No more giveaway computers. Free-PC to be bought by eMachines

Article Abstract:

Free-PC.com has agreed to be acquired by eMachines, a manufacturer of low-cost personal computers. Free-PC's original business plan was to give away personal computers in exchange for the users' agreement to receive on-screen advertising and have their Internet surfing and PC use habits monitored. Free-PC realized it was probably not going to be able to reach the $30 a month per user in advertising needed to cover the cost of providing the computer and Internet access. EMachines plans to use Free-PC's software to place advertising on the screens of its computers and to collect data about its customers' computer use.

Computers, Asset sales & divestitures, Acquisitions & mergers, Telegraph & other communications, Mergers, acquisitions and divestments, Internet service providers, Company acquisition/merger, Internet service provider, Free-PC.com, emachines Inc.

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Compaq says profit outlook is in trouble; sales fall as inventory piles up in warehouses

Article Abstract:

Compaq dropped its revenue forecast from $9.7 bil to $9.4 bil, with estimated profits declining from $450 mil to $250 mil. Share price was $51.25 in January; Friday's price was $30.94. Analysts attribute some of the drag on earnings to swollen inventory and declining PC prices (Ziff-Davis research says the price of the average computer has come down from $1,141 last June to $900 in February). Also factors: starting a direct sales arm that competes with Compaq's traditional resellers and a shift in the computer industry's emphasis from PC to Web applications and business.

Analog & Hybrid Computers, Sales, profits & dividends, Computers & Auxiliary Equip, Microcomputers, Finance, Compaq Computer Corp., CPQ

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