Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Bibliography
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Need for the study
Objectives of the Study
Scope of the Study
Methodology
Limitation
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Introduction
Marketing research is a method of getting tacts to be used by the
executives in formulation of policies and plans successful executives no longer
depend upon guess work in outlining programme to be followed in the conduct
of their business. Marketing covers all business activity is necessary for
ascertaining market demand, planning, product availability effecting transfer of
ownership of products and providing for the physical distribution. The modern
marketing is considered to be Consumer Oriented.
My work in this project report is to know details regarding the product
history i.e. Laptop computers history, its working, its marketing and other
details like problems etc.,
Need for the study
The main need of the study is to understand the computers supplied by Acer
India ltd, are superior in terms of quality, price, performance and service as
against other brand models with reference to users in Shivamogga. To
understand computer market share of Acer in Shivamogga. To understand the
service provided by various computers vendors in Shivamogga.
To understand the users perception regarding various PC brand and peripherals
of vendors and their opinion regarding various parameters, like quality, price,
performance and service.
Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the study is to understand user perception towards
computer in respect of parameters such as quality, price, performance and
service.
To understand and to study the brand awareness of Acer products with
other models.
To explore user indication regarding their choice for buying their future
requirements.
To understand Acers market penetration, its visibility in comparison
with other brands.
To understand user perception about service provided by Acer India and
other vendors.
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Chapter 2
ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY IN INDIA
Industry Overview
Electronic Manufacturing Services
Computer Industry
History of Laptop Computers - History
Major brands and manufacturers
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Historical Developments
The Electronics Industry in India took off around 1965 with an
orientation towards space and defence technologies. This was rigidly controlled
and initiated by the government. This was followed by developments in
consumer electronics mainly with transistor radios, Black & White TV,
Calculators and other audio products. Colour Televisions soon followed. In
1982-a significant year in the history of television in India - the government
allowed thousands of colour TV sets to be imported into the country to coincide
with the broadcast of Asian Games in New Delhi. 1985 saw the advent of
Computers and Telephone exchanges, which were succeeded by Digital
Exchanges in 1988. The period between 1984 and 1990 was the golden period
for electronics during which the industry witnessed continuous and rapid
growth.
From 1991 onwards, there was first an economic crises triggered by the
Gulf War which was followed by political and economic uncertainties within
the country. Pressure on the electronics industry remained though growth and
developments have continued with digitalisation in all sectors, and more
recently the trend towards convergence of technologies. After the software
boom in mid 1990s India's focus shifted to software. While the hardware sector
was treated with indifference by successive governments. Moreover the steep
fall in custom tariffs made the hardware sector suddenly vulnerable to
international competition. In 1997 the ITA agreement was signed at the WTO
where India committed itself to total elimination of all customs duties on IT
hardware by 2005. In the subsequent years, a number of companies turned sick
and had to be closed down. At the same time companies like Moser Baer,
Samtel Colour, Celetronix etc. have made a mark globally.
Current Scenario
In recent years the electronic industry is growing at a brisk pace. It is currently
worth US$ 32 Billion and according to industry estimates it has the potential to
reach US$ 150 billion by 2011. The largest segment is the consumer electronics
segment. While is largest export segment is of components. The electronic
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industry in India constitutes just 0.7 per cent of the global electronic industry.
Hence it is miniscule by international comparison. However the demand in the
Indian market is growing rapidly and investments are flowing in to augment
manufacturing capacity.
The output of the Electronic Hardware Industry in India is worth US$11.6
Billion at present. India is also an exporter of a vast range of electronic
components and products for the following segments
Display technologies
Entertainment electronics
Optical Storage devices
Passive components
Electromechanical components
Telecom equipment
Transmission & Signaling equipment
Semiconductor designing
Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS)
This growth has attracted global players to India and leaders like
Solectron, Flextronics, Jabil, Nokia, Elcoteq and many more have made large
investments to access the Indian market. In consumer electronics Korean
companies such as LG and Samsung have made commitments by establishing
large manufacturing facilities and now enjoy a significant share in the growing
market for products such as Televisions, CD/DVD Players, Audio equipment
and other entertainment products.
The growth in telecom products demand has been breathtaking and India is
adding 2 million mobile phone users every month! With telecom penetration of
around 10 per cent, this growth is expected to continue at least over the next
decade. Penetration levels in other high growth products are equally high and
growth in demand for Computer/ IT products, auto electronics, medical,
industrial, as well as consumer electronics is equally brisk. Combined with low
penetration levels and the Indian economy growing at an impressive 7 per cent
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per annum, the projection of a US$150 Billion+ market is quite realistic and
offers an excellent opportunity to electronics players worldwide.
Electronic Manufacturing Services
India is well-known for its software prowess. But on the hardware front, the
progress is rather slow. However, the country has been making gains in this
sector also. lready, 50 Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS)/Original
Design Manufacturers (ODMs) providers are operating in India, ranging from
global players including Flextronics and Solectron to indigenous firms
including Deltron, TVS Electronics and Sahasra. Further moves by international
players are expected to add production in India in the coming years. Indias
contract-manufacturing business is expected to nearly triple in revenue over the
next five years, a development that will present both opportunities and potential
pitfalls for the worldwide electronics supply chain. Revenue generated by
Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers and Original Design
Manufacturers (ODMs) in India will expand to $2.03 billion in 2009, rising at a
CAGR of 21 per cent from $774 million in 2004. Indian EMS/ODM revenue
grew by 20.8 per cent to reach $935 million in 2005. Obvious allure of locating
electronics production in India is the nations low labor costs. Labor costs for
conducting electronics manufacturing in India are between 30 to 40 per cent
less than in the United States or in Western Europe. Other equally important
benefits from operating in India include a fast-growing domestic market, an
excellent education system, the nations technology parks and the recent
improvements in the countrys transit and utility infrastructure.
