The move is expected to widen its presence in the gaming computer market and consequently increase its sales.

“Although game players accounted for just 15 percent of China’s PC users, they are more sensitive to the latest technologies and are often the opinion leaders among their families and friends,” said Liu Jie, Lenovo?s vice-president.

“We hope to establish a good brand image in these consumer groups and drive sales of our other product lines through their support.”

According to Liu, Lenovo’s gaming computers, which are mainly sold between 4,000 yuan ($585.2) to 7,000 yuan, accounts for 17 to 20 percent of the company’s total sales.

He said the gaming computers can be desktops, laptops and all-in-one computers, which shall be available in the following months.

Global PC shipments has dropped by 7 percent during the first three months of 2009, according to figures from research firm IDC. The world’s major PC makers strive to release new products to improve consumer demand for technology products. Dell, for example, launched earlier this month a high-end game laptop Alianware M17, priced at $1,399, in an effort to tap serious gamers.

Liu said Lenovo’s gaming computers would target mainstream consumers. The company also spent about 10 million yuan this year to support the resumption of the International Electronic Sports Tournament (IEST), an annual computer game competition that Lenovo started in 2006 but suspended last year because of the Olympic Games.

Source : Konaxis