The keynote addresses at Making Hardware Pay were geared to both enlighten and inform. Focusing on technologies and products that will drive the sales of white box systems and components in 2004, these speeches and discussions were of interest to anyone involved in building computer systems.Topics included hot components, networking opportunities, mobile issues and future trends.

Making It Pay: Omid Rahmat

Omid describes the state of the white box industry, its opportunities and challenges..

Omid Rahmat, general manager and publisher of Tom's Hardware Guide, kicked off the morning's events with a keynote entitled, like the conference itself, Making Hardware Pay. Omid's introduction to the day's events offered an overview of the computer industry. The keynote also laid the groundwork and outlined challenges for the morning's speakers and the industry in general.

According to Omid, North American white box sales are approaching 30% of the PC market. While 55% of all systems shipped to small businesses are white box systems, white box systems account for 45% of all systems shipped to low mid-sized businesses (100 employees-499 employees). In addition, the bulk of the market remains price sensitive while entry-level mobo features now look like those of high-end products.

Key points in Omid's presentation included switching from static to mobile environments, wireless networks, wireless devices and the need for smaller form factors. "Remove the legacy junk like PCI slots," he says. "And you have a compact, cost efficient, scream machine."