Lite-On factory fire threatens Dell and HP monitor business

A fire at Lite-On's factory in China this month is set to have rippling repercussions on the desktop monitor business. In all, 14 of Lite-On's LCD monitor production lines have been affected by the damage. The very same lines which supply those hi-specced, low priced monitors to Dell and HP, who along with Lenovo are Lite-On's top contract partners. Our advice? If you're on the fence with a purchase then you'd best hop off. Dell and HP are looking at a 20% and 22% shortage, respectively.

[david @ Feb 12th 2008 5:48AM]

"affected" not "effected . . . sorry to be a smart @$$, just a pet peave of mine.

[telepheedian @ Feb 12th 2008 8:22AM]

You do mean "pet peeve", right?

[Chuckles McGee @ Feb 12th 2008 3:31PM]

This is why Lite-On needs to stick with burners...it's a little too good already.

[Pro7 @ Feb 12th 2008 5:54AM]

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...

[Superprime @ Feb 12th 2008 6:09AM]

Yeah I was just thinking that. Strange as it sounds I've never seen one EVER. But I keep hearing about them on Engadget

[Shadowise @ Feb 12th 2008 6:10AM]

All the flat screen monitors in my University (In England) are made by Dell.

[Daniel @ Feb 12th 2008 6:10AM]

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?

[matt @ Feb 12th 2008 6:16AM]

How wrong could you be? Have you been into any large businesses lately? Practically anywhere that uses dell Computers uses dell monitors.

[Superprime @ Feb 12th 2008 6:24AM]

I work in a large business. We have samsungs.

Daniel: Rarely.

[vileta2 @ Feb 12th 2008 6:54AM]

Interesting. In America, EVERYONE, whether its a school or a business, has Dells. Its hard to go somewhere without seeing a Dell.

[Geir E @ Feb 12th 2008 7:10AM]

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.

[Spyvie @ Feb 12th 2008 8:14AM]

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.

[Kamokazi @ Feb 12th 2008 8:24AM]

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.)

[Chebwa @ Feb 12th 2008 9:12AM]

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.

[bob e @ Feb 12th 2008 7:08AM]

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

[Spyvie @ Feb 12th 2008 8:01AM]

Dude, you need to get out more, expand your circle a little.

[matt @ Feb 12th 2008 7:09AM]

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.

[tekdroid @ Feb 12th 2008 7:09AM]

I'd pay 30% extra to have multi-coloured smoke come out of my monitor like the pic.

[Pro7 @ Feb 12th 2008 7:12AM]

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...

[Dextro @ Feb 12th 2008 7:19AM]

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).

[didi @ Feb 12th 2008 10:09AM]

Samsung dominating... but samsung price is higher...

[Simpzon @ Feb 12th 2008 7:42AM]

I do work in front of a Dell screen (in Germany), actually most people in my company do so.

[nxtiak @ Feb 12th 2008 7:24AM]

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.

[tekdroid @ Feb 12th 2008 8:13AM]

yep
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lite-On

[Kamokazi @ Feb 12th 2008 8:28AM]

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.

[Jamar @ Feb 12th 2008 8:10AM]

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.

[Spyvie @ Feb 12th 2008 8:23AM]

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.

[Jorvay @ Feb 12th 2008 9:09AM]

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.

[Superprime @ Feb 12th 2008 11:15AM]

I think that was an earthquake not a fire

[Francis @ Feb 12th 2008 8:31AM]

flame on !!!

oh... Lite-On ... never mind then ;-)

[eric cumbee @ Feb 12th 2008 12:46PM]

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.

[Bruce @ Feb 13th 2008 4:12PM]

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!!