However, the Indian contract-manufacturing industry is not expected to pose a
significant threat to Chinas position as the epicenter of electronics
manufacturing in the short term. Indias contract manufacturing activities
primarily serve the nations indigenous demand.
OEMs primarily outsource manufacturing to cater to the Indian domestic
market, although export of Indian-assembled electronic goods does occur. In the
longer term, i.e. 2009 onward, it is predicted that India may compete with the
Chinese providers in select products as the nations share of the global
electronics market increases.For OEMs, using contract manufacturing services
in India can help them penetrate the local market. However, OEMs face specific
risks associated with using contract manufacturers in India. Fluid exchange
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rates combined with volatile oil and component prices lead to unpredictable
costs. Changing government policies along with shifting government regimes
also contribute to an unpredictable political environment. Doing business in
India is often disjointed, with an inefficient bureaucratic system that causes
frequent delays. However, for OEMs able to manage these risks, the
opportunity in India is significant. The semiconductor fabrication segment has a
small existing base in India with only two fabrication units, which both are
developing chips for the defense and strategic sectors. However, semiconductor
suppliers are expanding their manufacturing activities in India to serve the
growing contract-manufacturing industry in the nation. As evidence of this
trend, groundbreaking commenced on a 200 mm fabrication unit in Hyderabad
operated by Nano- Tech Silicon India Ltd.
Computer Industry
With sound macroeconomic condition and buoyant buying sentiment in the
market, PC sales touched 6.5 million units during 2006-07. The high growth in
PC sales is attributed to increased consumption by Industry verticals such as
Telecom, Banking and Financial Services, Manufacturing, Education, Retail
and BPO/IT-enabled services as well as major e- Governance initiatives of the
Central and State Governments. Significant consumption in the small and
medium enterprises and increased PC purchase in smaller towns and cities was
witnessed during the year. It is expected that increased Government focus on
pan-India deployment of broadband at one of the lowest costs in the world will
soon lead to accelerated PC consumption in the home market. The growing
domestic IT market has now given impetus to manufacturing in India. The year
witnessed not only capacity expansion by the existing players, but also newer
investments in hardware manufacturing. India is also high on the agenda of
electronics manufacturing services companies.
This is now a matured industry sector in the country at least as far as various
application segments is concerned. State-of-art and reliable SCADA, PLC/Data
Acquisition systems are being applied across various sections of the process
industry. Latest AC drive systems from smaller to very high power levels also
find application in large engineering industries like steel plants and/or metal
industries. World class UPS systems are being manufactured in the country to
cater to the need of the emerging digital economy. However, it appears there is
really no manufacturing base in the country for the whole range of the latest test
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and measuring instruments which are invariably procured from outside. A good
number of Indian companies in the control and instrumentation sector are able
to acquire orders for export systems through international competitive bidding.
However, the creation of knowledge base in the country through industrial
R&D in this critical sector has not been improving as desired. There is still lack
of needed R&D activities by the industry looking at the global market. On the
part of Department of Information Technology some of the latest technology
development and applications in this area include Intelligent SCADA Systems
for monitoring and control of Mini Hydel plants, Advanced Traffic Control
System for urban tranPCation, Intelligent Power Controllers for improvement
of quality of electric power, etc. These systems have been successfully
developed and applied in real field conditions.
Communication & Broadcasting Sector
The telecommunication industry has gained tremendous recognition as the key
driver for all round development and growth. With about 256 million telephone
subscribers (as on Corporate Catalyst India A report on Indian Electronics
Industry February, 2007) India has emerged as one of the largest in the world
and second largest in Asia.
The share of private sector in telecom industry has increased to more than 57
per cent and the contribution of mobile telephony has gone upto 63 per cent on
December, 2007. Buoyed by the better-than-expected teledensity in 2005 (11.4
per cent against 8.6 per cent in 2004) due to the mobile boom in India,
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has revised the upwards the target
of 22 per cent teledensity by 2007. Broadband connectivity is holding
tremendous potential in the country. It is expected that the number of broadband
subscribers would reach 20 million by 2010. India has emerged as the second
largest market for mobile handsets. Following the unprecedented growth in the
mobile market, a number of companies are planning to set up production base
for mobile hand sets in the country for meeting local as well as export markets.
Direct to Home (DTH) broadcast service has gained more and more popularity
during 2005. DTH service is available through National Broadcaster and private
DTH service provider. Better quality digital broadcast reception is now
available almost everywhere in the country to the common people on their TV
sets through the use of small dish antenna and a Set-Top Box (STB).
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Strategic Electronics
Though the government has started the process of getting private sector
involved in the production of strategic electronics equipments, the private
involvement is at its nascent stage. The estimated market for strategic
electronics in India during 2005-06 was Rs.32 billion and 95 per cent of this
was done by the public sector unit Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Electronic Components
The total production of components was estimated at Rs. 88 billion during
2005-06. The colour picture tube production is likely to be around 11 million, a
decline from 11.2 million in the last year. The production of B&W picture tubes
declined further due to decreased market for B&W TVs. The components with
major share in the export are CD-R, CPTs, PCBs, DVD-R, connectors,
semiconductor devices, ferrites, resistors, etc. Significant developments took
place during the year in the area of colour picture tubes and colour glass parts.
