New Strategies From Compaq and Gateway

Using the Internet to sell more computers. I'm Fred Fishkin with Bootcamp, a report on computers and technology. Some big computer companies are taking new approaches to try to increase sales. Compaq is introducing what it calls Presario Internet PCs. Compaq VP Rod Schrock...

"We are designing and placing the Internet front and center in the overall experience of the home computer, which is exactly where consumers want it to be. Examples being, we are announcing that we will offer jointly branded online services with the two leading Internet brands..and those two Internet brands being America Online with AOL service will now be jointly branded Compaq AOL. The second leading brand will be Yahoo where Compaq will offer Compaq presents My Yahoo online service."

Compaq is also partnering with GTE for Internet access and is redesigning keyboards to make getting on the net as simple as pushing one button. Pricing on the new Presarios will start at under a thousand dollars for a 300 Megahertz model. The move by Compaq follows a new strategy announcement by Gateway. It has a new program called Your:)Ware that will allow customers to buy a Pentium II PC with no money down...and the payments...as low as 50 dollars a month, include unlimited Internet access. On top of that, after two years you can trade it in towards the purchase of a new PC. You can find more information on the Compaq and Gateway websites.