Seneca Data Adds Custom Faceplates To Notebooks

Seneca, a North Syracuse, NY, system builder, is offering the custom face plates or "skins" as part of Intel's whitebook program that promises interchangeable parts for a select set of notebook models.

Intel unveiled the whitebook program at its annual channel conference in March. At that time, executives hoped to boost whitebook sales in the channel, which has been particularly strong in desktops but has not seen comparable growth in the notebooks. The program included increased supply of processors available to the channel along with the interchangeable parts. Intel executives said they also planned to offer a chassis that would give system builders an opportunity to get customized logos and other skins printed and add them to the models in a cost effective manner.

For its new notebook, Matt Hutton, Seneca's mobile business development manager, said the system builder is using one of the new models from Intel's program with a special face plate.

"It has an indentation with a minor lip at the perimeter of the notebook that [the skin] fits into," he said.

Seneca is working with a local provider in the area to print out the skins, which he described as being like a sticker but more substantial.

"It is a heavier quality and mill spec than a regular sticker, it has some rigidity to it," he said.

Seneca has already started offering the skins for one local college. For resellers, Hutton said Seneca will keep the skins in stock and then assemble them as orders are placed.

He said the skins are a great way for corporate customers to market themselves.

"What we are seeing is more customers that want some sort of identifying, marketing space," he said.

Resellers, he added, can develop their own unique skins for specific notebook lines.

The skins give Intel-based notebooks "a more personal experience," he continued. "Apple has done a good but with that but the Intel platform has been lacking," he said. "But they have bridged that gap here."