IBM cuts portable, server prices

IBM (IBM) announced price cuts of up to 32 percent on selected models of its Thinkpad notebook PCs and Netfinity servers.

The ThinkPad 560X, with a 233-MHz Pentium MMX processor, a 4GB hard drive, and a 12.1-inch active-matrix screen, has been discounted from $4,299 to $3,599, a 16 percent reduction.

Part of IBM's popular 560 series of thin-and-light notebooks, the 560X weighs in at about 4 pounds--two pounds less than most notebooks on the market.

Selected models from the ThinkPad 770, 380, and 310 lines have also been discounted.

The Netfinity and PC Server

IBM ThinkPad price cuts
Model	Old price	New price	Price cut
770--1AU	$7,199	$5,199	28%
770--3OU	$5,549	$4,399	21%
560--X	$4,299	$3,599	16%
560--E	$2,199	$1,599	27%
380--D	$2,599	$2,099	19%
380--ED	$3,699	$2,999	19%
310--D	$1,799	$1,599	11%

lines have been discounted by up to 29 percent. The Netfinity 7000 RMO with a 200-MHz Pentium processor, 256MB of memory, and a 4.51GB hard drive has been cut from $15,975 to $11,389.

The discounts are a result of IBM's Advanced Fulfillment Initiative, the company said, which reduces manufacturing costs by assembling the notebooks and servers in the "channel," the network of computer resellers that vendors like IBM rely on. The ThinkPad and Netfinity lines are both part of AFI, allowing vendors to ship channel-assembled notebooks and servers.