Another CPT manufacturer successfully launched manufacture of pure flat
tubes, leading to availability of flat tubes from three indigenous sources. The
CPT units continued expansion of capacities to improve further their global
competitiveness. Two more lines were commissioned during the year, one for
manufacture of large size flat colour Corporate Catalyst India A report on
Indian Electronics Industry picture tubes and the second for small size. Two
more lines are likely to come up next year. Keeping pace with the downward
trend in prices of color TVs, the prices of CPTs also fell.
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developed completely inhouse and the focus there on will be to create low cost
products through Technological breakthroughs. The color glass parts
manufacturer implemented major expansion of its capacity to meet increased
local requirement due to substantial growth in CPT production. The unit also
started manufacture of glass parts for pure flat tubes as the demand for such
tubes increased due to one more unit launching production during the year.
Both the existing manufacturers of B/W glass parts continued the production of
colour funnels in their existing lines. They were also planning to make large
investment to set up manufacturing facilities for colour panels in near future. A
number of existing units imported capital goods under various schemes for
expansion of their capacities in PCBs, connectors, cable assemblies, colour
picture tubes, compact disc, glass parts for colour picture tubes, etc. Corporate
Catalyst India A report on Indian Electronics Industry The serviceable market
for professional grade components such as PCBs, semiconductor devices,
connectors, wound components, antennas, etc., is likely to go up due to launch
of manufacture of mobile handsets in the country.
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screen, modem port, two 5 1/4 floppy drives, a large collection of bundled
software programs, and a battery pack. The short-lived computer company was
never successful.
More History of Laptop Firsts
Also released in 1981, was the Epson HX-20, a battery powered portable
computer, with a 20-character by 4 line LCD display and a built-in
printer.
In January of 1982, Microsoft's Kazuhiko Nishi and Bill Gates begin
discussions on designing a portable computer, based on using a new
liquid crystal display or LCD screen. Kazuhiko Nishi later showed the
prototype to Radio Shack who agree to manufacture the computer.
In 1983, Radio Shack released the TRS-80 Model 100, a 4 lb. battery
operated portable computer with a flat and more of a laptop design.
In February 1984, IBM announced the IBM 5155 Portable Personal
Computer.
Three years later in 1986, Radio Shack released the improved and
smaller TRS Model 200.
In 1988, Compaq Computer introduces its first laptop PC with VGA
graphics - the Compaq SLT/286.
In 1989, NEC UltraLite was released, considered by some to be the first
"notebook style" computer. It was a laptop size computer which weighed
under 5 lbs. (second photo)
In September 1989, Apple Computer released the first Macintosh
Portable that later evolved into the Powerbook. (second photo)
In 1989, Zenith Data Systems released the Zenith MiniPC, a 6-pound
laptop computer. (more Zenith laptops)
In October 1989, Compaq Computer released its first notebook PC, the
Compaq LTE.
In March 1991, Microsoft released the Microsoft BallPoint Mouse that
used both mouse and trackball technology in a pointing device designed
for laptop computers.
In October 1991, Apple Computers released the Macintosh PowerBook
100, 140, and 170 - all notebook style laptops. (more on Powerbooks)
In October 1992, IBM released its ThinkPad 700 laptop computer.
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replaelectronics are usually larger and heavier than standard laptops. They
contain more powerful components and have a 15" or larger display.[11] Because
of their bulk, they are not as portable as other laptops and their operation time
on batteries is typically shorter; instead, they are meant to be used as a more
compact, easier to carry alternative to a desktop computer.
Some laptops in this class use a limited range of desktop components to provide
better performance for the same price at the expense of battery life; in a few of
those models, there is no battery at all and the laptop can only be used when
plugged in. These are sometimes called desknotes, a portmanteau of the words
"desktop" and "notebook," though the term can also be applied to desktop
replaelectronic computers in general.
In the early 2000s, desktops were more powerful, easier to upgrade, and much
cheaper in comparison with laptops. But in the last few years, the advantages
have drastically changed or shrunk since the performance of laptops has
markedly increased. In the second half of 2008, laptops have finally outsold
desktops for the first time ever. In the U.S., the PC shipment declined 10
percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. In Asia, the worst PC shipment growth
went up 1.8 percent over the same quarter the previous year since PC statistics
research started.
The names "Media Center Laptops" and "Gaming Laptops" are also used to
describe specialized members of this class of notebooks.
Subnotebook
Sony VAIO P series subnotebook.
A subnotebook, also called an ultraportable by
some vendors, is a laptop designed and marketed
with an emphasis on portability (small size, low
weight and longer battery life) that retains the
performance
of
a
standard
notebook
Subnotebooks are usually smaller and lighter than standard laptops, weighing
between 0.8 and 2 kg (2 to 5 pounds); the battery life can exceed 10 hours when
a large battery or an additional battery pack is installed.
To achieve the size and weight reductions, ultraportables use high resolution
13" and smaller screens (down to 6.4"), have relatively few ports, employ
expensive components designed for minimal size and best power efficiency, and
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< 1 kg, < 9", < U.S. $400, respectively, became commercially available at
around 2008.
Rugged laptop
A Panasonic Toughbook.
