Zeos Pantera: A sample of how they should make, sell PCs<\/p>\n
By Zatni Arbi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As one of the most progressive industries in the
\nworld, the computer industry gives birth to new products almost
\ndaily. Some incorporate breakthroughs that bring computer
\ntechnology to new heights, some are simply `junk.'<\/p>\n
Some products remain the leader of the pack for extended
\nperiods of time, some disappear soon after the hoopla when early
\nadopters start finding their real worth. In this country, you can
\nadd to all these the fake and counterfeit products, and you have
\nthe complete picture of the confusion in the PC market.<\/p>\n
When we buy a new car, a new stereo set, new jeans, or any
\nother new thing for that matter, we always want to make sure that
\nwe're setting our minds on the best product available.<\/p>\n
Computer users are like that, too. When they are checking the
\nmarket for a new PC system or a new peripheral, they want to make
\nsure that they're getting the best that is available.<\/p>\n
Luckily there are many computer magazines around that provide
\ninformation on the best computer products.<\/p>\n
Of course, we always have to take their words with a grain of
\nsalt. However, comparing the reports from as many sources as
\npossible will definitely give us a more objective view on which
\nproducts are the cream of the crop.<\/p>\n
Today, we'll have a look at a PC that has received awards from
\nvarious PC magazines, including PC\/Computing, PC Magazine,
\nWindows Sources and PC World.<\/p>\n
The first three belong to Ziff Communications Company group,
\nand the last one doesn't. The fact that all of them share the
\nsame opinion, however, could be taken as an indication of
\nobjectivity in their evaluation.<\/p>\n
Pantera PCs<\/p>\n
As Pentium-class computers are becoming the soup du jour,
\nbuyers are always trying to find the best off-the-shelf Pentium
\nsystem. Here's one of the best available in the U.S. (not yet in
\nIndonesia): Zeos Pantera Pentium PC.<\/p>\n
Editors and testers liked the system not because it was the
\nfastest in its class, but rather because it included many useful
\nfeatures for a very reasonable price.<\/p>\n
Let's take a look at what it has in store.<\/p>\n
First, the custom-made motherboard has six, instead of four,
\nslots for memory modules. If you use the 32 MB SIMMs, you can
\nload the PC with 192 MB of RAM.<\/p>\n
That certainly gives this PC the ability to function as a
\ndepartmental server with no problem at all. Of course, for a
\nworkstation, 192 MB of RAM may well be an overkill.<\/p>\n
Still, if you use the more commonly available 4 MB SIMMs,
\nyou'll have 24 MB of RAM, more than enough to run even the memory
\nhungry Windows NT.<\/p>\n
Pentium processors and PCI local bus are like sate ayam and
\nlontong, they're made for each other. Therefore, it's no surprise
\nthat Pantera comes with PCI local bus.<\/p>\n
However, in addition to PCI, Pantera also comes with PCI local
\nbus graphics card, two high speed serial ports and one enhanced
\nparallel port on the motherboard, on-board Fast SCSI-2 support,
\n12-bit ADPCM business audio subsystem, local-bus IDE hard drive
\ncontroller with 32 KB to 256 KB cache, and a good 14-inch
\nSuperVGA monitor.<\/p>\n
Pantera comes with DOS 6.2 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 al
\nready installed. In addition, a Pantera buyer is also eligible
\nfor a bonus of one of the leading Lotus Development's products.<\/p>\n
Windows for Workgroups has proved to be the right choice for
\nthis system. WFWG's wider disk and file accesses improve the
\nperformance of this PC and place it on a par with more expensive
\nsystems. Now, the big question is, how much does this all cost?<\/p>\n
Comparison<\/p>\n
What most of us consider the entry-level Pantera, with Intel
\n486DX-33 processor and 8 MB of RAM, a 426 MB hard drive, and a
\ndouble-speed Mitsumi CD-ROM comes with the price tag of US$1,795.<\/p>\n
If you compare this to local price of branded PCs, you'll
\nunderstand why Pantera gets the Best Buy award.<\/p>\n
For top-of-the-line Pantera, with Intel Pentium-90 processor,
\na 1 GB hard drive and 24 MB of RAM, a double speed CD-ROM, you'll
\nhave to sacrifice US$3,895 out of your bank account.<\/p>\n
Still, I doubt whether you could get a comparable price here
\nin Glodok, Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Zeos International is one of the leading PC manufacturers in
\nthe U.S. One of its strong points lies in its reliable and quick
\nservice. In January 1992 I ordered a notebook for a friend from
\nthis company, and the notebook is still in good shape today
\n(except for its two dead battery packs).<\/p>\n
All the ordering procedure was carried out by phone.<\/p>\n
My question is, why do we still see such high price tags for
\nbranded PCs in Jakarta, despite the fact that most manufacturers
\nhave lowered their prices?<\/p>\n
Secondly, why is it still impossible to buy a high-quality PC
\nsystem over the phone in this country? What is it that makes the
\nIndonesian market so much different from the U.S.?<\/p>",
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