is for consumer consumption where as a laptop is used for both creation and consumption.

Which computing devices have proved to be most popular for Acer? Chromebooks have proved incredibly successful in both the consumer and education markets. Our 2-in-1 device, the Aspire Switch 10, has also proved very popular with its four modes of configuration – offering the best of both worlds. It’s a laptop when you need to work and create, and a tablet when you want to consume and share data.

You’ve dabbled in the wearable market with the Liquid Leap. Why did you enter that market and what kind of demand have you seen?The wearable device market is a very fast growing segment and one that has not yet fully defined itself. However, it is a market we want to be part of, but we are approaching it carefully.

We believe there needs to be a cloud infrastructure at the back-end, and to not just receive the data but analyse it, be that number of steps taken, or sleep patterns.

Although I get excited when I notch up 10,000 steps, I would for example love to know how I compare and rank against others in my age group. This is when the data becomes meaningful and where the cloud can help.

What are your sales expectations for the Liquid Leap+?Feedback from our first generation of Liquid Leap has been positive, so we are optimistic on sales levels for Liquid Leap+, launched in March at Mobile World Congress. We see wearables as part of our vision for seamless connectivity across all Acer products.

Do you think there’s a space for wearables within independent retailers, or do

you see them being left to larger retailers and etailers?The wearables market is so new that I believe there is room for all retail outlets to establish themselves. It could be an involved sale where consumers require help and advice in choosing the right model for them. Independent retailers would be very well suited to this.

What made you want to build a Windows 8.1 Phone? Do you think the Windows 10 update to Microsoft’s phones will earn it a bigger market share in the coming year?Windows Phone 8.1 offers a productive alternative to other operating systems; we will take the Windows 10 road

further with future devices, hence reinforcing our broad line-up of products in the Windows eco-system.

Windows 10 represents a journey we are taking together with Microsoft. We are enthusiastic about the opportunity it presents for the entire ecosystem and for our mutual customers.

What can your distributor, retailer and reseller partners expect from Acer on the marketing side throughout 2015? We have a multi-channel marketing strategy: Our aim is to emotionalise our products and strengthen brand values.

In the consumer landscape we will continue with our integrated marketing approach, ensuring we are at every touch point on the

consumer’s purchasing journey; advertising across OOH, digital, print and mobile, in-store theatre and experiential campaigns as well as expert sales training at store level to ensure customer satisfaction.

With our distribution and channel partners we will continue to improve our service levels and communication tools.

We are revisiting our Acer Synergy partner programme and April will see the launch of a new Acer rewards programme for our channel partners.

We will continue to engage and excite with a product portfolio that spans one-inch to 100-inch.

You launched a 4K G-Sync monitor last year. How well received was that and how important is the gaming market to Acer?The 4K G model was very well received by the market. We see the gaming market as a key segment for Acer and have developed products such as the Aspire V Nitro for the casual gamer.

Our R&D team is looking closely into this segment to understand the specific needs and requirements of the gaming user. We will for sure have key product launches over the coming months… watch this space.

The eSports sector is a hot property at the moment. Do you have any new plans for Team Acer or other sponsorships this year?None that I can share at the moment, but the eSports sector is indeed a hot property right now and one we are very excited about integrating more fully into our gaming approach.

What’s next for Acer? To increase market share and continue to further establish ourselves in new markets such as Chromebooks and 2-in-1s, and continue to work closely with our partners and improve the consumer’s journey through the technology world.

Acer’s Liquid Leap band, Switch 10 and Chromebook are some of the vendor’s innovative offerings

“April will see the launch of a new Acer rewards programme for our channel partners.”

Linda Hassall, Acer UK

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Server shutdown: The clock is ticking...

WINDOWS SERVER 2003

The end is nigh for Windows Server 2003 (WS03) with support

ending for the server operating system in just a few months. At 12 years old, it has indeed had a long life after its birth on April 24th 2003.

Last year Microsoft also cut off all support for Window XP, where businesses flocked in their masses to migrate to the next available OS from the tech company.

Now with the end of life for Server 2003 fast approaching, businesses and institutions need to begin to look at how they can migrate or face exposing themselves to more security hacks and any other vulnerabilities, as Microsoft cuts off all support on July 14th 2015.

Since data can be accessed directly or indirectly from the internet, all major or private information could be stolen once support ends, making the need to migrate even more essential.

“When Microsoft finally ends its support, without any further patches or security updates this could unwittingly open many organisations to security issues, compliance problems and higher maintenance

costs,” adds Tom Goodwin, server and storage manager at Lenovo. Distributors including Westcoast have offered help to those looking to migrate, as Clare Leetham, Microsoft marketing manager at Westcoast, explains: “We have a roadshow entitled ‘A Time For Change’. This outlines the risks and the opportunities this once in a decade opportunity opens up to the channel.”

CMS Distribution is also lending a hand to customers, with its wide range of solutions for planning and testing, as well as migrating data centre migrations.

NEW SERVER SYSTEMSThere are various other servers businesses can migrate to including Microsoft Azure and Office 365, however, Windows Server 2012 R2 seems to be one of the preferred choices, since it has been optimised for cloud and virtualisation. No doubt this will also help to improve the efficiency of many businesses since Server 2003 is 12 years old.

The first step to migrating is to discover and catalogue all of the software and workloads running on WS03. Once

customers identify their catalogue they can assess their applications, and next pinpoint what their target destination is.

Vigilance is key to this crossover and Microsoft hopes that customers will take on board the advice expressed by the tech company. “Microsoft encourages customers who currently run Windows Server 2003 and have not yet begun migration planning to do so immediately,” says a Microsoft spokesperson.

“Readying a company’s apps and data for migration from WS03 can take a substantial amount of planning and time. Customers have great migration options, including the new Windows Server, Microsoft Azure, hosting partners, and Office 365,” adds the spokesperson.

Owner of AML Midlands, Anthony Lay, is also offering help to customers. “We can aid the support of the server and make sure it will be working, but as far as the apps go, the main support will be aided by the developers,” explains Lay.

“The end users and ourselves need to make sure we have an upgrade path.”

Windows Server 2012 R2 also comprises a 64-bit operating system, which will help to hold significantly more data and amounts of access memory than the older 2003 server, which had a 32-bit operating system.

Daley Robinson, from IT provider Stone, believes that the performance of an up-to-date server will bring great opportunities to businesses: “The performance gains are going to be pretty incredible, if you have got an institution that’s been running a 10-year-old server on an operating system.

“Whoever is managing the IT space internally within a business is going to be very used to complaints from users around productivity and the speed of the network. There’s going to be massive performance gains that moving to Windows Server 2012 R2 can give. It’s a fantastic tool that is significantly better in terms of performance.”

With newer servers there is also the opportunity for businesses to make cost and energy savings as well. For example, WS12 R2 will be using about 70 per cent less power compared to older

The countdown to the end of life date for Windows Server 2003 has begun, with support ending on July 14th. Here Jade Burke takes a look at why it is crucial for businesses to migrate…

“Readying a company’s apps and data for migration from WS03 can take a substantial amount of planning and time. But there are great migration options.”

Microsoft


Of

WINDOWS SERVER 2003


servers, which will help to make a significant impact on businesses.

An average small and medium business (SMB) Windows 2003 migration project could take between three and four months to complete, meaning migration should be well underway by now. With that said, some are still reluctant to migrate due to legacy software issues and licensing costs. Paul Jeffery, head of category services at Ingram Micro, adds: “The challenges of migrating customers usually lies in the hidden complexities with their existing environments.

“Quite often there are legacy applications and batch programs that will not migrate easily, if at all, possibly due to hidden 16-bit code. Fortunately there is relatively good compatibility between Windows Server 2003 and Server 2012 R2.”

The distributor is offering key tools and support during the shift. By working with vendors Ingram will be explaining the options available to them, showing how customers can be migrated and offering services that its partners can offer out themselves.

Similarly, computing firm Lenovo is rolling out help for its partners, while Microsoft has already launched its Migration Assessment and Planning (MAP) toolkit, which helps to prepare and kickstart the planning.

BUSINESS PROSPECTSWith a new server comes new opportunities, something Jeffery deems possible with the migration: “This is an ideal opportunity for the end user to re-assess their needs and also make the best use of new technology features in the later versions of Windows

Server and of course the cloud services such as Office 365 and Microsoft Azure.”

As well as this, businesses will be able to make use of the improved virtualisation features, reduced maintenance and increased business agility, with the knowledge that their data is secured safely. Not only that, it gives businesses the chance to take a look at their infrastructure and whether any changes are needed to help modernise it.

As Paul Ambrose, technical director at PHB Networking, concurs: “For us as a company, it’s a great sales opportunity and for the client a good (though expensive) time to revaluate their IT needs and to start planning for the future.”

The retail industry is also keen to take on-board WS12 R2, as a number of payment processors have confirmed that they will not transact payments on unsupported servers that could have a major impact on businesses.

CLOUDY FUTURECloud services will most likely lead the way once the adoption of WS12 R2 begins;

while businesses will start to see the benefits of the cost-effective applications.

“In the SMB sector we will certainly see more people taking advantage of Microsoft cloud services such as hosted exchange and Office 365. The cost differential between hybrid cloud and completely on premise makes it an absolute certainty that more end users in that space will do that,” adds Gareth Bray, general manager of server and storage at Exertis.

Plus, this isn’t quite the end of Windows Server 2003 for everyone, as some businesses also have the opportunity to change it into a legacy server so long as it isn’t the primary server. Lay continues: “If you have to use an old server, don’t make it your primary server. Plan for the future and plan on binning it in a few weeks rather than years, and make it a legacy server rather than a primary server.”

On the other hand, Insight Services’ director David Mayer, warns that leaving just one server on WS03 could leave the entire network at risk. “Windows Server 2003 was really stable,” adds Mayer.

“But as we move to the cloud world, there are a lot of scenarios that weren’t prevalent back then. The big one is that Windows Server 2012 is cloud-ready. The ability to do private, public and hybrid scenarios is huge.”

