Dell Computer Corp launched its Dimension Desktop flagship consumer PC line in China yesterday. Dell first began selling its OptiPlex, PowerEdge and Latitude products direct to China last August, and says that since then, it has won customers in 15 major cities and 80 municipal areas through Dell sales representatives and through its web site. It has also opened a 135,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Xiamen to serve the Chinese market.
China is already the largest personal computer market in the Asia Pacific region – and according to Dell is by far the single largest market of potential PC users on the planet. According to International Data Corp figures, the Chinese consumer desktop market grew 75% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 1998 and is forecast to grow at 52% this year. The IDC figures show Dell’s sales surging 205% in the fourth quarter 1998 compared with the same quarter last year. Dell opened its 238,000 square-foot Penang, Malaysia Asia Pacific manufacturing facility in January 1996.
