Computex show hangs in the SARS balance

THE ORGANISERS of the important Computex show, held in Taiwan in June, are canvassing visitors to decide whether to hold the show or not, given the current scare-level of the SARS virus.

But a straw poll undertaken by the INQ in the last few days suggests that even if the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) decides to go with the show, visitors will be very thin on the ground.

As we reported last week, many European and American firms have already made the decision not to attend Computex, which acts as a showplace for future hi-tech technology in the coming year.

The Economic News today reports that the vast majority of hi-tech firms have already cut their operations by as much as 90% on mainland China, with nearly 40% canning new investments and expansion plans there.

The TCA also said that 60% of IT firms on the island itself have curtailed some business operations.

The situation will become serious for the IT industry if any of the many semiconductor manufacturing plants on the island are forced to shut down. These firms produce a vast array of different chips not only for big firms such as Nvidia, ATI, Broadcom, Via and other well-known companies, but also smaller components as well as a proportion of memory (DRAM) semiconductors. µ

* MEANWHILE SURVEYS of sales of electronics gizmos and mobile phones have taken a huge tumble, according to today's Wall Street Journal. Sales of mobile phones and desktop PCs are suffering the most, and SARS could cut estimates by as much as 30%, the report said. Hong Kong sales of desktops have already dropped 37% compared to the same period last year, and it's hit notebook sales too to the tune of 22%. The newspaper estimates drops in sales of electronic products as a result of SARS could lead to a fall globally of as much as three per cent.

See Also
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Intel cancels IDF Taipei, Beijing
IEEE conference cancelled as SARS spreads
SARS risk may cause Computex postponement
Insurance firms may refuse cover to SARS-infected countries
SARS epidemic could cripple IT industry
Deadly pneumonia starts affecting hi-tech biz
SARS doesn't stop every human activity. Cough