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PALO ALTO - 03/15/04 - Computer giant Hewlett Packard expects to become the second- or third-largest player in China's rapidly growing personal computer and notebook market by 2008.
 
According to Hon-Cheng Chin, vice president of HP's consumer devices division in China, the company expects to control between 18% and 20% of the mainland computer notebook market by that time, and see its share of the personal computer market hit double digits, from single digits now.
 
"We are looking conservatively at number three, and, super aggressively, at the number two position," Chin recently told Reuters. "We realize that relatively, we will not be able to reach number one."

California-based HP is reportedly vying with local players like Legend Group Ltd. and foreign rivals such as Dell Inc. in a market largely dominated by homegrown computer makers.
 
"Legend will be number one for a long time," the Malaysian-born Chin said. "I don't foresee us being ahead of Legend, because as a brand they have a tremendous amount of staying power."
 
PC sales in China rose 10.4% in 2003 to 13.3 million units, accounting for nearly half of all computers sold in the Asia-Pacific region with industry analysts forecasting the market this year will grow by about 19%.
 
Hewlett Packard reported in February that first-quarter revenues in Asia-Pacific grew nine percent to $2.1 billion, representing 11% of its total revenue.
 
HP already cooperates with Legend - China's biggest PC maker - on product distribution.

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