Lenovo Group became the first PC maker in the world to release models optimized for Windows Vista and estimates it will sell several million computers pre-installed with Vista this year.

The world's third-largest computer maker demonstrated about 10 new computers as well as printers in Beijing and at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas yesterday, two days after Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates demonstrated the software at the CES.

With Microsoft expected to release the new operating systems to consumers on January 30, computer makers are looking to it to boost sales.

"Windows Vista has an unprecedented space in the PC industry," said Chen Shaopeng, senior vice-president of Lenovo Group and president of its China operation, yesterday at its headquarters in Beijing.

While mainstream computers in the Chinese market use one-core processors from Intel or AMD, Windows Vista requires dual-core processors and a memory of at least 2 gigabytes for optimal performance.

However, Liu Jie, general manager of Lenovo's consumer desktop computers and head of a Vista migration team in the firm, said any rise in the price of computers will only be equal to the cost of a McDonalds meal, thanks to subsidies from Microsoft, Lenovo and other partners.

For PC makers, which have been looking for something to save them from price wars and stimulate buyers' demand, Windows Vista promises to be a strong stimulus.

The world's largest computer maker, HP, plans to release new desktop products for the Chinese market today in Beijing and Windows Vista is expected to be a key theme. In November, 17 major PC makers including Lenovo and HP said they had computers ready for the launch of Windows Vista.

Lenovo, the biggest PC supporter of Microsoft in China, sold about 5 million computers with Microsoft's Windows operating systems last year, out of a total shipment of around 8 million units. Liu estimated the shipment of Vista-equipped machines will be roughly the same.

In November, the computer giant selected large corporate users as pilots for the migration to Vista, but other consumers will have to wait until January 30 to get computers fitted with the software.

Lenovo has been preparing products, sales and services for the official launch.

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