NEC works harder at home

NEC (NIPNY) is targeting the work-at-home market with a second generation of home-office PCs based on Intel's MMX Pentium processor and an abundance of Microsoft business software.

NEC's computer systems division today announced the addition of three new models to its Ready Office line of personal computers. The Ready Office line is designed for what the company calls the "tiny office, home office" sector, the fastest-growing segment of the small business market, according to the company.

Ready Office systems comes with software to run a small business, including Windows 95 and Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition, which bundles Microsoft Excel 97, Word 97, Publisher 97, Outlook 97, AutoMap Streets Plus, and Small Business Financial Manager. Additional Microsoft titles include Bookshelf and Microsoft Money. NEC is also providing software for computer management and Microsoft's Internet Explorer 3.0.

The Ready Office 1715, which comes with a 166-MHz Pentium processor with MMX multimedia technology, 32MB of memory, a 3.2GB hard disk drive, a modem, 16X CD-ROM drive, backup uninterruptible power supply, a 100MB Zip drive, and a stereo sound system, will cost $2,399.

A Ready Office 1720 with a 200-MHz MMX Pentium processor is priced at $2,599. The Ready Office 1710 with a 166-MHz Pentium--with no MMX technology--costs $2,199.