从今年五月份开始,IBM 公司将允许用户通过 IBM 公司的 Web站点在线购买其所有的 PC 产品线和小型计算机服务器。目前,用户通过 Internet 仅能购买笔记本电脑和一些台式 PC 产品。IBM 公司计划借助于 Internet 来拓展个人计算机的销售渠道,此举将有助于其亏损的 PC 产品部降低成本。网上在线销售大约占据了 IBM PC 产品部1998年127.8亿销售额的20%。该公司相信这一数字在未来的两年中能够上升到大约40%。尽管 IBM 公司不会谈及节省的成本,但是,该公司的 PC 产品部在过去三年中一直是亏损的。负责 IBM 公司个人系统部的高级副总裁 Beginning in May of this year, IBM will allow users to buy all of their PC product lines and small form factor computer servers online through IBM’s Web site. Currently, users can only purchase laptops and some desktop PC products over the Internet. IBM plans to use the Internet to expand personal computer sales channels, the move will help reduce its loss of PC Products Department. Online sales account for roughly 20% of the $ 12.78 billion sales of the IBM PC Products division in 1998. The company believes that figure can rise to about 40% over the next two years. Although IBM does not talk about the cost savings, its PC product division has been losing money for the past three years. Senior Vice President, IBM Personal Systems