Kensington Computer Products Group, a worldwide leader in mobile computing accessories, today announced 26 new products that reflect the company’s “Smart Made Simple” product design philosophy. Available for the upcoming back-to-school buying season, the new products are intuitive and easy-to-use, yet they also offer leading functionality and intelligent features. Included are six additions to the company’s award-winning line of notebook mice and desktop sets; four new notebook power adapters; 11 USB Power Tips; and five locks for notebooks, projectors and flat panel monitors.
Focusing on the Consumer and Back-to-School Shopper
“Our goal is to provide the right products, uniquely designed, at the right time,” said Tom Russo, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Kensington. “We are announcing 26 products in three different categories in order to satisfy consumers’ growing and evolving computing accessories needs.” Russo explained, “First of all, consumers want simplicity, when both buying and using these products. In addition, because consumers work in a variety of environments, they also want computing accessories that work the way they do and which help them better enjoy their mobile lifestyles.”
Kensington’s new product development efforts are based on extensive consumer research designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of target users and their needs and behaviors. “Kensington’s findings are consistent with studies conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association,” Russo said. “User lifestyle is increasingly important as technology companies become, in effect, industrial design companies. Both markets and products are being differentiated on the basis of consumer lifestyle.”
Driving Kensington’s new product introductions is the year-over-year growth of notebook sales, which now exceed those of desktop computers. According to leading analysts, projected growth for notebooks in 2007 is 30%, with sales reaching 106 million units worldwide. Year-over-year growth in 2006 was about 25%. “Consistent with the growth of the notebook category, our ongoing consumer research shows continued growth in both awareness and market acceptance of notebook accessories,” said Russo. “Even more significant is that consumers are savvier than ever before. They want computer accessories that look great and perform flawlessly. In other words, they want both style and functionality.”
Notebook Mice, Desktop Set for the Modern, Mobile Lifestyle
Expanding its line of award-winning “Control it” products, Kensington is announcing five new mice and a new desktop set. The mice and the desktop set are part of the company’s new Ci Lifestyle Collection, a line of thin, space-saving computer accessories designed to fit consumers’ lifestyles and computing environments while also providing unique functionality.
The Kensington Ci Lifestyle Collection includes the Kensington Ci70 Wireless Desktop Set (SKU K64391US), Kensington Ci70 Wireless Mouse (SKU K72276US), Kensington Ci70LE Wireless Mouse (SKU K72275US), Kensington Ci75m Wireless Notebook Mouse (SKUs K72278US and K72288US), and Kensington Ci85m QuickStart Wireless Notebook Mouse (SKU K72287US). They offer a sleek, modern, low-profile design that is attractive and also saves space in the user’s home workspace and travel bag. A palette of color options and a keyboard that becomes a photo frame provide opportunities for the expression of personal style. Suggested retail prices range from $34.99 to $79.99.
New Power Adapters, Tips: Easier to Select, Set Up and Power Up
Expanding its popular “Power it” line of adapters for notebook computers and mobile devices, Kensington is also introducing three new notebook adapters and a cigarette lighter adapter that can be used with leading mobile devices. With design driven by consumer research, the new adapters are simple to use, portable, compatible and reliable. They feature easy-to-decipher packaging and color-coded notebook tips based on brand, not model, to facilitate selection and set-up.
The Kensington power adapters include the Kensington Wall/Auto/Air Notebook Power Adapter with USB Power Port (SKU K33403US), Kensington Wall Notebook Power Adapter with USB Power Port (SKU K33402US), Kensington Wall Notebook Power Adapter (SKU K33404US), and Kensington Auto Power Adapter with USB Power Port (SKU K33418US). Suggested retail prices range from $9.99 to $139.99.
Kensington is also announcing 11 USB Power Tips for powering and charging top-selling mobile and smartphones and MP3 players, including the iPod®. The Kensington USB Power Tip packs support five leading brands of mobile phones; PDAs/smartphones, such as Blackberry® and Palm®; media players, including iPod and Creative® MP3/media players; and Sony® and Nintendo® games. Suggested retail price: $14.99.
New Locks from the World’s #1 Provider
Kensington, the industry’s physical security expert, is announcing three new ComboSaver® locks designed to offer convenient notebook protection in a variety of environments. The innovative ComboSaver Combination Portable Notebook Lock features a self-coiling cable, similar to a bicycle lock. This makes the lock easy to carry in a backpack, for example. Designed to offer the strongest theft deterrence, the new ComboSaver Combination Notebook Lock Ultra offers a thicker, carbon-tempered steel cable and patented T-bar locking mechanism for ultimate protection. Finally, the ComboSaver Combination Notebook Lock is a safe solution for most notebook users. With its aircraft-grade steel cable, it provides reliable protection.
The Kensington notebook locks include the Kensington ComboSaver Combination Portable Notebook Lock (SKU K64515USA), Kensington ComboSaver Combination Notebook Lock (SKU K64517US), and Kensington ComboSaver Combination Notebook Lock Ultra (SKU K64516US). Suggested retail prices range from $24.99 to $39.99.
In addition, as an extension of Kensington’s leadership in the notebook security market, the company is also announcing locks designed specifically to secure projectors and flat panel monitors. Both the new Kensington MicroSaver® Lock for Projectors (SKU K64530US) and the new Kensington MicroSaver Lock for Flat Panel Monitors (SKU K64529US) are available from select Kensington distributors with a suggested retail price of $44.99.
Product Availability
The new Kensington products — mice, desktop set, power adapters, USB Power Tip packs and security products — will be available starting in June 2007 at various resellers, including Amazon.com, Apple stores, Best Buy, CDW, Circuit City, CompUSA, Dell and online at Kensington.com.
For additional information on the new and existing line of Kensington products, please visit kensington.com.
Kensington
Smart Made Simple (www.kensington.com)
When you think mobile computing accessories, think Kensington. We put innovation, creativity and reliability into every product we make, from mobile power to notebook security to iPod® accessories. Wherever technology takes you, go with Kensington solutions, a worldwide leader in mobile computing. Kensington Computer Products Group, headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, is the technology division of ACCO Brands (NYSE:ABD), a world leader in branded office products, with annual revenues of nearly $2 billion and products marketed in more than 100 countries across the globe. For more information visit the Kensington web site at kensington.com or call toll-free 1-800-235-6708.
Kensington, MicroSaver and ComboSaver are registered trademarks of ACCO Brands. iPod is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc., registered in the US and other countries. All other registered and unregistered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
©2007 Kensington Computer Products Group, a division of ACCO Brands. All rights reserved.