A rugged (or ruggedized) laptop is designed to reliably operate in harsh usage
conditions such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures, and wet or dusty
environments. Rugged laptops are usually designed from scratch, rather than
adapted from regular consumer laptop models. Rugged notebooks are bulkier,
heavier, and much more expensive than regular laptops, and thus are seldom
seen in regular consumer use.
The design features found in rugged laptops include rubber sheeting under the
keyboard keys, sealed port and connector covers, passive cooling, superbright
displays easily readable in daylight, cases and frames made of magnesium
alloys that are much stronger than plastic found in commercial laptops, and
solid-state storage devices or hard disc drives that are shock mounted to
withstand constant vibrations. Rugged laptops are commonly used by public
safety services (police, fire and medical emergency), military, utilities, field
service technicians, construction, mining and oil drilling personnel. Rugged
laptops are usually sold to organizations, rather than individuals, and are rarely
marketed via retail channels.
Components
Miniaturization: a comparison of a desktop
computer motherboard (ATX form factor) to a
motherboard from a
13" laptop (2008
unibody Macbook)
Inner view of a
Sony Vaio laptop The basic components of laptops
are similar in function to their desktop counterparts,
but are miniaturized, adapted to mobile use, and designed for low power
consumption. Because of the additional requirements, laptop components are
usually of inferior performance compared to similarly priced desktop parts.
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Furthermore, the design bounds on power, size, and cooling of laptops limit the
maximum performance of laptop parts compared to that of desktop components.
The following list summarizes the differences and distinguishing features of
laptop components in comparison to desktop personal computer parts:
Motherboard Laptop motherboards are highly make and model
specific, and do not conform to a desktop form factor. Unlike a desktop
board that usually has several slots for expansion cards (3 to 7 are
common), a board for a small, highly integrated laptop may have no
expansion slots at all, with all the functionality implemented on the
motherboard itself; the only expansion possible in this case is via an
external port such as USB. Other boards may have one or more standard,
such as ExpressCard, or proprietary expansion slots. Several other
functions (storage controllers, networking, sound card and external
ports) are implemented on the motherboard.
Central processing unit (CPU) Laptop CPUs have advanced powersaving features and produce less heat than desktop processors, but are
not as powerful.[29] There is a wide range of CPUs designed for laptops
available from Intel (Pentium M, Celeron M, Intel Core and Core 2
Duo), AMD (Athlon, Turion 64, and Sempron), VIA Technologies,
Transmeta and others. On the non-x86 architectures, Motorola and IBM
produced the chips for the former PowerPC-based Apple laptops (iBook
and PowerBook). Some laptops have removable CPUs, although support
by the motherboard may be restricted to the specific models. [30] In other
laptops the CPU is soldered on the motherboard and is non-replaceable.
A SODIMM memory module.
Memory (RAM) SO-DIMM memory
modules that are usually found in laptops are
about half the size of desktop DIMMs. They
may be accessible from the bottom of the
laptop for ease of upgrading, or placed in
locations not intended for user replaelectronic such as between the
keyboard and the motherboard. Currently, most midrange laptops are
factory equipped with 3-4 GB of DDR2 RAM, while some higher end
notebooks feature up to 8 GB of DDR3 memory. Netbooks however, are
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Chapter 3
Company Profile
History
Milestones & Innovations
Management
Organization
Financial Snapshot
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Company Profile
Acer Incorporated
It is a Taiwan-based multinational computer technology and electronics
corporation that manufactures desktop and laptop PCs, personal digital
assistants (PDAs), servers, storage devices, displays, and peripherals.
Acerprovides e-business services for business, government, education, and
home users. Acer Group has its headquarters in Xizhi, Taipei County. The
company also owns the largest franchised computer retail chain in Taipei,
Taiwan.
History
Acer was founded by Stan Shih , his wife Carolyn Yeh, and a group of five
others as Multitech in 1976, headquartered in Hsinchu City, Taiwan. It began
with eleven employees and US$25,000 in capital. Initially, it was primarily a
distributor of electronic parts and a consultant in the use of microprocessor
technologies, but over time it emerged as a PC manufacturer. The company was
renamed Acer in1987. In 1993, Acer posted record profits of $75 million; 43
percent of that year'snet was generated by the DRAM joint venture, considered
"the most efficient inthe DRAM industry" by some observers. Total sales grew
to $3.2 billion in 1994,and net income increased to $205 million, as Acer
America turned its first annual profit in the 1990s. From 1994 to 1995, Acer
advanced from 14th to ninth among the worlds largest computer
manufacturers, surpassing Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Toshiba. Acer began its
foray into laptops with the purchase of Texas Instruments mobile PC division in
1997.
Acer India (Pvt) Limited was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Acer
Computer International, Ltd. in 1999. It is an otable vendor in key segments
such as education, desktop computers and low profile notebooks for education
purposes. Its headquarters are in Bangalore, India
Since its founding in 1976, Acer has achieved the goal of breaking the barriers
between people and technology. Globally, Acer ranks No. 2 for total PCs and
notebooks. A profitable and sustainable Channel Business Model is
instrumental to the company's continuing growth, while its multi-brand
approach effectively integrates Acer, Gateway, Packard Bell, and eMachines
brands in worldwide markets.
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1987 2000
Create a brand name and globalize
In 1987, Multitech formally became known as Acer, marking the start of Acer's
efforts toward creating a strong brand name. During this second ten-year stage
of development, Acer grew extensively and expanded its strategic and
geographic footprint to become one of the world's top ten PC vendors. Priority
was placed on delivering the freshest, most affordable technology to benefit
consumers worldwide.