These new opportunities will only be available once businesses make the switch, showing just how important it is to begin preparation for migration now, before it is too late.

Goodwin explains: “All technology has a natural lifespan, and Windows Server 2003 has brilliantly supported businesses over the 12 years since its launch.”

Businesses wishing to upgrade to Office 365 will gain access to new applications

The OS is now over 12 years old – it’s time for businesses to upgrade and advance

Microsoft Azure can offer enterprises a new cloud computing platform

“The challenges of migrating customers usually lies in the hidden complexities with their existing environments.”

Paul Jeffery,Ingram Micro

Network kingINTERVIEW

What have you learnt from Taiwan that you can bring to Synology in the UK?I Joined Synology in 2005, starting as a program and product developer.

Throughout the years I’ve managed the tech support team for global and project management. Everything we have done at HQ that has been successful will be replicated in the UK, such as team expansion, high levels of customer service, product training, and launch events.

My role will be focused on the expansion of the team and the company.

What kind of growth has Synology seen in the UK and what are your targets for the future?We have averaged growth of more than 50 per cent in the UK over the last three to five years. This is very strong growth for us and we will continue to have a target of no less than 40 per cent of growth for 2015 and beyond.

We are introducing new technologies, products and features that we are confident will bring us incremental gains. The public is getting to know more about NAS now, so the demand for Synology products will continue to increase.

How popular is the Networked Attached Storage (NAS) market?If you go to Google Trends and type in ‘Synology’ you will see a consistent and healthy 45-degree climb in the UK. That’s very rare growth in today’s business.

What about surveillance – what are your ambitions in that space?

We attend IFSEC every year and we will focus on surveillance-specific advertising in Q2 and Q3. We are also a finalist in the Benchmark Awards 2015.

Who is your biggest end customer in the UK – home users or businesses? With our products, it has always been heavier on the consumer side as we didn’t launch business models until a later date.

However, with an aggressive strategy for the business market, since 2011 we’ve been launching several new lines of products to target this area. The balance is shifting and we are starting to reach a 50/50 split.

Are you looking to partner with new retailers in 2015?We will continue to support our current partners and at the same time welcome new

ones – we have no plans to slow down. We are very happy with the partnerships we currently have with all of our customers, whether it’s online, retailer, or reseller.

What is Synology’s biggest challenge in the market?Our biggest challenge is to continue to share and educate the public on the benefits of having a NAS in their life and workplace. This will become our biggest opportunity too.

Following your partnership with Warner Bros and the Jupiter Ascending film, are you planning other movie marketing deals?We are currently working with Warner Bros to promote the DVD and digital release of the film Interstellar in the UK, and we are also currently in talks with them, as well as other production

companies, in relation to future cinema releases.

Synology has been involved in the growing eSports gaming scene. What are you doing in that area?We have just signed up to exhibit at Insomnia here in the UK and DreamHack in Sweden. This will be the first time the UK office has participated in the gaming industry. Interestingly enough, a colleague who works in our German office was once a FIFA world champion.

What’s next for Synology?We are a very product-focused company and listen heavily to the feedback of our users. We want to be unique, creative and always a step ahead of the game. We will continue to do this and continue to bring exciting products to our users.

NAS vendor Synology has appointed a new MD to head up its UK, Ireland and Nordic business. Yi-Lin Huang has worked at its Taiwan headquarters for over 10 years – and has ambitious growth plans, he tells Dominic Sacco…

“We have averaged growth of more than 50 per cent in the UK over the last three to five years. We have no plans to slow down.”

Yi-Lin Huang,Synology

Yi-Lin Huang, Synology’s new MD, plans to expand the UK team


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Dig forvictory: eSportsevolution

INTERVIEW

IT’S FUNNY to think naysayers declared PC gaming ‘dead’ a few

years back.Sure, retail sales of boxed

games have fallen dramatically, but demand for downloadable PC games, systems and accessories has risen. But what’s more exciting is that a whole separate entity has shot up in popularity, breathing new life into PC (and console) gaming: eSports.

The top players around the world form teams, take part in gaming tournaments with huge cash prizes and are watched by millions of fans live over the internet. These guys can easily have hundreds of thousands of Twitter followers and earn six figures each year.

Plus, 38 per cent of gamers say they are likely to purchase products and services they see being used or showcased at an eSports tournament, according to a new Eventbrite study.

PC companies have recognised this growing and specialist demographic, and pro teams offer them a way in.

Just like football, player shirts can be sponsored, products are promoted online and video ads produced.

One well-established organisation based in the UK, going by the name of Team Dignitas, manages some 59 players. It has several PC sponsors including Corsair, Intel and Scan Computers to name a few, plus it has just struck a one-year sponsorship deal with networking vendor TP-LINK. It’s not surprised by the surging rise in eSports popularity.

“It’s growing every single month,” Michael ‘ODEE’ O’Dell tells PCR. “I can’t give you specific figures, but sponsorship deals can go up to six figures. Some of the deals are getting close to seven figures at the moment with the big companies.

“We totally expect more brands from outside of the computing market to embrace eSports, too. We’re just about to sign with our first agent who will act on our behalf to go after such brands and see if they can help get them into the space and make eSports even bigger.”

ODEE also says that sponsor partners can bring a lot more to an eSports team than just putting a logo on a shirt.

“For TP-LINK, they’ve been getting into gaming over the past couple of years and we’ve noticed them at events. They’ve gone the extra step and have sponsored my team, which is great for us as it helps us do what we do. And without the sponsors we can’t do that,” he explains.

“Hopefully we can promote what TP-LINK is trying to push to their customers. I think we’ll be pretty much using most of what they have. So our massive gaming house in Los Angeles for example is in desperate need of some switches in that place. And the internet in America is ridiculously good – so we want to try out TP-LINK’s powerline products especially, because wireless in that house is amazing.

“Even with six or seven guys using it at once it’s so fast, but I think there’s a wire going across the floor right now in the house, which shouldn’t be there! We’ve also got our StarCraft II player

(BlinG) in Penzance and he will be one of the first guys to get the stuff to see if it will improve his situation, because right now his connection is awful.

“We’re also doing social media giveaways for TP-LINK. So if our fans come up and find our players and get a picture, they will win some products.”

THE NEXT LEVELIt’s all well and good having big tech brands supporting teams in this way, but for some emerging pro gamers it’s hard enough to get noticed, let alone nail down a solid salary.

Other better-established sports like football generate most of their money by selling TV rights to broadcasters (Sky and BT Sport have just paid £5.1 billion for live Premier League TV rights for three seasons), which is filtered down to teams, players and agents. But in eSports, most of the matches are watched on Amazon’s livestreaming platform Twitch, which lets viewers watch streams for free, although they can pay

With sponsorship deals between computer vendors and pro gaming teams reaching close to seven figures, Dominic Sacco asks UK eSports organisation Team Dignitas’ manager Michael ‘ODEE’ O’Dell about the exploding market, its own deal with TP-LINK and the future of eSports…

“We totally expect more brands outside the computing market to embrace eSports too.”

ODEE, Team Dignitas


INTERVIEW

monthly to remove ads or get live chat upgrades.

Some players make hundreds of pounds in donations each day on Twitch (in fact former Team Dignitas League of Legends pro Michael ‘Imaqtpie’ Santana quit to stream full-time), but some pros and newcomers struggle to balance this with their job or studies.

ODEE believes an eSports governing body could help generate further funding, but is unsure whether TV broadcasters are ready to embrace eSports.

“They haven’t really woken up yet,” he explains. “I’m sure when the BBC looked back at the figures for their recent eSports show, they were amazed when they saw how many people tuned in.

“In this country [video games trade body] UKIE is the only thing I’d trust right now that would actually have everybody’s interests at heart. UKIE is telling the Government eSports is big – once the Government starts getting involved and recognising what we do, we can turn over a lot of money for the UK I’m sure.

“A governing body will mean more money will come into eSports, so I can pay big salaries to players. They wont have to worry about making a living if they’re good enough to come and play for us.”

But ODEE stresses that the governing body must be truly independent. In late 2008 the United Kingdom eSports

Association (UKESA) was formed, bringing together the likes of Future Publishing, the BBC, Team Dignitas, EA, Fnatic and many more, before arranging tournaments with cash prizes. However, just one year later it signed for bankruptcy.

“It just went from bad to worse from day one,” ODEE recalls. “I was very naïve at the time. I soon learnt if you’ve got people making money and are trying to make more money, it’s not independent. That was the problem with UKESA which just didn’t click with me until it all went horribly wrong.

“The finals in London were just awful. We turned up with our Call of Duty team and they

asked us to go over the road to Tesco and buy Call of Duty because they didn’t have the disc. I knew it was going to be a bad day when that happened. They still owe us £11,000 but they fell apart and disappeared off the face of the Earth.

“We’ve seen things come and go like that over the 15 years I’ve been doing this, and now the big games like League of Legends are bringing new people into

eSports. But they haven’t seen what’s happened in the last 15 years so some of them are starting to make the same mistakes – and they’re not listening to the old fogies like me.

“So we do everything very sustainably. The foundations are there – now we have to build the house. And I think we can do that.”

BULLDOG SPIRITAt the moment a lot of eSports stars hail from Korea and America. However, Europe has been taking greater strides in recent years with more young guns emerging. The UK is also home to some promising talent in eSports.

“The UK is really good at FPS (first-person shooter) games,” ODEE explains. “But UK Counter-Stike:GO teams are struggling at the moment because they’re all at university and they don’t earn enough money, so that’s a real problem. If they earnt enough money, we’d probably have the best teams in the world on Counter-Strike.”

Team Dignitas has just signed a squad for team-

based action game SMITE, and many of the members hail from the UK.

“Finally – we’ve got a team that is mostly from the UK,” says ODEE. “They approached us and got my attention straight away, then we looked into them and it was a really easy decision to make.

Could the UK become a true force in eSports in the future?

