BANGALORE: Made-for-India models with unconventional designs and attractive prices are increasingly becoming a focal point for leading computer-makers, who see growing demand for such products among business users.

The latest to join the bandwagon with a low-cost model is Hewlett Packard (HP) with its Dx2009 or Mini DT business desktop. The Mini DT has been priced at Rs 12,500 sans the monitor and is 92% smaller than a conventional desktop.

Arun Rao, HP India's country manager for the business desktops unit, said demand is rising for PCs which are priced low but which provide the maximum functional value. The Mini DT is being targetted at small & medium business and BPO companies as it thinks the computer's smaller size will help save space and hence real-estate costs.

Others such as Intel, AMD, Dell and Wipro have also launched computers specifically targetted at the commercial segment. AMD and Wipro are jointly promoting Protos, a computer with a small form factor where the central processing unit (CPU) has been shrunk to a bare minimum. This AMD-designed product is being manufactured and marketed by Wipro Infotech.

Intel's small form factor PC, called the classmate PC, is aimed at the education segment and a major part of the design for the product was undertaken in India.

Intel also recently launched a new range of notebook PCs called Netbook priced at $300 (Rs 12,900) and meant for growth markets like India.

The common thread with these machines is that they are suited to Indian conditions. In the case of Protos, it can be operated on a 12-volt battery and can withstand extreme weather.

Mr Rao said that HP's desktops are designed to operate amid frequent power fluctuations and dusty conditions. HP India started designing computers specifically for the India market three years ago at its centre in Bangalore and has introduced some six models so far.