PC Makers Aim Overseas

US remains biggest market as demand in other skyrockets

By Laila Weir, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 7, 2008 12:23 PM CST

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PC Makers Aim Overseas — Chinese employees working in cubicles at the Hewlett-Packard call center in Dalian, northeastern China's Liaoning province on Sept. 24, 2007. Now about 69% of HP's revenue comes from outside the US.(AP Photo/CHINATOPIX) (Associated Press)

PC makers are increasingly setting their sights on markets outside the US, which are making up an ever-larger share of the worldwide computer market, USA Today reports. PC sales are growing in the US, still the world’s largest market, but are rising much faster elsewhere. Last year, the US accounted for 26% of worldwide sales, compared to 35% 5 years ago.

"The average family in the US has three PCs. In China, it's more like one PC for 10 families," said an HP exec. About 69% of the company’s revenue now comes from international sources. An analyst said companies who fail to grow overseas may suffer: Dell, which relies on the US for half its revenue, just posted a disappointing earnings report. (More personal computers stories.)

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