As the home micro makers flee into liquidation or business systems, or sometimes both, the high street retailers are following them down the second road.

First, WHSmith got serious about business, now Dixons plans to offer you small business systems in 64 of its stores. Its stock will include Sanyo, Apple and ACT machines with business software in tow.

Early offers couple hardware and software. For example, a Sanyo MBC555 with software that Dixons values at £1,200 will cost £999, plus a free monitor if you buy a printer at the same time - shades of the last days of the Osborne 1. A similar deal is on for the Apricot.