“Definitely,” ODEE replies. “I don’t know why we’re lagging behind a lot of the other countries. One problem with this country is there aren’t enough internet cafes. I think it’s because the internet is so good now across most of the country. But I think what’s holding the UK back is mainly educational. A lot of the companies coming in need to

do some homework on what eSports is.

“In the past, companies have come in with a one hit bang and hope it sticks, but it doesn’t work like that. So in the UK we definitely need to catch up. We have the players here that can compete on a global level, but the problem is as they’re so young they have the choice of school and university, which is obviously important and it’s something we advocate – to do their education first. So they’ve got the choice: “Do I become a pro gamer or do I go to university?”

“The annoying thing is there are world champions out there; they just don’t know they are world champions. We need to find them.”


SOME OF the most popular eSports games of the moment include League of Legends, Counter-Strike: GO, Dota 2, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, StarCraft II and SMITE. Blizzard’s upcoming shooter Overwatch is also one that Team Dignitas is keeping an eye on.

As for the tournaments and leagues themselves, ones to look out for include the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), Dota 2’s The International and world championships for the games listed above.

There’s also an event called Intel Extreme Masters to look out for, as well as ESL events with big prize pools including a Dota 2 $1m tournament.

In the UK, brands like Multiplay Insomnia, MCM, ESL and Gfinity all host events throughout the year. Gfinity is actually transforming part of the Vue Cinema Fulham Broadway multiplex into a 600-person capacity eSports venue called the Gfinity Arena, which will host events on select weekends and weekday evenings.

ONES TO WATCH

“The UKESA finals were just awful. They asked us to buy copies of the game because they didn’t have any.”

ODEE, Team Dignitas

TP-LINK sponsors Team Dignitas, helping it to operate

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SECTOR GUIDE

With their portability, impressive specs and array of sizes, tablets are still a popular product for consumers. Here Jade Burke takes a look at the latest devices on the market as well as a host of accessories to match…

Tablets and accessories

Users can access the Lexibook video store where they can view the latest cartoons and video for children. Parents can make use of the advanced parental controls whilst content can be viewed across the 8-inch screen.

Specs: Eight-inch screen, Android 4.1, Wi-Fi connectivity, parental controls, 8GB storage.

SRP: £87

LEXIBOOK TABLET ADVANCE

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Made to meet the US Department of Defense Standard 810F/G durability tests, this rugged case has a patented magnetic closure to save battery life, plus reinforced corners to protect iPads from bumps and drops.

Specs: Clear polycarbonate back, reinforced corners, magnetic closure.

SRP: £49.95

STM BAGS DUX CASE FOR IPAD AIR 2

Distributor: Computers Unlimited

This speaker from Dynamode connects to iPads and other tablets via Bluetooth 2.1 with a range of up to 15 metres. By using ClearSound acoustic technology, bass and treble is clearer across all frequencies.

Specs: Bluetooth 2.1, ClearSound technology, up to six hours battery life, built-in USB connection.

SRP: £27.99 plus VAT

S-118BT BLUETOOTH SPEAKER SYSTEM

Distributor: Dynamode

Hannspree’s Tablet PC features a 13.3-inch Full HD display and runs on Android 4.4. 16GB of additional internal storage is available, while users can capture images with the front-facing 2MP camera and rear 5MP camera.

Specs: Bluetooth 4.0, 13.3-inch display, IPS technology, 10-point multi-touch, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.

SRP: £199

HANNSPAD SN14T72B QUAD CORE TABLET

Distributors: Entatech, Exertis, Tech Data

Prestigio’s Multipad comes packed with an Intel Celeron Dual-core processor and Intel HD Graphics. It runs on Windows 8 and features a 4000mAh battery with more than four hours of video playback time.

Specs: 10.1-inch screen, micro 3.0 USB port, Bluetooth 4.0, 1MP camera, HDMI output.

SRP: £199.99

PRESTIGIO MULTIPAD VISCONTE 3

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The Toughpad 4K is the world’s first 20-inch tablet with an image quality four times better than Full HD. The device is designed to withstand business environments thanks to its magnesium alloy frame and glass fibre casing.

Specs: Windows 8.1 Pro, Bluetooth 4.0, 5MP rear camera, 16GB RAM, Nvidia Quadro K100M graphics.

SRP: £4,745

PANASONIC TOUGHPAD 4K UT-MA6

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This Windows 8.1 device comes equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, providing shock and scratch resistance. It features a 4th generation Intel Core processor and built-in graphics.

Specs: 4GB RAM, 60GB SSD, 11.6-inch LED screen, Bluetooth 4.0, Windows 8.1.

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A detachable keyboard is available with the Asus T100, while users can make use of the 10 hours of battery life available. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote all come pre-installed with the tablet, which has a 10.1-inch display.

Specs: Intel Bay Trail Quad-Core processor, Intel HD graphics, 1.2MP camera, 11 hours battery life.

SRP: £349.99

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SECTOR GUIDE


This tablet from I-onik features a 1280x800 IPS screen display with LED backlighting. 1GB of memory is available with the tablet along with 16GB of internal storage, while 32GB of external memory is available via a microSD/SDHC. Users can also capture images with the rear-facing 5MP and the front-facing 2MP camera. The device is available in both 8-inch and 10-inch screen sizes.

Specs: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 3800mAh battery, Windows 8.1, 16GB internal storage, micros 2.0 USB port.

SRP: £99.99

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A smart magnetic slot comes with the Logitech keyboard cover, allowing users to tilt their iPad Air 2 into an adjustable typing angle. It has iOS shortcuts and well-spaced keys, plus a magnetic clip attaches the keyboard cover to an iPad, protecting the screen. The Lithium battery included also lasts for up to two years, plus the Ultrathin wakes up the iPad when the cover is opened.

Specs: Lithium battery. iOS shortcuts, magnetic clip, auto wake and auto sleep.

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LOGITECH ULTRATHIN KEYBOARD COVER

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The Slim helps to protect the iPad Air 2 from drops of up to two metres, using a shatter resistant polycarbonate shell ringed with a silicone bumper. The bumper helps to absorb shocks whilst the screen shield protects the display when in use. A built-in kickstand is also included.

Specs: Flexible button covers, built-in kickstand, protects against wind, rain and dirt.

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GRIFFIN SURVIVOR SLIM AIR 2

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This tempered glass screen protector is available for both the iPad Air and Mini, which is three times harder than PET film. The glass screen has been designed to withstand bumps, drops and scratches. An oleophobic coating is also included that reduces fingerprints and dirt, making the screen easier to clean.

Specs: Oleophobic coating, three times harder than other screens, available for iPad Air and Mini.

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TACTUS VITRIFENDER SCREEN PROTECTOR

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Using Bluetooth wireless technology, users can connect this keyboard to their tablet with a connection of up to 10 metres. The keyboard features extra application keys for Apple devices. 78 keys are included and it is powered by two AAA batteries.

Specs: Battery powered, Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, full-size QWERTY keyboard, dedicated keys.


KBD-BT-S BLUETOOTH MINI KEYBOARD

Distributor: Dynamode

This case has been designed for both seven and eight-inch sized tablets, which can also prop up devices thanks to its integrated stand. The stand can also be used as a protective cover to help keep the tablet safe from scratches. An elastic closing strap helps to keep the case in place, while the soft inner lining also protects devices.

Specs: Elastic closing strap, soft inner lining, viewing stand, protective case.

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Users can connect their Microsoft Surface Pro 2 and 3 to a projector or display with this StarTech adapter bundle. The kit contains a MiniDisplayPort VGA, a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI, as well as a USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet adapter. The mini DisplayPort adapters support PC resolutions up to 1920x1200 and HDTV resolutions up to 1080p.

Specs: StarTech adapters, projector and display connectivity, available for the Surface Pro 2 and 3.

SRP: £70.99

MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 2/3 ACCESSORY BUNDLE

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Over 2.3 million pixels are packed into the seven-inch display for the Nexus 7, with an ultra-high 323ppi. The tablet comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB RAM, while videos and images can be captured with the 1.2MP front-facing camera and 5MP rear-facing camera.

Specs: Optional 4G LTE, 280g. 2.3 million pixels, 7-inch display, Fraunhofer Cingo mobile audio technology.

SRP: £199.99

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SECTOR GUIDE

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The BlackBelt case has been designed to meet military-grade MIL-STF-810G testing, while the rubberised material makes it easy to grip, while functions such as ports, cameras and controls are unobstructed.

Specs: Clear back cover, rubberised protective layer, unobstructed port openings, raised bezel.

SRP: £24.99

KENSINGTON BLACKBELT IPAD AIR RUGGED CASE


An Intel Core i5 -4310U vPro Processor comes with this fully rugged tablet from Panasonic. It has been designed to withstand drops, spills and hard knocks, and has a water and dust resistant rating of IP65.

Specs: 180cm drop resistant, Windows 8.1, Intel HD 4400 graphics, 1.1kg, 10-finger multi-touch display.

SRP: £1,749

PANASONIC TOUGHPAD FZ-G1


1GB of RAM is available with this seven-inch tablet from Linx, along with 16GB of internal storage. A 2MP front-facing camera and 2MP rear-facing camera are included as well as an Intel Atom Quad-Core processor.

Specs: HDMI output, Wi-Fi connectivity, Windows 8.1, 1GB RAM, 32GB internal storage upgrade available.

SRP: £89.99

LINX 7 TABLET


This case can protect both the iPad Air and Mini from drops and bumps. The reinforced corners help to shield devices, while the 360-degree rotating arm provides six different viewing and typing angles.

Specs: 360-degree rotating arm, six different viewing angles, reinforced corners, detachable silicon cover.

SRP: £29.99

REVOTUFF IPAD CASE

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Users can view content across the Multipad’s 8-inch IPS display with 1280x800 pixels. The Qualcomm Snapdragon processors help to provide faster speeds, while the Qualcomm Adreno 306 provides clearer videos.

Specs: 3700mAh Lithium Polymer battery, Android 4.4 KitKat, microUSB 2.0, soft textured back.