2001 2007
Transform from manufacturing to services
Acer evolved from a manufacturing powerhouse to a globally-recognized
computer brand, providing world-class IT products and services. Acer's unique
Channel Business Model enabled the company to achieve sustainable
worldwide growth. The model offers flexibility to adapt to changing global IT
market trends, involves collaborating with the industry's top-tier partners and
suppliers, while minimizing operating expense and enhancing profitability. In
2007, Acer ranked as the world's No. 3 PC vendor.
2008 beyond
Enhance worldwide presence with a new multi-brand strategy
With the successful completion of the mergers of Gateway and Packard Bell,
Acer seeks to further strengthen its global footprint with a new multi-brand
strategy and solid partnerships. Acer now sets its sight on closing the gap from
the world's No. 2 PC maker.
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Management
Biography of J.T. Wang
Chairman & CEO, Acer Inc.
J.T. Wang took office as chairman and CEO in 2008 and led the company
forward to reach consolidated revenues of US$19.9 billion in 2010. Wang was
named in the 2010 TIME 100 an annual list of the 100 most influential people
in the world by TIME magazine, ranking No. 2 in the list of Leaders.
A key factor of Acers success is the global winning formula initiated by Wang
and his management team. The Channel Business Model encourages partners
and suppliers to join the company in an efficient supply chain and service
network that provides customers with competitive pricing, fresh technologies,
and quality service. Furthermore, a simple and focused management, efficient
operations and marketing strengths, together form a sustainable and profitable
business model for Acers present and future success.
Wang brings with him extensive experience in operational management with
over 25 years at Acer. In 1981, he joined Multitech (forerunner of Acer) as a
sales engineer and quickly escalated up the corporate ladder to become
president of Acer Taiwan's sales and marketing division in 1990.
After the company reengineering in 2000, Wang was named president of Acer
Inc. to focus on marketing Acer-branded IT products and services. In 2005, he
took over as chairman and CEO of the corporation. In 2008, he was appointed
as Acer Group CEO and Acer Inc. chairman, and in April 2011, resumed the
position of Acer Inc. CEO.
Born in July 1954, Wang holds a bachelors degree in electrical engineering
from National Taiwan University and an Executive MBA from Taiwans
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Organization
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Product
S Series
Acer S Series monitors are very slim yet spacious displays that are great for
multitasking and web browsing. High-def visuals leap to life thanks to Full HD
resolution and an extremely high contrast ratio. You'll appreciate both the
imagery and the look of this streamlined yet powerful Acer monitor!
S231HLvbid
5 ms - 16:9 - Adjustable Display Angle - 1920 x 1080 - 16.7 Million Colours 250 cd/m - 12000000:1 - DVI - HDMI - VGA - Black - Energy Star, MPR II
Features
Acer Green Instant On
Save time with Acer Green Instant On. Put the Aspire S Series to sleep, and
spring it back to life in less than 2 seconds! After 8 hours in Sleep mode, or
after the period you set, the notebook enters Deep Sleep, conserving battery life
for up to 50 days1, 2 yet when you come back, your Aspire S Series turns right
on and everything looks exactly as you left it!
Instant Connect
Thanks to Acer Instant Connect, you can now say goodbye to long waits to get
connected. The Aspire S Series remembers your favorite access points and
reconnects to them instantly, so you can get on the Internet in just 2.5 seconds -4X faster1, 2 than notebooks without this technology.
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Ultra-Slim
Viewed from any angle, the Aspire S Series is super slender. At its thinnest
point, it's just 13 mm (0.51") slim. Revolutionary display technology integrates
the 13.3" frame, cutting the bezel thickness by a third and giving you the perfect
slice of life.
Ultra-Light
The aluminum/Mg-Al design gives the Aspire S Series a sleek look and feel and
makes the notebook as light as a feather -- at less than 1.4 kg 1 -- while also
protecting the LCD. Gorgeous, light and durable, the Aspire S Series is a
pleasure to carry anywhere.
Ultra-Smart
Take everything you need, everywhere you go! A 2nd generation Intel Core
processor speeds up multitasking and consumes less power, while the solid state
drive gives you quick access to your files, and an optional HDD 1 offers huge
storage space. The embedded lithium-polymer battery can last up to 7 hours 2,
3
on a single charge, extending your mobile freedom further.
Cool and Comfortable
The Aspire S Series features an innovative thermal design that keeps you
comfortable even when you use the notebook for hours at a time. The new
airflow design channels air from the keyboard to keep the notebook constantly
cool, and directs warm air toward the rear, away from you.
Beautifully Rich Dolby Sound
Slender but bold, the Aspire S3 sports professionally tuned speakers with
Dolby Home Theater v4 for trumpeting cinema-quality sound, while
HDMI connectivity is your ticket to high-definition large-screen
entertainment. The key to manipulating your media is Acer clear.fi, which lets
you easily manage, store, share and enjoy your files from any device in your
network. You can also connect to social networking sites via clear.fi to check
out new content from friends, as well as publish your own stuff.
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Acer Aspire 5749z is 15 inch laptop, powered by dual core Intel Pentium
B-series processor and preloaded with linux @ affordable price.
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Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
5-in-1 card reader
Dolby -optimized surround sound system with two built-in stereo speakers
Microphone with Webcam
5600 mAh 6-cell Li-ion battery
65 W AC adapter
weight 2.4 kg ( 5.3 lbs.)
