Lite-On factory fire threatens Dell and HP monitor business
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Feb 12th 2008 5:42AM
posted Feb 12th 2008 5:42AM
posted Feb 12th 2008 5:42AM
The percentage of returned gadgets that have nothing wrong with them.
Of the $13.8 billion worth of returned products in 2007, only 5 percent were because gadgets were actually broken, according to a 2008 study.
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"affected" not "effected . . . sorry to be a smart @$$, just a pet peave of mine.
You do mean "pet peeve", right?
This is why Lite-On needs to stick with burners...it's a little too good already.
I've actually never seen a HP or Dell monitor whether was it business, school or private computers. Everybody uses Samsung or LG so there is no real panic reason here, at least in Europe...
Yeah I was just thinking that. Strange as it sounds I've never seen one EVER. But I keep hearing about them on Engadget
All the flat screen monitors in my University (In England) are made by Dell.
i have a 22 inch dell monitor. it was $240 last month. most people i know have either a dell monitor or a viewsonic monitor. do you see viewsonic in europe?
How wrong could you be? Have you been into any large businesses lately? Practically anywhere that uses dell Computers uses dell monitors.
I work in a large business. We have samsungs.
Daniel: Rarely.
Interesting. In America, EVERYONE, whether its a school or a business, has Dells. Its hard to go somewhere without seeing a Dell.
I am currently behind one of the 24 inch Dells, and I can't say I have used a better monitor ever. So grab one before the price increases. Pity about the fire.
I guess I'm a rare breed, a PC guy who sorta hates Dell. I've had to roll em out or otherwise support them at work many times, but there's no chance I'd own one myself. (though their notebooks are as good as any) I assure those of you across the pond that not all US computers are Dells, but unfortunately just about all government and medical computers are.
I've got a 27" Dell and it's spectacular. That is to be expected, since Dell doesn't really make them at all anyway. Mine in particular uses a Samsung panel, but I know some other Dell's in the past have used Phillips panels, and as you can see, most are made by Lite-on (if not all). HP is pretty much the same way.
And as for not seeing any, it must be a European thing...there are many HP and Dell monitors here stateside, in homes and businesses of all sizes. They're not *everywhere* as some people claim but there are quite a few.
(And like the other poster, I'm not exactly a big Dell fan either, but if they have a good product at a good price, I wouldn't have any qualms about getting it.)
Very strange. Most businesses/schools that I have been to (here in New York) have ONLY Dell monitors. Dell has some majorly tight package monitor/computer deals for business and education. Hell, they have some good package deals for home users.
Every place I have ever worked has used Dell's, every news station uses Dell's, everyone I know has at least one Dell, I have 2 Dell PC, my school used Dell's.
Dell's rule the computer space the United States
Dude, you need to get out more, expand your circle a little.
Go into practically any business in the UK and you are bound to find some dell kit (Unless it is a design place, then it is full of Apple stuff. I am sitting a room at the moment with at least 5 dell desktops, all have dell monitors, keyboards and mice. Dell has the dominant business mindshare here, because they are relativly cheap, and pretty decent machines. HP/Compaq are also pretty big as well.
I'd pay 30% extra to have multi-coloured smoke come out of my monitor like the pic.
Haha, so many replies here. Ok, I've seen one or two CRTs by DELL, same thing with HP, but still, samsung keeps dominating with LCDs.. and I am not from England. Please stop replying on my comment, msn is going crazy with email reports...
Is it me or is this "article" poorly written? Some things sound very awkward when i read it, and the 3rd sentence has some very weird punctuation.
OT: I don't understand how you can not find Dell's and HP in workplaces. I see them all the time, at small and big businesses, schools, etc. Never seen a Viewsonic though (live in Europe).
Samsung dominating... but samsung price is higher...
I do work in front of a Dell screen (in Germany), actually most people in my company do so.
Wait... No one mentioned this yet....
Lite-On makes LCDs? That's actually news to me.
I thought they only made CD/DVD drives. Hell they make EXCELLENT CD/DVD drives.
yep
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lite-On
They don't make any panels, but they do make the housing and assemble them. Lite-on does a LOT of computer manufacturing like that. And yes, their optical drives generally are great.
I have not been happy with Dell in the past. They're not nearly durable or reliable enough (even before the whole "exploding battery" nonsense)- I suppose you do get what you pay for. So, I have a Panasonic. Costs a bit more, but it's small, light, and actually withstands a bit of kicking around.
Anyone remember a similar situation involving a RAM production facility in the early 90s? There was a report of a fire at some unheard of factory in Asia and overnight memory prices shot up something like %100.
Regardless of of who Lite-On was making panels for, this will probably decrease supply and increase prices for everyone.
That drove me nuts. I was about to buy a second stick for my pc at the time. Prices here in Canada went from $70 for whatever size stick i had been looking for, up to $120...so yeah, almost double.
Though I'm not sure whether it was a large manufacturing facility going down, or just a shortage due to the move to DDR and an inability for manufacturers to switch over production fast enough.
I think that was an earthquake not a fire
flame on !!!
oh... Lite-On ... never mind then ;-)
the Dell Ultrasharp Flat Panels are great. i have two Dell Ultrasharp 1907WFP setup on my desk. and if future dell monitors are as good as those i will only buy dell monitors from now on.
The UK monitor prices have already jumped, possible as a result of this..
2407WFP-HC has been steadily dropping from £450 odd to £381 yesterday.
Now back to £440 odd today (number of suppliers)
Reminiscent of the RAM factory fires. Each time the prices drop to good level (for consumers) a factory fire causes shortages and bumps the price back up...
Nice strategy!!