Tight squeeze; Packard Bell is beset by new competition, customer complaints; home-PC pioneer borrowed under terms that put independence in doubt; market share is declining
Article Abstract:
Packard Bell Electronics faces an assortment of fiscal and technological obstacles in its attempt to recapture lost PC-market share and survive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Packard Bell CEO and founder Beny Alagem is overseeing the company's efforts to permeate the government, global and corporate PC markets that Packard has thus far avoided. However, for Alagem and Packard to succeed in new markets and stave off a forced divestiture of majority control to Packard investors, the company must meet challenges on several fronts. In recent years, quality-control complaints from customers have increased, the company has repeatedly sustained losses and Packard's growth rate and market share have each declined steadily. Analysts suggest that the technological challenges that Packard Bell faces in its attempt to penetrate niche markets may be too great to overcome.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1996
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PC makers, Intel to unveil scaled-back NetPCs
Article Abstract:
Intel and several leading PC makers have joined together to introduce NetPCs, an inexpensive option to PCs. NetPCs are desktop machines that have been stripped down and have operating costs much lower than PCs. The product launch by such companies as Compaq Computer, HP, Gateway 2000, IBM and Packard Bell is an attempt to establish a place for NetPCs in the market prior to network computers gaining power in the market. The NetPCs will use Microsoft's software for their operating systems but they will have no expandability options. The machines are designed for a network administrator to be able to easily manage them. The machines are targeted at individuals that require only limited resources to meet their computing needs.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1997
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