So far, the bulk of the growth has been from Apple's new entry-level product, the Macintosh Classic, which is less profitable than the company's higher-priced models.

In the meantime, the Panasonic Corporation is the first to offer an entry-level product, a digital, high-definition VCR based on the VHS format.

This week, Caere plans to introduce a new version of its entry-level product, Omnipage Direct, with a street price of $69.

Harley-Davidson's intention in introducing a new middleweight model was to increase the size of the motorcycle market by appealing to new riders with an entry-level product.

"This is compounded by the hard-pressed consumer making it difficult to pass on inflation at the full rate and margin being impacted by a switch to lower-margin entry-level product."

Several years ago, complete systems that included speakers, a receiver and usually a DVD player, collectively known as a home theater in a box, were often underpowered entry-level products.

And it will start at $35 a bottle, the same price as Germain-Robin's entry-level product.

But since Sept. 11, the company says, its sales of train sets have grown by 40 percent, primarily in entry-level products.

The cooler, he said, is such an entry-level product.

But, Mr. Levine said in explaining Chrysler's strategy, "we don't see the PT Cruiser as an entry-level product."