SRP: £154.99

MULTIPAD CONSUL 7008 4G


These Disney-themed tablets for kids feature a 4.3-inch touchscreen display and run on Android 4.4. 4GB of memory and built-in Wi-Fi is also available, while users can customise images with the photo-editing tool.

Specs: 4.4-inch touchscreen, Android 4.4 OS, 4GB memory, Lexibook Protect, photo-editing software.

SRP: £56

LEXIBOOK DISNEY CARS AND PRINCESS TABLET


Designed to carry any 10-inch tablet, the Link shoulder bag also has room for additional items thanks to its variety of pockets. It comes equipped with a magnetic closure drop pocket for easy access to other items.

Specs: Range of colours, carry 10-inch tablets, additional internal pockets, adjustable strap.

SRP: £39.95

LINK SHOULDER BAGS FROM STM BAGS

Distributor: Computers Unlimited

This patented waterproof case is designed to protect tablets from water, sand and dirt. It features a transparent front, allowing users to continue touchscreen use, as well as a large back window for taking pictures.

Specs: Adjustable strap, available in seven and 10-inch sizes, comes with waterproof earphones.

SRP: From £13

PROPER WATERPROOF TABLET CASES


©Northamber 2015 E and O.E. Prices appear as trade and exclude VAT & delivery. Prices stated as at 17th March ‘15.






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SECTOR GUIDE

Analyst Context revealed that laptop sales were up by 20.3 per cent year-on-year in Q3 2014, thanks to increased consumer demand. Here Phil Tottman rounds up a selection of new notebooks and other peripherals…

Laptops and accessories

Both the 11 and 13 from HP feature an Intel Celeron Processor N2840 with either an 11.6-inch or 13.3-inch screen size. Each laptop comes with a one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 and runs on Windows 8.1.

Specs: Built-in microphone, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity, 2GB RAM, Windows 8.1.

SRP: From £179.99

HP STREAM 11/13 LAPTOP


The Acer Chromebook comes with an Nvidia Tegra K1, and features up to 14 hours of battery life. It has been designed to be lightweight and quick to boot for on-the-go users, and comes with 2GB RAM.

Specs: Nvidia Tegra K1, 2GB RAM, 16GB SSD, Chrome OS.


ACER CHROMEBOOK CB5-311


The Wenger backpack, designed for a 15-inch Macbook Pro, has an anti-scratch lining and a CaseBase stabilising platform that keeps the bag upright. The bag boasts a dedicated padded iPad pocket and a grab handle.

Specs: 1.5kgs, shock absorbing shoulder straps, Quik Pocket for easy access.

SRP: £34.73

WENGER MACBOOK BACKPACK

Distributor: CMS Distribution

The XPS from Dell features the world’s first infinity 13-inch display into the size of an 11-inch laptop. The thin bezel helps to free up screen space while the borderless design measures 5.2mm.

Specs: Intel Rapid Start technology, 1.18kg, UltraSharp QHD+ 3200x1800 resolution, 15 hours battery life.

SRP: From £1,049

DELL XPS 13

Contact: Dell

This MacBook Air connectivity kit is an add-on accessory bundle that extends the capability of a port-limited MacBook. The kit contains three StarTech adapters to connect it to an external HDMI or VGA display.

Specs: Supports PC resolutions up to 1920x1200, USB 3.0, Gigabit NIC,two year warranty.

SRP: £63.99

APPLE MACBOOK AIR ACCESSORY KIT


This ultrabook weighs 1.6kg and offers a 13.3-inch anti-glare touchscreen display. Optional embedded 3G/UMTS, WLAN and Bluetooth are available with this device, as well as up to 11 hours battery life.

Specs: Built-in HD webcam, LED backlight, 1366x768 pixel display, 11 hours battery life.

SRP: From £572

FUJITSU LIFEBOOK U574 ULTRABOOK

Distributors: Tech Data, Exertis, Ingram Micro

Powered by Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M, the Ghost comes with Microsoft Windows 8.1 with 8GB memory. It features a 1920x1080 resolution on a 15.6-inch screen size and runs on an Intel Core i7 processor.

Specs: Intel Core i7 processor, 7200 RPM, 1TB hard drive, 8GB memory.

SRP: £1,199.99

MSI GS60 2QD-298UK GHOST 15.6” GOLD


This semi-rugged Toughbook is aimed at all mobile users working with mission-critical applications. The CF-53 combines mobile business quality with state-of-the-art PC performance and communication features.

Specs: Intel Core i5 processor, Windows 8.1 Pro, robust magnesium alloy display case.

SRP: £1,303

PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK CF-53



SECTOR GUIDE


The ThinkPad X1 Carbon weighs less than 1.55kg, and is less than 21mm thin. The elegant notebook delivers no compromise performance with the power of the latest 3rd generation Intel Core processor.

Specs: Intel Core i5, Windows 7 Professional, 4GB RAM.

SRP: £999

LENOVO THINKPAD X1 CARBON


This StarTech Thunderbolt 2 Docking Station lets you connect up to 11 devices to your MacBook so users can create a convenient 4K Ultra HD workstation. It also features a 4K video output to a single HDMI or DP display.

Specs: 4K video output to single HDMI or DP display, SPDIF 5.1 digital optical audio output.

SRP: £308.99

THUNDERBOLT 2 DOCKING STATION


The TravelMate B Series boasts a large precision touchpad optimised for accuracy and sensitivity, giving users a touch-gesture experience that’s smooth like a touchscreen. An aluminium top cover with a hairline brush finish rounds out this laptop’s premium look.

Specs: Intel Pentium N3530, Windows 8.1, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD.


ACER TRAVELMATE B115 NOTEBOOK


Transfer content from a small screen to a large screen using a wireless transmitter and an additional antenna that increases range and stabilises the signal. The device supports all common transmission formats including Miracast, Allshare, Media LinkHD, AirSharing and SmartShare. It’s ideal for laptops.

Specs: 1080p HD resolution, works with Android 4.2.1, supports all formats.

SRP: £49.99

WIRELESS HDMI SCREENSHARE ADAPTOR

Distributor: Hama

The 11-inch MacBook Air lasts up to nine hours between charges and the 13-inch model lasts up to 12 hours. 4th Generation Intel Core processors with Intel HD Graphics 5000 are available with the MacBook, and all of that power is encased in a thin 1.7-cm design that weighs 1.08kg.

Specs: Intel Core processor, Intel HD Graphics 5000, 9x faster than a 5400-rpm notebook hard drive.

SRP: £849

APPLE MACBOOK AIR


The ‘thinnest and lightest’ GTX SLI gaming laptop comes with a pair of GTX 860m graphics chips and has been fine-tuned to run all titles at high resolution. It runs on Windows 8.1 Pro and comes equipped with a 4th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor.

Specs: Windows 8.1 Pro, 4th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB memory, up to 1TB HDD.

SRP: £1799.99

AORUS X7 V2-CF2 17.3” NOTEBOOK


This laptop bag offers full protection for seven-inch and 10-inch tablet PCs, and has additional pockets for smartphones, pens and business cards. It also features adjustable straps for carrying.

Specs: Waterproof nylon, compact design, 540x320x520mm.

SRP: £19.99

PRESTIGIO MESSENGER BAG


The portable USB 3.0 StoreJet uses an aluminium case to house a 2.5-inch SATA Hard Drive or Solid State Drive. With SuperSpeed USB 3.0 transfer speeds, the StoreJet 2.5 provides a data management system for uploading, downloading, storing, transferring and backing up vital data, including media-rich content like movies, photos, music, and games.

Specs: 13.9mm thick, USB powered, includes CyberLink Media Suite 10.

SRP: £19.99

TRANSCEND STOREJET 25S3 HARD DRIVE

Distributor: Entatech

SECTOR GUIDE

CONTACTCenterprise ...................01256 378000

CMS Distribution ........ 020 8960 6000

Dell ............................... 0844 444 3225

Entatech ...................... 0333 101 1000

Exertis (Home) ............ 01279 822 822

Exertis (IT) ....................01256 707070

Hama............................ 01256 374 700

Ingram Micro ............... 0871 973 3000

Lenovo ......................... 0203 014 0095

Northamber ................ 020 8292 7000

Tech Data .................... 01256 788 000

VIP Computers ............ 0871 622 7500

Westcoast .................... 0118 912 6000


4GB of DDR3L memory is available with this laptop, whilst users can view content on its 11.6-inch screen. It has also been designed to withstand bumps with its rubber bumper and has a battery life of up to six and a half hours.

Specs: 1.49kg, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, 11.6-inch screen, Intel Celeron N2920 processor.

SRP: From £385

LENOVO THINKPAD 11E LAPTOP


Compatible with CD-R/RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL and DVD-RAM media formats, the DVD writer also includes a free download of the CyberLink Media Suite 10 writing software. It is also USB powered.

Specs: Reads and writes Dual Layer discs, 13.9mm thick, USB powered.

SRP: £27.99

TRANSCEND 8X EXTRA PORTABLE DVD WRITER


This Asus notebook runs on Windows 8.1 and is powered by either Intel Core i7 or AMD processors for smooth performance, coupled with powerful graphics and an advanced onboard memory controller.

Specs: 8GB memory, 15.6-inch 16:9 HD display, 1TB HDD 5400 storage.

SRP: £349.99

ASUS X555LA NOTEBOOK


An Intel Core i3-4030U Processor comes with the Flex 2, along with 4GB of memory. It boasts a 14-inch screen with a 1366x768 resolution, which can be rotated for adjusted viewing angles.

Specs: 1MP camera, 4-cell Lithium-ion battery, one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, wireless 802.11 b/g/n.

SRP: From £399.99

LENOVO FLEX 2 LAPTOP

Contact: Lenovo

An Intel Core i5 4210U processor helps to provide faster performance speeds with this TravelMate from Acer. It comes with tailor-made management and security software for better control and features a 15.6-inch display.

Specs: 4GB RAM, 15.6-inch display, Intel Core processors, 500GB SSD, security software.

