Dell and Hewlett-Packard are taking “steps to slash notebook R&D expenditure for 2009, according to sources at Taiwan IC channel distributors,” Hans Wu and Steve Shen report for DIGITIMES.
“Notebook R&D personnel working at Dell and HP are assigned mainly to test the performance and reliability of new parts and components. This work overlaps that performed by R&D staff at ODM makers and so is an area vendors can afford to cut back on without impacting new product development, the sources noted,” Wu and Shen report.
“The cuts in R&D expenditure would allow Dell and HP to reduce operating costs while boosting earnings, the sources added,” Wu and Shen report.
“With the planned cuts, Dell and HP will no longer overwhelmingly control the procurement of parts and components needed for the production of their notebooks and instead will delegate purchasing power to ODM makers, allowing the contract makers to purchase needed parts from the suppliers they chose,” Wu and Shen report.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “MacVicta” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Dell and HP did notebook R&D?
@ Jim – TIV
No it didn’t happen in the first year, which was my point. The public didn’t find out about the charging motherboard problem until after the MBP had been around for more than a year. Check MacFixit and the apple discussion boards for the evidence; apple tried to cover it with the battery recall.
@Randian
Why do I care whether you believe me or not? And is your point that cutting spending on quality control for computers is a good idea and that people don’t need to buy AppleCare? You are putting your own credibility on the line when you make fun of me. At least Jim had some substance to his argument.
R&D;?? Like the MacAir thats now running on half the processor at half the clock speed?
Hmmm, Dell and Hp are letting companies in China decide how to build their laptops. You know, the same companies that bring us tainted toothpaste and milk products.
Why would they do that??? Its the culture. In a recent article that discussed business practices in China, they noted that “contracts” and “blueprints” were considered more of a “nice to have but not really needed” kind of thing in China. Its all about the buck there and you can do what ever you want to as long as no one catches you. So Dell and Hp, save your nickels…… I think you are going to need them.
Maybe sooner than you think.
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Just a thought.
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