Planet Gadgets Gadget Blog

Asian PC Manufacturers Looking To U.S.A For Growth

by Darren

In a sense, the domestic PC market of the United States is not what it used to be. It is not considered to be a slow-growing market in comparison to many emerging markets. But to Chinese PC makers, the U.S. still represents their best chance to increase sales.

“You can’t afford not to be in the U.S.,” said David Daoud, a PC industry analyst at market researcher IDC. “The best way to get into the U.S. is to have something unique, something different.”

Taiwanese computer makers Asustek (2357.TW: Quote, Profile, Research) and Acer Inc (2353.TW: Quote, Profile, Research) are aggressively courting consumers in the United States through retail outlets such as Best Buy Co (BBY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and online stores including newegg.com and TigerDirect.com.

The push comes as the U.S. lags the rest of the world in PC shipment growth. While Asian companies may have a tough time competing broadly in a saturated market, the laptop segment is still growing.

No matter the plan, the PC business is facing a great number of challenges, not limited to the increase of “SmartPhones” that people already have and are well-connected to the internet. Mobile computing is almost guaranteed to erode the PC market, in much the way cell phones killed the traditional land lines. That’s why all computer manufactures these days are focusing on the one area of the PC business that keeps growing: laptops.

If the Chinese PC makers are hoping to gain any ground, they will need to do so with a reputation for high quality.