SRP: £355

ACER TRAVELMATE P256-M


Developed exclusively for use with the latest smartphones and tablets running the Android operating system (version 4.0 and higher), this flash drive helps users manage their data and increase productivity.

Specs: 8GB capacity, Plug and Play installation, stores 7,628 photos, 88 hours of video.

SRP: £14.99

TRANSCEND JETFLASH 380 FLASH DRIVE


This notebook bag from Asus fits any device up to 16-inch in screen size. The strap can also be adjusted and removed, while the rear strap allows the case to be secured to trolley handles.

Specs: 16-inch tablet size, adjustable and removable strap, additional rear strap.

SRP: £49.99

ASUS NEREUS NOTEBOOK BAG


With 4th generation dual-core and quad-core Intel processors, Thunderbolt 2, and a PCIe-based flash storage, the Pro helps to deliver faster speeds. The 15-inch model has over five million pixels and the 13-inch has over four million.

Specs: OS X Yosemite, Thunderbolt 2, Retina display, two USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI port.

SRP: £899

APPLE MACBOOK PRO


Find out more about our business on exertis.co.uk

At Exertis, we are the leading distributor of IT, Mobile, Consumer Electronics

and Home Entertainment products to UK retail, representing over 300 brands.

We are a one-stop sales, marketing and distribution service provider, supplying

product to over 11,000 customers in the Retail, Mobile, Business and Supplies

markets. Our state-of-the-art distribution centre, next day delivery and a host

of managed services, including creative design, product sourcing and launch

capabilities, retail services and end-user fulfilment perfectly position us as your

distributor of choice.

Congratulations to all the winners

from Exertis

IT North 01282 776776IT South 01256 707070

Home South 01279 822822

Proud sponsors & winners of the PCR Awards 2015.

Retail Only


THWARTING THE THIEVES:RTF Europe says securing live display models with mechanical grips (like this Vodafone store, pictured) is a more effective deterrent to tech thieves than traditional alarms

TIME TO RING THE ALARM?OVER THE last few years we’ve seen a number of “smash and grab” raids in a variety of stores.

During a six-month period in 2012, a gang of thieves went around London targeting electronics retailers and simply ripping fixtures apart to grab as many tech devices as they could, as quickly as possible.

Needless to say, adhesive units attached to alarmed systems were pretty ineffective. False alarms and instances where a customer has unwittingly set off an alarm means that staff can become quite desensitised to them. In situations where someone really is attempting to steal, alarms aren’t given the serious response they’re designed to attract.

The other issue with alarmed systems is that employers are reluctant to encourage staff to approach a thief – unless trained security is present or police respond in time these people will often get away.

With a mechanical-based unit that actually grips around the enclosure of a smartphone or tablet you have a more effective deterrent. Being in a situation where a thief has to forcibly try and remove something, thereby drawing attention, is something most criminals will look to avoid.

It’s false economy to look to make relatively small savings by not upgrading or purchasing the right security. Our own range of security starts from £12, and even our top-end equipment comes in an under three figures.

It’s also important to keep an eye on how thieves are operating and how security is advancing in order to combat new threats.

Liam CrossMD, RTF Europe

“It’s important to keep an eye on how thieves operate and how security is advancing.”

Mystery ShopperRetail Advisory BoardStore of the MonthCounter Insurgent

Phil Browes,HMV

Craig Hume,Utopia Computers

Phylip Morgan,Network Group

Jason Eccles,SimplyFixIT

James Gorbold,Scan Computers

Steve Ling,Overclockers UK

John Church, Shop Direct

Jonpaul Warren, Ebuyer.com

David Chorlton,Maplin

Will Fletcher,Toys “R” Us

William Jones,John Lewis

CK,YoYoTech

Vladimir Kuznetsov,DinoPC

Jat Mann,PC Pal

Steven Lightfoot,Pudsey Computers

Ben Miles,Chillblast

Juliet Ward,Argos

Mike Barron,Synaxon

Gavin Holder,GHI Computers

Iain Shaw,Brigantia

Chris Innes,Micro Plus

Duncan Rutherford,Dabs.com

RETAIL ADVISORY BOARD

PCR takes soundings from its Retail Advisory Board on the biggest issues in the industry. The current members are:

AT Computers

STORE OF THE MONTH

As an Apple reseller, what’s your relationship like with the tech giant?It used to be a lot more complex because we were previously a premium reseller, so there was a lot of limitations on what we could do and how we could do it.

Now we are just a reseller, we get a lot more leeway. So we can display, show things, look and talk how we want.

Our relationship with Apple is very good. We deal mainly on education with them. They’ve got a big education drive currently, so our other end of the company that deals with education has a better relationship with them than we do with the retail side of things.

How and when did the business begin? My store opened six years ago, but the company has been running for about 25 years originally.

It was originally based in Tewkesbury and AT

Computers was one of the first resellers, I believe.

What services do you offer in store? We sell Macs, iPads and accessories, and we do repairs. We also offer training, which I think is the biggest strength we have. We do a lot of one-to-one training with customers and teach the basics of how to navigate an iPad, for example how to email. On a Mac we teach things like word processing with the applications that you wouldn’t usually use, like Pages.

What specific products do you sell to your customers? We mainly sell Apple hardware, but we do a lot of third-party accessories, such as cases for iPhones and iPads, headphones, battery backups, cables and cases for Mac books – you name it, we pretty much do it. We sell a lot of DJ equipment as well; we’re moving into the audio sector.

There is a new YourTime service coming, can you tell me a little more about that?That’s our training website and it’s currently going through the final process of being changed. YourTime is our training service that we offer in all the stores.

What is competition like for you as an Apple reseller? There’s massive competition. In our local area there’s not a lot. We’ve got a PC World, but I wouldn’t really say they’re competition anymore as they don’t specialise in anything.

As for companies like ours there must be about seven or eight different ones just in the UK. Resellers and premium resellers are huge because Apple can’t get the amount of stores they’d like, so we get to fill in the blanks for them.

You had your own stand at BETT this year. Was that your first time exhibiting? No, we have been doing it for years. We are probably one of the biggest education resellers in the UK.

Do you work with many schools in your area? We do. Just in Worcester we deal with one school called RGS, and they have started doing a thing called ‘One-to-one with iPads’, which means that every student has an Apple iPad.

The schools come and buy them from us in our store and get a slight discount for buying from us.

That’s why we try and get out there and explain to them

that iPads are brilliant, not just for every day use but for learning as well. They’re a great learning aid.

Will you be stocking the Apple Watch when it launches this year? All going well, we will do, and I think it will be a massive product. It’s probably the first real smart watch that people are going to want, have a look at and use.

If they make it the right price it will be really popular.

Looking ahead, what plans do you have for the future of the business? Augmented reality is another sector we are looking at focusing on, and how we can start doing that with schools.

I think it’s a case of just keep doing what we’re doing and doing it well.

Education is our big one and as a business we are just making sure that we can keep the high standard that we currently have.

Year established: 2009

Number of outlets: Three

Number of staff: 18

Address: 57 Broad StreetWorcester WR1 3LY

Telephone: 01905 617832

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.atcomputers.co.uk

FACT FILE

“Our relationship is very good with Apple. Schools come and buy iPads from us and get a discount.”

Ryan Hanke, AT Computers

Apple reseller AT Computers sells DJ equipment and audio gear alongside the usual Macs, iPads and accessories. Retail operations manager Ryan Hanke tells Jade Burke more – and why the business may use augmented reality…


Are laptops back on top?

PCR RETAIL ADVISORY BOARD

”We are seeing explosive growth in our laptop business. Chillblast

specialises in high-end laptops for graphic design, gaming and for other “desktop replacement” tasks, although we have also had some great sales in business-use machines as well. A strong mobile processor offering from Intel is really helping sales, as well as the fact that now the ‘tablet boom’ has settled down a bit, many people are finding that there are still plenty of tasks for which a tablet cannot adequately replace a laptop.

“As with desktop sales we are seeing a reduction in demand for the entry level Windows laptop, as for the most basic of uses like social media, email and browsing, a vastly cheaper entry-level tablet or Chrome/Bing/Netbook does the job just fine. We are expecting strong sales to continue for our laptop arm throughout 2015.”

BEN MILES,Buyer, Chillblast

”From the data visible to us through our EGIS platform, we can see a fairly steady

trend on business notebook sales with a peak of £1.2 million in March 2014.

“We saw that notebooks are still outperforming tablets three to one. PC/notebook/tablet is an area that Synaxon is heavily focusing on, so we expect to see these figures rise steadily through 2015 and beyond.

“Data has been taken from our powerful EGIS reporting tool (showing around £300,000 in tablet sales in February, and around £900,000 in notebook sales).”

MIKE BARRON,UK Channel Director, Synaxon

”Our laptop sales are up significantly in terms of units and average sell

price. Despite the influx of budget devices using Windows with Bing, which are selling well, we have seen an increase in sales of laptops

around the £800 to £1,000 price point.

“We are also selling plenty of business laptops with Windows 7 Pro to domestic customers that just don’t want to go to Windows 8. Our retail and B2B sales of tablets are generally down and there is a definite shift away from interest in tablets and back to laptops.”

CHRIS INNES,MD, Micro Plus Computers

”Laptop sales are stronger than ever at Utopia. Consumers have plenty of tablets

and are only replacing them when they break – they are less interested in the small performance gains to be had with the latest models.

Laptops, on the other hand, offer a world of possibilities with technology and performance getting greatly improved all the time.

“We have clients who use their laptops for some pretty heavy duty work that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. I fully expect to see the laptop market continue to grow in 2015.”

CRAIG HUME,Director, Utopia Computers

”Our laptop sales increased by 36 per cent in 2014 over 2013. Our tablet sales were

down by 82 per cent. I expect the trend to continue as Windows 10 will drive sales of laptops.”