Standard One-year Warranty
Acer Aspire Timeline 5810T Price in India Rs. 39,500/- Indian Rupee
(INR)
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Chapter 4
FIRM PROFILE
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Problem Recognition
Information Search
Decision Implementation
Post-purchase Evaluation
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Problem Recognition
In this information processing model, the consumer buying
process begins when the buyer recognizes a problem or need.
For example, Doug may realize that his best suit doesnt look
contemporary any more. Or, Kathleen may recognize that her
personal computer is not performing as well as she thought it
should. These are the kinds of problem that we as consumers
encounter all the time. When we found out a difference
between the actual state and a desired state, a problem is
recognized. When we find a problem, we usually try to solve
the problem. We, in other words, recognize the need to solve
the problem. But how?
Information Search
When a consumer discovers a problem, he/she is likely to
search for more information. Kathleen may simply pay more
attention to product information of a personal computer. She
becomes more attentive to computer ads, computers
purchased by her friends, and peer conversations about
computers. Or, she may more actively seek information by
visiting stores, talking to friends, or reading computer
magazines, among others. Through gathering information, the
consumer learns more about some brands that compete in the
market and their features and characteristics. Theoretically,
there is a total set of brands available to Kathleen, but she will
become aware of only a subset of the brands (awareness set)
in the market. Some of these brands may satisfy her initial
buying criteria, such as price and processing speed
(consideration set). As Kathleen proceeds to more information
search, only a few will remain as strong candidates (choice
set).
Evaluation and Selection of Alternatives
How does the consumer process competitive brand information
and evaluate the value of the brands? Unfortunately there is
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Decision Implementation
To actually implement the purchase decision, however, a
consumer needs to select both specific items (brands) and
specific outlets (where to buy) to resolve the problems. There
are, in fact, three ways these decisions can be made: 1)
simultaneously; 2) item first, outlet second; or 3) outlet first,
item second.ii In many situations, consumers engage in a
simultaneous selection process of storesiii and brands. For
example, in our Kathleens personal computer case, she may
select a set of brands based on both the products technical
features (attributes) and availability of brands in the computer
stores and mail-order catalogs she knows well. It is also
possible, that she decides where to buy (e.g., CompUSA in her
neighborhood) and then chooses one or two brands the store
carries. Once the brand and outlet have been decided, the
consumer moves on to the transaction (buying).
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Post-purchase Evaluation
Post-purchase evaluation processes are directly influenced by
the type of preceding decision-making process.
Directly
relevant here is the level of purchase involvement of the
consumer. Purchase involvement is often referred to as the
level of concern for or interest in the purchase iv situation, and
it determines how extensively the consumer searches
information in making a purchase decision. v Although purchase
involvement is viewed as a continuum (from low to high), it is
useful to consider two extreme cases here. Suppose one buys
a certain brand of product (e.g., Diet Pepsi) as a matter of habit
(habitual purchase). For him/her, buying a cola drink is a very
low purchase involvement situation, and he/she is not likely to
search and evaluate product information extensively. In such a
case, the consumer would simply purchase, consume and/or
dispose of the product with very limited post-purchase
evaluation, and generally maintain a high level of repeat
purchase motivation.
Purchase
Product Use
Disposition
Simple
Evaluation
Repeat Purchase
Motivation
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Post-purchase
Dissonance
Purchase
Product Use
Dissatisfaction
Disposition
Elaborate
Evaluation
Repeat Purchase
Motivation
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
51
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54
Consider a situation where you have one of the fastest computers around, but
not enough memory to hold the programs and their data that you wish to run.
Much of the program code and the data will have to be held on disk and brought
into memory when needed. At the same time, data that is not currently being
worked on will be stored temporarily on disk. As the time taken to move data to
and from a disk is much greater than moving from memory to the processor,
this will slow the system down considerably.
In case this stretches your budget, find out if it will be possible to upgrade
later, or if it has to be done by a technician. These days, with resource hungry
applications, we advise a minimum of 2GBRAMasstandard.
Display
The display abilities of a laptop are determined by the screen itself, as well
as the graphics processor. Screens come in standard sizes and resolutions.
Typically, larger displays have a higher resolution, but then this impacts the
portability of a laptop. Wide screen displays are also gaining popularity as they
help with better viewing and comfortable working.
The graphics processor, on the other hand, determines performance that is
visible when it comes to 3D graphics and gaming. Laptops come with onboard
as well as dedicated graphics solutions. The difference between the two is that
while onboard solutions provide low end or very basic performance, dedicated
graphics solutions from NVIDIA and ATI significantly enhance performance
and allow hi-end applications (newer generation games) and other 3D-intensive
applications to run more smoothly.
Ports
Every now and then, we have to connect additional peripherals to our laptops.
These may be wireless cards, USB drives, printers, mice or other gadgets. An
adequate pool of available ports is very useful both for desktops as well as
laptops. Most modern day devices are designed to connect to USB ports. If you
have devices which use FireWire or other connections such as Bluetooth or
infrared, like many mobile phones, PMPs or video cameras do these days, make
sure your laptop supports them by having the right connectors.
