US computer maker, Apple Computer, will launch a major advertising campaign in Dublin to establish the capital as one of 10 key technology sales hubs in the UK and Ireland.

Mr Mark Rogers, head of UK and Irish sales at Apple, said the firm would prioritise its Irish sales operation and put it on an even footing with those of the UK for the first time.

Speaking at the UK and Irish launch of the new Apple iBook notebook computer in Cork, Mr Rogers said Apple was "a bit guilty in the past of not focusing enough on Ireland".

Despite a 20-year history in Cork, where Apple employs 1,200 people at its technology campus, the firm does not lead the Irish consumer or educational computer market.

"Apple must do more advertising in the Irish marketplace," he said. "There is tremendous potential to grow in Ireland and Dublin is a leader which people will look to follow in the rest of the country."

The decision to launch the new iBook in Cork was evidence of this new focus, he said. "Frankly this wouldn't have happened a few years ago," he added.

The new iBook, which Apple claims to be the lightest and smallest educational notebook on the market, weighs 4.9 pounds and features five hours of battery life.

It retails for between £1,190 and £1,450 excluding VAT in the Republic and should be available for distribution by mid-May.

Different models of the iBook offer a choice of a CD, DVD or CD rewritable drive to allow easy copying of music CDs or a combination of DVD and CD drive to enable both music and video features.

Mr Rogers said the power and durability of the iBook would specifically tailor it to the educational marketplace.