GAVIN HOLDER,Director, GHI Computers

Sales of business notebooks rose 23.8 per cent year-on-year in January 2015, according to Context, with budget and Bing models doing well. Channel sell-through is set to increase further over the next few months. But why are they selling well and what does this mean for tablet sales in the future? We ask the PCR Retail Advisory Board…

PCR asks its Retail Advisory Panel –formed of buyers and experts – about the biggest industry trends and issues each month. To join, email [email protected]

PCR RETAIL ADVISORY BOARD

“Our retail and B2B sales of tablets are down and there is a shift away from interest in tablets back to laptops.”

Chris Innes,Micro Plus Computers


MYSTERY SHOPPER

If you’re looking for a small independent electronics retailer then Ealing and its surrounding areas are a great starting point. This month our Mystery Shopper heads out to look for a notebook with a budget of £300…

MOBILE CONNECT

AT FIRST I wasn’t going to enter Mobile Connect, however I saw a few laptops in the window so went in to see what else was on offer.

I noticed a young girl arguing with the gentleman behind the counter. “I cannot give you a refund. It is not our fault you bought an iPhone case for your iPad,” he said.

Once she left, I asked the weary looking man if he had anything that fit into my price range. After a bit of incoherent mumbling he dipped into what looked like a bargain bucket at

Blockbusters and fished out an Asus N80V, covered in glittery stickers featuring the cast of Frozen. He said that he could have the device reconditioned, uploaded with Windows 7 and fully stocked with an anti-virus in less than a week for £140… but added that it didn’t come with a charger. Tempted as I was, I politely declined and asked about an HP laptop, and what looked like a MacBook Air in the window. Apparently these weren’t for sale, and he ‘doesn’t really deal in Apple products’.

CURRYS/PC WORLD

OF COURSE, I had to stop in on good old PC World. The first person I asked here said I’d be better off in the stationers across the street if I wanted a ‘note book’, as Currys/PC World was an electronics shop.

Thanking him for his solid advice, I moved towards another assistant. I informed her about my £300 budget, to which she responded that I was going to have trouble finding a decent one at that price. I asked which one she thought was the best anyway. She pointed to an HP Stream

11-inch notebook in pink. Despite the outlandish colour, it came with an Intel Celeron Processor N2840, 2GB of memory and 32GB hard drive, all for £179.99.

I also spotted a Toshiba Satellite at £299.99 with 4GB memory, a 500GB hard drive and up to six hours of battery life, as well as an HP 15.6-inch laptop for £279.

Although I wasn’t too confident in this store after speaking to the first assistant, it turns out there were actually a few ideal devices within my price range.

8/10

Ealing

5/10


“There was a mixture of first and second-hand laptops and desktops, and the guy behind the counter was very helpfully figuring out exactly what I wanted.”

MYSTERY SHOPPER

ALL IN ALL, Ealing is a good place to go for repairs, services, parts and advice with a number of smaller independent retailers dotted around the place.

However, I noticed that sadly there were many more stores that had shut down or were in the process of closing down, which is a shame because places such as PC World or Argos didn’t seem, to have the resources in-store that these places do, meaning a quick repair job can become a longer and more expensive process.

I also found it quite difficult to get any in-depth advice on devices from some of the bigger chains, whereas a few of the indies really made an effort to understand why I needed a laptop and took the time to find the most suitable products that they had on offer.

Those independent computer retailers also offered up more great deals than the larger retailers. For this reason, Computer Services’ £100 Dell bargain was such a good deal that it has to be the star store this month.

SUMMARY

ARGOS

I WAS prepared for Argos to have a number of devices to choose from, so I thought I’d break the golden rule and bypass the catalogue to ask one of the assistants for advice instead.

My plan was foiled; I was told to check the catalogue. I was impressed by the range of different devices, covering all prices and specs. There seemed to be even more here than in PC World, from HP, Acer and Lenovo to the Asus Transformer, MacBooks and a series of Chromebooks.

I refined my choice down to the Lenovo Flex 10 with an 11.6-inch screen, 2GB memory and 250GB hard drive for £199.99, and the Toshiba C50D, with a 15.6-inch display, 4GB memory and 500GB hard drive for £229.99. There was also an 11.6-inch Acer Aspire for £219.99.

I took my selection back to the cashier and asked what they would recommend. Eventually we agreed on the Toshiba, however, when I checked the availability they didn’t have any in stock.

COMPUTER HIGHWAY

MY NEXT stop took me to the outskirts of Ealing to a small independent retailer called Computer Highway. The inside looked like a clean dentist’s office with a few bits of gadgetry lying about.

There were two men sitting about, one on the phone, the other eating his lunch. I had a brief look around to see what choices they had, but I was not confident considering the distinct lack of laptops in the sparse room.

After a while I was sheepishly asked if I needed any help. I wasn’t entirely sure

if I had explained myself properly, as they both looked a bit confused, then one of them picked up a box off the floor. “We have this,” he said.

It was a second-hand Fujitsu Lifebook U554, with a Core i3 and 4GB of RAM – and they wanted £456 for it. I was then shown a desktop computer, a tablet and even a printer, but alas, none of those were notebooks priced £300 or under either.

Fearing I had wasted my time coming, I wandered down the road feeling a little defeated.

5/10

COMPUTER SERVICES

MY NEXT stop was more promising – it had plenty of computers inside.

There was a mixture of first and second-hand laptops and desktops available, and the guy behind the counter was very helpfully figuring out exactly what I wanted a notebook for so he could offer me the right product.

He recommended a Mac, but then I suppose he would as it was £500 over my budget, so I politely declined to even look. What he did have, however, was a 2014 Asus x501u, with Windows

8, 2GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive. It was powered by an AMD C60 processor with integrated graphics, all for £225.

The other option was a Dell Latitude laptop with a Dual Core 3.20GHZ processor, 2GB of memory, WiFi and Windows 7.

I personally prefer Windows 7 to the other option and do like Dell laptops, plus this one was priced at just £100, which I thought was an absolute bargain. So much so, I almost bought it.

ACT ON COMPUTERS

MY NEXT destination was in Acton to visit Act On Computers (see what they did there?)

This was jam-packed full of computer parts, laptops, monitors, speakers and other electrical bits and pieces. Two employees were sat in the middle of this computer builder’s wonderland, one of whom jumped up to come to my assistance. I told her what I was looking for and she was more than happy to go through all they had to offer.

First up was a Lenovo X200, with Intel Core 2 Duo P8600

2.4GHz and 4GB DDR3 RAM for £229. For £269 was the HP Pavillion Ultrabook 14-b005ea, with Intel Core i3-3271U 1.8GHz, 4GB DDR3 RAM and a 750GB hard drive.

Also for £269 was the Toshiba Satellite Pro C50D with 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 500GB hard drive on Windows 8.1. For £299 was the Dell Inspiron 3531 with an Intel Celeron Dual Core N2830, 4GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive plus Windows 8.1.

Overall there was a great mix of products.

9/10

STARSTORE

7/10

10/10


COUNTER INSURGENT

What products and services does your company offer? We are B2B and cover most areas including networking, spares, Adobe, consumables and all IT-related products, as well as office products.

What’s been your biggest growth area recently? Structured cabling, software and office products. We are currently looking at introducing managed services to our clients – this is something that Synaxon is assisting us with.

How important is social media to the business? It’s not a priority at the moment but it is something that we will be looking at in the near future. We have a very healthy referral system in place.

What are the biggest issues you face in today’s market? As we deal extensively in the export markets, currency fluctuations are one of the biggest issues.

What do you have planned for 2015? We already have a distribution network set up in West Africa, but we plan to extend into the surrounding regions.

What are the benefits of working with Synaxon? Getting good prices and getting general all round support. Their EGIS procurement platform serves us well and enables us to make good savings. We also benefit from their deals with companies like Parcelforce.

Link SalesSYNAXON MEMBER PROFILE

“As we deal extensively in the export markets, currency fluctuations are the biggest issues.”

Bhavesh Patel,Link Sales

Contact: [email protected]

LAST MONTH one of my customers came in crying that they have just been scammed for £300 by someone posing as “Microsoft Windows tech support”, and needed their laptop checked for malware.

Luckily he had called the police and the bank had given his money back. However, this experience has left him very nervous and distrusting of our industry. I reassured him that he didn’t need to worry and if this was to happen again, to ignore it and call the police. I reiterated that he could always come to us for help and assistance.

This scam has been around since 2008 and prays on vulnerable and novice users. This is just not on. Though Microsoft has made attempts to address this issue, the message is still not getting across to the wider public – and victims are still being scammed for hundreds of pounds.

Back in November, the Federal Trade Commission in the US cracked down on two massive scammers who had conned $120 million from their victims. But this again does not deter their determination; scammers are now becoming more creative, with some now

calling to provide full refunds for the ‘poor service’ they have provided. Again, they grab their victims’ card details to extort more money.

More needs to be done, as this is not just a Microsoft problem, but this scam has adapted other vendors’ names too. Both vendors and government need to come together and address this issue publicly, as customers and citizens need to be protected. Furthermore, it doesn’t help when it has been reported on the Malwarebytes blog that some of these scammers are official partners for big brand names.

This is an utter outrage and undermines the whole industry, especially for genuine tech support companies. I believe it’s now time for regulation or for an independent body that monitors IT/tech support companies. Otherwise, these scams will go on, catching our customers out.

PHONE SCAMS ARE DESTROYINGOUR INDUSTRY’S REPUTATIONTech phone scammers are getting more creative, and more regulation is needed, argues our anonymous PC retailer this month…


Got a gripe you’d like to share with the industry? Contact [email protected]

“Victims are still being scammed for hundreds of pounds. I believe it’s now time for regulation.”

This month we talk to Bhavesh Patel from Link Sales about how Synaxon is helping to grow its business, make savings and offer managed services…

RecommendedDedicated monthly product coverage

HP HAS unveiled the latest addition to its portfolio of laptops with the 13.3-inch Spectre x360 hybrid laptop.

It has been designed with an all CNC aluminium chassis, which is 15.9mm in height and weighs 1.49kg. Plus, users can switch between multiple modes, including notebook mode, stand mode, tent mode and tablet mode. It also boasts a 360-degree hinge.

