Channel Tech Center

When it comes to PC computing these are the best and worst of times for solution providers in the channel.

The good news, as evidenced by the plethora of systems launched at the Consumer Electronics Show, is that there is more variety of types of PCs than in recent memory. Starting with smartbooks and notebooks all the way up to workstation-class systems based on the Intel Core i7 processor. And just to make matters more interesting, there are a new class of “slate PCs” coming that feature touch-screen displays.

The bad news is that margins on all of these systems are very tight. For a solution provider to make any real money on these systems, they have to provide consulting services and ongoing support to really make it worth their while.

The opportunity for solution providers is to present themselves as mobile computing specialists. Customers inherently know they can increase their productivity using these devices, but the number of choices available to them is so vast that many of them will opt to do nothing without a little coaxing.

The companies that make these devices, including smartphones, will be inundating customers with messaging over the next several months. The confusion that all this messaging will generate should ultimately make the customer a little more receptive to the concept of developing a real mobile computing strategy for their business. And that’s where the opportunity for solution providers will ultimately lie.