Computer buyers are smart to be suspicious

PC makers are increasingly resorting to somewhat misleading marketing practices to push their products for home and business use. Apple markets Macintosh Quadras to companies and Macintosh Performas to the home market, though both models are essentially the same. Packard Bell Electronics excels at this type of 'derivative model' marketing, offering the 'Legend' at Circuit City and Best Buy electronics outlets, the 'Axcel' at Office Max and Office Depot office superstores and the 'Force' at CompUSA and other computer superstores, even though few differences exist among the various models. IBM supplies different configurations of its PS/1 models so that chain stores, such as Wal-Mart, can offer systems unique from those at other stores. However, the inconsistent marketing tactics have confused many potential consumers and some vendors, including Compaq, have begun streamlining their product lines.