To ensure the screen stays in place, the Spectre has new hinges that contain a set of three spiral gears for synchronised and precise movement. The laptop also includes a full-sized, 1.5mm travel keyboard, as well as an extra wide glass touchpad.

It features Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, an SSD with up to 512GB and a 56-watt hour battery. The touch panel on

the HP Spectre is optically bonded to the display, helping to increase the brightness across the screen, while the Panel Self Refresh (PSR) technology holds images on screen to allow portions of the PC to power down when nothing is moving on-screen.

To accommodate multiple devices, the Spectre has three USB 3.0 ports, a full size HDMI

and DisplayPort 1.2, as well as built-in Intel Wireless Display Technology.

Both the consumer and commercial versions of the laptop include a trusted platform module (TPM) chip, enhancing both its security and productivity.

Louis Perrin, director for consumer product in the printing and personal systems group at HP EMEA,

said: “Customers are looking for beautiful devices that deliver quality, versatility and portability.

Perrin added: “The HP Spectre x360 is transformational as it has the productivity of a high end notebook, a tablet mode for on the go, tent mode for play and a stand mode for watching entertainment in a stunning ultra-thin device.”

HP offers 360 view in Spectre gadget

Contact: HP | 0845 270 4567 | Price: £849

The Spectre x360 features a 13.3-inch screen

The hinges feature spiral gears for precise movement

Three USB 3.0 ports come with the Spectre, plus a full Size HDMI port


The latest tech Editorial Planner

It can be changed between stand mode, tent mode, tablet mode and notebook mode

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIESemail [email protected] or [email protected]

or phone 01992 535647

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Contact: Acer | 0371 760 1005 | Prices: Liquid M220 – £69, Liquid Z220 – £59, Liquid Jade Z – £149, Liquid Z520 – £89, Liquid Leap+ (£79)

ACER unveiled a host of new products at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2015, including the Liquid M220 smartphone, its first ever smartphone to run on the Windows 8.1 operating system. It features a four-inch 233 pixels per inch (PPI) display and has a front-facing 5MP auto-focus camera and a 2MP front camera.

Although the device will be available on the Windows 8.1 OS, it will have a future upgrade to Windows 10.

Acer has also bolstered its smartphone Z-series with the Z220 and Z520. The Z220 features a Qualcomm Dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 200 processor, 5MP camera and 8GB of storage.

The Z520 will also feature 8GB of storage and an 8MP auto-focus rear-facing camera with an LED flash.

Another new smartphone from Acer includes the Liquid Jade Z, which features a five-inch IPS and Zero Air Gap display. It packs a Mediatek 64-bit quad-core processor and a 13MP rear camera.

The company has also revised its wearable tech

device with the new Liquid Leap+ fitness smartband. It tracks the wearer’s steps, running distance, calories burnt and features a waterproof rating of IPX7.Users can also receive incoming notifications.

Acer aces new range

“GETTING stuff done while you’re on the go has never been easier.” That’s the premise for Microsoft’s new Universal Mobile Keyboard.

The device was unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) this year, which can be attached to either a tablet or smartphone. Users can pair up to three devices simultaneously, including an iPhone, iPad, Android devices and Windows tablets.

Bluetooth connectivity syncs the keyboard with other devices. Plus, the peripheral features a protective cover and a built-in stand that can hold a tablet or smartphone.

The rechargeable battery provides up to six months of usage on a single charge, and a short 10-minute charge can provide enough juice for a full day’s work.

Microsoft also announced two lower-priced Lumia

smartphones – the 640 and 640 XL. The 640 XL sports a 13MP rear-facing camera and a 5MP front-facing camera, along with a 5.7-inch display and 8GB of memory.

The 640 features an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 0.9MP front-facing camera, a Quad-core 1.2GHz processor, a smaller five-inch display and 8GB of memory.

The 640 also comes equipped with a 2500mAh battery, 1GB RAM and a weight of 145g, while the 640 XL comes with a 3000mAh battery, 1GB of RAM, weighing in at 171g.

The tech company also revealed details of its AT&T Mobile Office Suite for the US at MWC. It is a cloud based mobile collaboration solution for SMB customers, which will give them access to instant messaging, email, calendars, file sharing and more.

Universal usage with Microsoft’s keyboard

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“The Liquid M220 is Acer’s first ever smartphone to run on the Windows 8.1 OS.”

“The rechargeable battery provides up to six months of usage on a single charge.”

The keyboard can be paired with devices using Bluetooth

The Windows-powered M220 (left) and the Liquid Leap (right)


Contact: Fujitsu | Entatech 0333 101 1000), Exertis Home (01279 822 822), Exertis IT (01256 707070), Ingram Micro (0871 973 3000),Tech Data (01256 788 000) | Price: £799 excluding VAT

AT MOBILE World Congress (MWC) 2015, Fujitsu unveiled its fully ruggedised industrial business tablet, the Stylistic V535. With industrial grade protection, the tablet is both water and dust resistant, and can withstand knocks and drops of up to 1.8 metres.

It runs on the Windows 8.1 operating system and incorporates an Intel Atom Z3795 Quad-Core processor for faster performance and download speeds. NFC technology is included with the device, which helps to

provide users within a warehouse or logistics environment to track inventory, without the need to scan bar codes.

Contactless authentication also helps to make it easier to log on while wearing gloves. Plus, the Stylistic V535 has been built to operate between a wide range of temperatures from -10 degrees to 50 degrees.

Jörg Hartmann, vice president of global client computing devices at Fujitsu, said: “The Stylistic V535 is a breakthrough device, as it means that a standardised tablet – even running Windows 8.1 natively – is for the first time available for industrial environments where consumer-grade devices are prone to rapid failure.”

Users can view content across the 8.3-inch WUXGA display with a screen resolution of 1920x1200 pixels, combined with an IPS display with toughened glass.

4GB memory and a capacity of up to 128GB eMMC storage is available with Fujitu’s ruggedised tablet, along with various connectivity options, including Bluetooth.

Hartmann added: “With a fully ruggedised tablet, Fujitsu is enabling the use of IT in environments that have previously been out of bounds for devices.”

Fujitsu drops new rugged tablet

SAMSUNG HAS announced the launch of the ATIV One 7 Curved, the industry’s first curved all-in-one PC.

It features a 27-inch Full HD curved display with a 400R curvature, while the wide 178-degree viewing angles make it easy for viewers to see the screen from any position.

The all-in-one also comes with two dynamic 10W stereo speakers, a Dolby surround sound experience and lossless audio transmission through APT-X technology.

An Intel Core i5 Processor and 8GB of memory comes embedded within the PC, while Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity allows users to connect and play music from their smartphone through the

speakers, even if the PC is off. Intel HD Graphics 5500 also comes with the ATIV One, for smoother gaming and video content.

A 1080p Full HD web camera is included for video conferences, plus the HDMI ports allow users to connect up to game consoles and other devices. There are also two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports included.

The ATIV boasts Samsung’s SideSync 3.0 software, which allows users to receive phone calls and text messages forwarded from their Samsung mobile to their PC.

Users can even control their smartphone from the ATIV One 7 Curved’s PC screen, mouse and keyboard using

the computer’s SideSync sharing mode.

Gary Riding, senior VP of mobile computing marketing at Samsung Electronics America, said: “With the ATIV

One 7 Curved, Samsung has created a PC that exceeds consumers’ needs, while offering a stunning design that stands out in any home or small office.”

At Mobile World Congress (MWC) the company also showcased the latest edition to its Galaxy range with the addition of the curvedS6 smartphone.

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Contact: Samsung | 0330 726 7864 | Price: £1,599

“The V535 is a breakthrough device.”

Jörg Hartmann, Fujitsu

The tablet features an 8.3-inch display

The ATIV all-in-one PC features Intel HD Graphics 5500

Samsung gets curvy


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Contact: Sony | 0370 5237237 | Price: From £499

Contact: Entatech (0333 101 1000), Spire Technology (01202 828 444), Exertis Home (01279 822 822), Exertis IT (01256 707070), Tech Data (01256 788 000) | Price: TBA

THE Z4 from Sony has been designed with the Z2 tablet in mind, but with a brighter and clearer display than its predecessor.

The Z4 features a 40 per cent brighter display than the Xperia Z2, with a clear 10.1-inch 2K screen. It comes with a long battery life, with up to 17 hours of video playback available, plus a set of front stereo speakers for clearer sound.

When users are on the go, they can plug in their headphones and the Xperia can sense the type and style of headset, automatically adjusting the settings accordingly for optimum sound.

DSEE HX technology processing upscales the audio fidelity of tracks to near High-Res Audio quality, providing users with ‘studio quality’ sound. The Z4 also supports digital noise cancelling to help block out any external noise, while Sony’s new LDAC codec transmits data for wireless music listening.

Dennis van Schie, SVP of sales and marketing at Sony Mobile, said: “Building on the success of its predecessor, we wanted to take all of the qualities that consumers loved most in the Xperia Z2 Tablet and enhance them for the Z4 Tablet.”

An 8MP rear-facing camera comes with the Z4, as well as a 5.1MP front-facing camera. Users can also connect their PS4 to the tablet via Wi-Fi and use the Dualshock 4 Wireless Controller to play games.

Other specs include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core 64-bit processor, 32GB of internal memory and a 6,000mAh battery. The

device also has an IP68 waterproof and dust-tight rating and weighs less than 393g.

Schie added: “Sleek and lightweight, yet incredibly powerful, with standout entertainment and smart productivity features, the Xperia Z4 Tablet is an extraordinary tablet that fits perfectly into your day-to-day life.”

NETWORKING vendor TP-LINK has announced the Touch P5 router, the first in a line of routers from the company to sport touch screen technology.

The Touch P5 has a 4.3-inch touch screen for more control, in addition to browser administration.

The screen boasts unbreakable toughened glass for added durability, and is powered by its own independent STMicroelectronics Chipset as well.

