Compaq could be affected by Intel-Via action

Sources at Toshiba told The Register it was still firmly committed to manufacturing in both Japan and Germany last week, but if reports from Asia are true, notebook rival Compaq is set to spend even more money sourcing products from IT powerhouse Taiwan. The trade show site for the June show Computex is reporting today that Compaq has just signed a deal with local manufacturer Inventec to supply it with three million notebook PCs. It adds that Compaq told representatives of the Taiwanese industry at the end of last year that it will source $8.5 billion worth of kit from the island during 2000. Inventec turned over $2.1 billion during 1999 and is one of Compaq's preferred suppliers. Another of Compaq's preferred suppliers is FIC (First International Corporation). Intel is currently gunning for FIC as part of a complaint it filed earlier this month to the US International Trade Commission (ITC), as part of its current action to prevent Via gaining a greater share of the chipset and processor markets. Compaq is not going to be very happy if the US body stops shipments into the US. At all. ® Intel extends Via legal action More Big Q money goes to Taiwan More Taiwanese mobo makers get jitters after Intel-Via suit Compaq admits Inventec makes its notebooks Compaq strikes $7 billion Taiwan supply deal