An expansion slot for PC cards is also a good idea. This comes in handy to
accommodate an internal modem, wireless card, additional Ethernet ports or a
better sound card. With high definition video and audio coming to laptops, an
HDMI port is also becoming common these days. HDMI replaces the old SVideo port and gives advantages such as single cable connection for both audio
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and video. Headphone and microphone jacks are common, but some laptops
come with dual headphone jacks that can be used to connect your laptop to
different devices or even to utilise its multi-channel output.
Drives
Hard drives can be broadly classified into two different categories:
1. HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
2. ODD (Optical Disk Drive)
Your storage requirement entirely depends on your usage. A hard drives
configuration is fairly straight forward in terms of size. These days, laptops
come with 250 GB storage on a single HDD, but still you have to decide
whether you really need all that space. Another critical factor that determines
your overall system speed is the drives rotation speed a drive with a higher
spin rate yields faster data access times. However, these are more prone to
damage as well. This is one factor you must keep in mind while arriving at your
decision. Try and assess how much space you will need in your system, and
then multiply by three.
Optical drives have evolved considerably over the years. You can either have a
simple CD-ROM drive for installing software, all the way up to the latest high
definition Blu-ray DVD burners as part of your configuration. In most cases,
laptops now come standard with a dual layer DVD burner. Blu-ray drives are
starting to show up, but are extremely expensive.
Networking
One of the basic reasons to have a laptop is to be able to carry out all your tasks
while on the move. This involves your work for which you need to send/receive
emails. Connecting to the internet or a local network is a crucial function that
you need to have f6r your laptop. Most laptops today include a built-in 56 kbps
modem and Fast Ethernet (RJ45) port that handle data rates up to 1,000 Mbps.
WiFi has now become a common feature in laptops. There are several standards
for wireless connectivity, but a very basic connection would require 802.11b/g
support having a data rate of up to 54 Mbps.
Size and Weight
You can add up the best of everything and arrive at a monster of a laptop! But
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then, thats what portability is all about balancing your configuration for
optimal performance and capacity on the one hand, and portability on the other.
Although ultra portable laptops offer light weight solutions and a smaller size,
they also sacrifice on processing speeds, ODDs, expansion slots, etc. Therefore,
when looking for a laptop, consider these factors before making a final
decision. Also consider the weight of the accessories, especially the AC adapter,
because at times, laptops are light but after bundling accessories, the whole
package can become quite heavy to carry. If you travel frequently, or carry a lot
of heavy things while on the move, a lightweight laptop with a small form
factor is what you need.
Battery Life
The best looking laptop is no good if it doesnt offer you adequate battery time.
This holds true even if the product you are considering is an Apple Macbook
Air. Try to find the listed battery life for the standard battery, and see if it suits
your needs. It would be wise to look for a system with at least two hours of
battery life under normal conditions. If you need extended battery life, then
look for larger battery packs or media bays that can double as extra battery slots
when required.
Warranty Plans
Laptops are more prone to breakdowns due to their portability. When
buying a system, make sure to get at least a years warranty from the OEM. If
youll be using the system heavily, a system that comes with a three year
warranty is ideal.
Consider several models while you are out there shopping. Consider all
models that meet your buying criteria, and compare them on features and
prices. Your decision should not depend on someone elses preferences, but on
your own. After all, its you who is going to use the laptop dont be shy to
call dealers and customer support of the OEMs to find out more about their
equipment. Check out the model physically whenever possible. Ask your
friends who may have bought laptops recently or are currently using the one
you wish to buy. Narrow your choices down to a few models, and then seek the
best deal before finally buying your dream laptop.
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Chapter No- 05
Data Analysis & Interpretation
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PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
Yes
50
100%
No
0%
Total
50
100%
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 100% people have laptop & 0%
people do not have laptop.
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2.
SR.N
O.
1
PERCENTAGE
16%
Dell
8%
HP
16%
Compaq
16%
IBM
4%
Lenovo
12
24%
Acer
8%
HCL
8%
Total
50
100%
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 24% people have Lenovo,
16% people have Compaq, 8% have Dell, 16% have Sony, 8%
HCL, 8% have Acer, 16% have HP laptop.
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SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
20
40%
6 months to 1 year
16
32%
1 -2 years
16%
2 5 years
8%
4%
Total
50
100%
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 16% people plans for
purchasing laptop in 1-2 yr., 4% plan more than 5 yr., 40% plan
in less than 6 months, 32% plan in 6 month to 1 yr.
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3.
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
Personal
26
52%
Official
20
40%
Both
8%
Total
50
100%
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 52% purchasing laptop for
person use, 8% purchase for both purpose, 40 % purchase for
official use.
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4.
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
Strongly satisfied
18
36%
Satisfied
26
52%
Dissatisfied
8%
Strongly dissatisfied
4%
partially satisfied
0%
50
100%
Total
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 52% people satisfied with
their brand laptop, 36% strongly satisfied with their laptop, 8%
people dissatisfied with their laptop, 4% people strongly
dissatisfied with their laptop.
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5.
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
Processor
18
36%
Battery backup
16
32%
Screen size
10
20%
Ram
8%
Hard disk
4%
50
100%
Total
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 32% people gives
preference to battery backup, 36% for processor, 8% for RAM,
20% give preference screen size, 4% gives HDD.
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6.
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
Price
18
36%
Availability
14
28%
Schemes
16%
Quality
12%
advertisement
8%
50
100%
Total
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 28% people influencing
through availability of product, 36% influencing through price,
16% through schemes, 12% through Quality of laptop & 8%
through advertisement.
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7.
