HP exits the Asian digital camera market
It'd probably be a little unfair to describe HP as being in retreat, but the news hasn't been so encouraging lately: they're laying off 10% of their workforce, they've quit selling their HP-branded version of the iPod, and now just this morning they've announced that they're withdrawing from the Asian digital camera market (which means you won't be able to buy Gwen Stefani's Harajuku-themed Photosmart R607 in Harajuku anymore). HP's actually not doing so bad in the US, in the first quarter of this year they sold more digital cameras than either Fujifilm or Nikon, but the Asian market is about as competitive as it gets and without a brand name that people instantly associate with photography it must have been a little tough getting a leg up on all of the ultra low-priced options that are out there. Usually this sort of thing is a prelude to a company exiting a business entirely, but HP swears that they're not giving up on digital cameras and and that sales have been good in North America, Latin America, and Europe.