Andy Chen, director of International Business at TP-LINK, said: “The Touch Screen provides an advanced level of user interaction for wireless routers, allowing users to see what’s happening on their network directly.“

TP-LINK says that users who are less familiar with mobile device user interfaces will be able to pick up the interface quickly, thanks to its user-friendly layout and design.

Chen added: “The UI was designed to be usable by anyone, we wanted to make it fully featured without being needlessly technical.”

The router features simultaneous broadband speeds of up to 600Mbps over 2.4 GHz and 1300Mbps over 5GHz, with flexible wall mounting for

different placements. It comes equipped

with a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 port for faster file and printer sharing, and three Dual Band antennas for improved coverage and signal strength. The antennas’ bandwidth can cover 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac frequencies, plus Gigabit WAN and LAN ports.

Other features include guest network access, WPS wireless security encryption and beamforming technology. Users can also take advantage of the multiple modes, including wireless router, access point and repeater.

Link up with the Touch P5

“We wanted to take all of the qualities of the Xperia Z2 Tablet and enhance them for the Z4.”

Dennis van Schie, Sony

“The touch screen provides an advanced level of user interaction for wireless routers.”

Andy Chen,TP-LINK

The screen features toughened glass for durability

XperienceSony’s new Xperia tablet

Editorial Planner A look at the biggest features coming up in PCR

July 2015 DESKTOP SPECIAL PCR finds out whether the desktop is becoming more popular with consumers against the likes of tablets and notebooks. We also focus on repairs, system building and distributor services.

Sector Guides: Desktops and all-in-ones, PC accessories, components.

RECOMMENDED

Advertising Deadline June 11th


MAY 2015 BOOT CAMP SPECIAL We preview the next PCR Boot Camp, where those attending will be able to take a look around the exhibition, sit in on the conference sessions and network with other members of the industry.

Sector Guides: Speakers, docks and headphones, music software, memory.

Advertising Deadline April 13th

JUNE 2015 BUSINESS SPECIAL PCR underlines some of the best ways retailers and resellers can sell to SMBs and the public sector. We also take a look back at PCR Boot Camp with some of the highlights.

Sector Guides: Printers and accessories, scanners and photocopiers, business software.

Advertising Deadline May 11th

PRESTIGIO has announced two new smartphones, including the Grace X5 and Grace X3, featuring high quality cameras.

Running on Android 4.4 KitKat, the X5 can provide consumers with a range of mobile features. For

example, the X5 is packaged with a slim frame and is 8mm thick and weighs 137g.

The phone comes with a 4.7-inch IPS display, plus a 13MP rear-facing camera with a 2.0 big aperture lens.

It also features a 5MP front-facing camera, a built-in 1.3 GHz Quad Core CPU, 1GB RAM and 8GB eMMC.

Similarly, the X3 runs on Android 4.4 KitKat, has a built-in in 1.3 GHz Quad Core CPU, but has an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 5MP

front-facing camera. The X3 is also 8mm thick but weighs 118g. Users can also take advantage of both phones’ camera functionalities, including panorama shot and face detection.

Prestigio’s picture perfect phones

Contact: Asbis UK | 0208 538 1336 | Price: Grace X5 – £110, Grace X3 – £90

“Users can also take advantage of both phones’ camera functionalities, including panorama shot and face detection.”

With reference to the article published in the March 2015 issue of PCR, ‘The Cherry on top for ZF Electronics’.

Having spoken to Mr Groom, ZF UK’s managing director, it appears that there were some issues with the content of the article; some of the recorded comments were taken out of context and, as per Mr Groom’s request during the interview, the mentioning of the Cherry brand in association with ZF was not permitted and there should not have been publication of any specifi c company names in conjunction with ZF’s business and brand.

PCR can assure readers that there was no intention to cause offence within the article; any issues were merely unfortunate.

OUT OF OFFICE

THE UK TECH industry let its hair down at this year’s PCR Awards, where businesses were acknowledged for their outstanding achievements. After the lavish Smithie UK red carpet,

attendees enjoyed a drinks reception hosted by VIP Computers, before taking their seats to enjoy dinner and the awards show, hosted by comedian Ian Moore.

The aftershow party – sponsored by Exertis – was just as big a hit as the awards. Attendees also got the chance to capture some shots (not just the alcohol variety) during the evening in

the Acer Photo Booth, complete with crazy hats and masquerade masks (see page 76). Overall, the PC and tech industry proved it still knows how to party…

BACKSTAGE AT THE PCR AWARDS


OUT OF OFFICE

140 CHARACTERS OF NEWS AND VIEWSWhat the industry’s been tweeting about this month…

Stone Group @StoneComputersLast night we picked up the Reseller award at the 2015 @pcr_online Awards: http://bit.ly/1BC0crA #PCRAwards

Steven Parker, Entatech@steve_entatechBig thanks to Team PCR for a great Awards evening from all the team at Entatech :) @pcr_online @Entatech

Overclockers UK@OverclockersUK We’re happy to announce we won the @pcr_online System Builder award! #PCRAwards #pcgaming #success

Carl West, GfK@Carl_GB Congratulations to all the winners at the @pcr_online #pcrawards winners. @jono_boy wishing you well for the future

Exertis IT@ExertisIT Delighted to have won Peripherals Distributor & Consumer Electronics Distributor at the #PCRAwards last night @pcr_online

Phylip Morgan, Network Group@phylipmDistributor of the year 2015 @entatech. Well done @Jono_Boy!!!! #PCRawards

Panda Security UK @PandaSecurityUK Congratulations to Online Retailer @Ebuyer winning at #PCRAwards

Craig Hume, Utopia Computers@CraigHume_ Thanks to everyone who voted for @TheRealUtopia in the @pcr_online awards. A very proud moment indeed!

Westcoast@Westcoast_UK We are extremely delighted to have won the Distribution - Service and Support award at the #PCRawards last night! @pcr_online

Centerprise@CenterpriseInt Thanks @pcr_online for a fantastic evening of celebrating and networking, well done to all the worthy winners! #awards #greatnight


OUT OF OFFICE

SOME OF the UK’s top tech execs took to the Acer Photo Booth at the PCR Awards this year, bravely adorning themselves in all kinds of masks and props…

ACER PHOTO BOOTH


For more information contact Jennie Lane, [email protected] or Sarah Goldhawk, [email protected] or call 01992 535647

CELEBRATING NEW TALENT

The PCR Rising Stars event will be gathering together some of the top young talent in the UK tech channel in one room,

celebrating trailblazers from all aspects of the trade with an exclusive networking event and award ceremony

Thursday 18th June 2015 | Sway Bar | London | WC2B 5BZ

THE LAST WORD

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Soon we will be using voice controls instead of keyboards, and the power adapter will become a thing of the past, says Stuart Dommett, business IT evangelist from PCR Grand Prix award winner Intel…

THE WORKPLACE of the future will not just change how employees use technology, but also how they work and interact with each other, aiming to make their lives both inside and outside the office much more fulfilling.

Generally speaking, the modern office is designed around how business departments operate rather than individuals. The issue here is that as individuals we all work differently, and restricting employees to blanket departmental process and culture can be detrimental to their productivity and creativity.

New technologies will enable us to create an office environment with no wires. The next-gen business processors also support Intel WiGig, which enables systems to automatically dock to monitors, keyboards, mice and USB accessories, removing the need to waste resources on traditional mechanical docks and the maze of wires employees currently have on and underneath their desks.

In the very near future, we will see wireless charging enter the workplace, so even carrying a power adapter will become a thing of the past.

So why are these technologies capable of transforming the workplace? The wireless workplace is not

just about reducing cables and increasing system speeds. New technologies are leading us into an era of natural computing, where we are using voice control to input commands rather than keyboards and mouse clicking.

Gone are the days when leaving your desk involves removing your laptop from its dock, grabbing a charger, carrying it to your meeting, plugging it back in, typing your password in and waiting for it to reboot. Leaving your desk should not be a chore and the transformed workplace will ensure this is not the case.

This ongoing transformation of the workplace will continue over the coming years as technology advancements continue as well as changes in the workforce; with a workforce that has not only grown up with the latest in consumer technology but is actually shaping the use of that technology in the workplace. Business organisation with IT at the forefront, but also HR, finance and especially facilities need to work together. They will be key in developing this modern workplace to make best use of technology, manage cultural change within the workforce and enable an environment that is not just in line with company goals, but also company culture.

The workplace of the future

“New technologies are leading us into an era of natural computing. ”

Stuart Dommett, Intel

©Northamber 2015 E and O.E. Prices appear as trade and exclude VAT & delivery. 12th March ‘15.






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Digital CourtsAre The Future

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A new opportunity from Northamber & Fujitsu

The government is to invest £160 million in new “digital courtrooms” to replace the “mountains of paper” used by the

court system every year, the Justice Minister announced in an action plan designed to radically reform the legal system.

Talk to the scanning & document management experts today on 020 8287 3000

“It is time we move the court system into the 21st century”, the Justice Minister, Damian Green, said. “This investment will help us get rid of our outdated paper-based system, and turn our criminal justice system into a digital and modern public service”.

“Digitalisation and simplifi cation of criminal justice systems will ensure that scarce police resources can be used more eff ectively for the benefi t of victims and communities”, said the National policing lead on criminal justice, Chief Constable Chris Eyre.

In addition, the revised Legal Aid Agency contract, due in April 2015, will make digital working a requirement for defence. Other future programme initiatives aim to achieve:

forces; routine access by CPS staff to police repositories for multimedia and other digital non-structured material including text documents, photos, moving images and audio;

(e.g. Police, HM Courts and Tribunal Service, Legal profession, other government departments);

digital presentational tools for trial work and complex casework.

Northamber have a range of Fujitsu scanners that off er legal professionals a choice for digitising case paperwork. There are both desktop and portable devices with integrated wireless scanning and options to scan to Android and Apple IOS for greater fl exibilty during these criminal justice changes.

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Documents

PCR Magazine April 2015