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
Yes
10
20%
No
40
80%
25
100%
Total
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 20% people want to
switch their present laptop.
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8.
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
24
48%
12
24%
8%
12%
8%
Above 50000
0%
Total
50
100%
INTERPRETATION:
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10.
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
Personal
26
52%
Official
18
36%
Both
12%
50
100%
Total
INTERPRETATION:
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11.
What are the factors which influence your buying
decisions? (Rank 1-5)
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
RANK
PERCENTAGE
20
40%
12%
Price
Availability
Schemes
10
20%
Quality
12
24%
Advertisement
4%
Total
50
100%
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 12% people influencing
through availability of product, 40%
through price, 24%
through quality, 20% through schemes & 4% through
advertisement.
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12.
Which types of features prefer most by you in
laptop?
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
Processor
16
32%
Battery backup
22
44%
Screen size
8%
Ram
8%
Hard disk
8%
Total
50
100%
INTERPRETATION:
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Celeron
8%
Centrino
10
20%
Duo
18
36%
Pentium
10
20%
Core
16%
Total
50
100%
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INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 36% give preference to
Duo processor, 20% for Pentium, 20% for Centrino, 16% for
Core & 8% for Celeron.
(ii)
RAM
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
256 MB
4%
512 MB
8%
1 GB
24
48%
2 GB
20
40%
Total
50
60%
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INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 48% give preference to 1
GB, 8% for 512 MB, 4% for 256 MB & 40% for 2 GB.
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(iii)
Battery backup
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
2.5 hrs.
12%
3.5 hrs.
20
40%
3 hrs.
10
20%
4 hrs.
14
28%
Total
50
100%
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INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 40%b gives preference to
3.5 Hrs., 12% for 2.5 Hrs., 20% for 3 Hrs., 28% for 4 Hrs.
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(iv)
Screen size
SR.N
O.
PARTICULARS
NO. OF
RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
12
12%
15
34
68%
14
10
20%
Total
50
100%
INTERPRETATION:
The above table indicates that, 68%b gives preference to
15, 20% for 14 & 12% for 12.
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Chapter: 6
Suggestions and Conclusion
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Suggestions
Company should make policy for fixed end user price for all
dealers so that fair game will be played & dealer would not
to compromise on their margin.
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Conclusion
Marketing is a very crucial activity in every business
organization. Every product produced within an industry has to
be market. I have realized this fact after completion of my
project. Despite of various difficulties and limitations faced
during my project on A STUDY OF CUSTOMER PURCHASE
DECISION TOWARDS LAPTOPS. I have tried my level best
to find out the most relevant information for the organization to
complete the assignment that was given to me. After
completion of my project I have gained several experiences in
the field or sales marketing. I have got the opportunity to meet
various people, which fluctuate in different situation and time.
Project has given me the opportunity to have first experience in
the corporate world.
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Annexure
Questionnaire
Bibliography
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QUESTIONNAIRE
Dear sir/madam,
I am student of Govt. First Grade College,
Shivamogga, doing a project on BRAND AWARENESS
OF ACER LAPTOP, with special reference to Future
Comp, Shimoga. Hence I would be grateful if you would
spare your valuable time and co-operate by answering few
questions to the best of your knowledge. I assure you that
the information collected will be used for academic
purpose only and this will help your banker to provide
better services to you.
Yours
Syeda Ayesha
Name:
.
Age:
Gender:
Male
/
Female.
Address:
Contact
No.
:..
Occupation:
...
Income (yearly)
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
a. Price
b. Quality
c. Availability
d. advertisement
e. Schemes
Are you switch over to any other brand to this brand?
a. Yes
b. No
Are you planning for purchase another laptop?
a. Yes
b. No
(If answer is yes than continue.)
When would you purchase a laptop?
a. Less than 6 months
b. 6 months to 1 year
c. 1 -2 years
d. 2 5 years
e. More than 5 years
What price range will you be prepared to pay for such a
Laptop?
a. Rs. 25000 30000
b. Rs. 30000 - 35000
c. Rs. 35000 40000
d. Rs. 40000 - 45000
e. Rs. 45000 50000
f. Above 50000
Rank the brand according to your preference?
a. Sony
b. IBM
c. Dell
d. Lenovo
e. H P
f. Acer
g. Compaq
h. HCL
The main purpose of purchasing the laptop?
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a. Personal
b. Official
c. Both
14. What are the factors which influence your buying
decisions? (Rank 1-5)
a. Price
b. Quality
c. Availability
d. Advertisement
e. Schemes
15.
Which types of features prefer most by you in laptop?
a. Processor
b. Ram
c. Battery backup
d. Hard disk
e. Screen size
16. Please tick one of the option for each of the configuration
items for your
Desire laptop?
(i) Processor
a. Celeron
b. Pentium
c. Centrino
d. core
e. duo
(ii) RAM
a. 256 MB
b. 512 MB
c. 1 GB
d. 2 GB
(iii) Battery backup
a. 2.5 hrs
b. 3 hrs.
c. 3.5 hrs
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d. 4 hrs.
If any suggestions ________________________
17.
Signature
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The lists of reference for the purpose of completing this
marketing project are as given below:
BOOKS:
Marketing Research
By: G. C. Beri
Marketing Research
Stasch
Marketing Management
www.hcl.in
www.indiainfoline.com
www.google.co.in
www.hp.com
www.acer.com
www.dell.com
www.ibm.com
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www.hclinfosystem.in
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ii
iii
iv
vi