But with the growth in the PC market increasingly coming from the consumer market and notebook PCs, Dell's worldwide array of factories seem a cost burden.
Hewlett-Packard is clearly benefiting from the shift in consumer preferences toward notebook PCs.
There is already a big market for mobile computers, including notebook PCs and Palm-style persorganisersisers.
Chips for notebook PCs, marketed as the Intel Core 2 Extreme and Intel Core 2 Duo, will be available in the first quarter of next year.
Taiwan is the world's largest supplier of notebook PCs, and liquid-crystal-display panels for flat-screen televisions, according to the government.
Sony showed off a similar technology, which it hopes to deploy in some Bravia televisions and Vaio notebook PCs in 2010.
www.toshiba.co.uk Toughbooks Panasonic has unveiled the latest in its range of Toughbook range of computers - notebook PCs designed to withstand a knock.
A.M.D. gained market share, particularly in the desktop and server markets, though Intel managed to keep a tight grip on fast-growing notebook PCs.
As someone who has read more than one book on computer ergonomics, I was surprised to find my physiotherapist so hostile to notebook PCs.
Intel is promising notebook PCs that, next year, will use no more than 5W, desktops at 65W, and servers at 80W.
Not only are notebook PCs now slimmer and lighter than ever, they're also versatile and can do the job of most standalone gadgets.
