Notebook computers using AMD Atholon XP-M central processing units (CPU) are to go on the market later this month, a move likely to increase competition on China's market dominated by Intel processors.
The world's second largest CPU giant, AMD, and Tsinghua Unisplendour Corporation Limited and Xiaxin Electronics co., two local notebook computer manufacturers, said on Monday the move represented an all-out bid by AMD to expand its market presence on the Chinese market.
Unlike Intel, which controls the lion's share of the CPU market in China due to its long presence and aggressive television publicity, AMD only entered the Chinese market recently with low market recognition.
Guan Yanhui, general manager of the Information Technology department of Xiaxin, said AMD had chosen to expand its presence on the Chinese market at a time when the market demand for notebook computers was growing rapidly.
A total of 805,000 notebook computers were sold on the Chinese market in 2002, up 39.7 percent year on year, and it is estimated by some market research organizations that demand will grow by about 50 percent a year in the next two or three years.
Analysts say the entry of AMD Atholon XP-M CPU will increase market competition, forcing its rivals to slash prices and make their products more user-friendly.
(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2003)
