ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

AMD posts Q2 profits that beat Wall Street’s expectations and sent its shares soaring more than 16%

That was despite a drop in revenue.

So what's the lesson here?

AMD has been without a CEO since January, when Dirk Meyer was forced out on January 10th. Maybe AMD is pioneering a new management model, much in the same way Belgium is leading the new political model by showing countries really can do just as well without a government (and those highly-paid heads).

Meyer had been making an annual salary of $950,000, plus a "target" annual bonus of $1.9 million (says Veritas Executive Compensation Consultants LLC). Now that drops to the bottom line. And the effective AMD managers keep Fusion going without interference from the top. Imagine how much less politics when no egos to stroke, no political agenda at play.

MEC Solutions, a distributor and system builder in Zagreb, now builds its own desktop PC cases. MEC makes these desktop PC casings by hand, aiming for premium quality and high ecological standards.

We interviewed Aleksandar Savic, CEO of MEC Solutions, on his distinction of making cases 100% produced in Europe.

As a system builder, are you exporting the PC systems as well as the cases to Europe?

No, our systems are being sold only in Croatia for now. Because of export procedure and cost it is unaffordable for buyers outside Croatia to purchase our systems. However, we offer technical advisory for foreign buyers and "remote desktop software setup" (which is our value added in any case). For a fee, we recommend hardware parts and we setup entire software remotely. Once we join EU we will offer our systems to foreign markets.

Does the fact that you are building systems with your own cases give you any competitive advantage?

Of course it does! We have our unique identity. We have used several other PC casing brands (Lian-Li, Thermaltake, Silverstone) in the past but we found that the price is much higher and it is hard to find and purchase them in Croatia. This way, we have our product that we produce as needed and we keep visual identity structure.

Will Croatia joining the EU on 2013 help you in any way?

It most certainly will. Once Croatia joins EU we'll have less paperwork for export and more affordable shipment rates. Though current procedure isn't "too much work," there are lots of financial obstacles (VAT calculation, paperwork for special export/import taxes, etc). Another point of view is more secure payment environment and different possibilities for opening store credits to foreign buyers. Last but not least, once Croatia enters EU our products will not only be Croatian but also an EU products.

Swedish CE retailer ONOFF files for bankruptcy, citing stiff competition, declining prices and low profit margins.

The company says it was running belt-tightening programs, as well as talks for either sale or merger-- negotiations failing to lead to a finalised deal.

ONOFF's 2010 losses total 152m kronor, while losses reach 44m kronor for 2009.

Operating since 1982, ONOFF has 67 stores in Sweden, 6 in Estonia and 1 in Finland.

Meanwhile sources report Media Markt is planning its expansion towards Swedish territories, and rival store Elgiganten says its "not surprising to see one (Swedish) player disappear."

Go ONOFF Files for Bankruptcy

Forbes puts DigiTimes and the WSJ's reports on Amazon's future tablet(s) together, thus compiling a list of the various companies providing what will go inside the in-the-works device.

It also adds an finding of its own-- Taiwan's Newmax is supplying the devices' camera lens. Newmax supplies lenses for a number of devices, including Microsoft's Kinect and Motorola's smartphones.

The OS will come through Google, with an Android version.

Wintek supplies touch panels, while fringe field switching (FFS) panel technology comes from Hydis, E-Ink Holdings' S. Korean subsidiary. Ilitek provides the LCD driver IC.

Unsurprisingly Foxconn is assembling an Amazon device (a 10.1" tablet) while Quanta Computer appears be also assembling an Amazon tablet (a 7" model).

As said last week, while Amazon will enter an overcrowded tablet scene, it does have an advantage over the competition-- thanks to its e-commerce experience, (not to mention its retail platform) and success in selling online media content and dealing with the cloud.

Go A Look Inside Amazon's Upcoming Tablet (Forbes)

Go Amazon's Future Tablet Plans?