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This article focuses in the software industry in Taiwan. In a black-walled, cave-like office cluttered with gaming paraphernalia and lit by a harsh arc of fluorescent light, a handful of Taiwanese software engineers are crafting a line-by-line labor of love that will be part of a new future for the island. Software is less of a commodity, and therefore higher margin, than most of the hardware products Taiwan pumps out year after year. According to government figures, Taiwan-influenced system products, which include those made by Taiwanese companies in China, accounted for $70 billion last year.

Focuses on the computer industry in Taiwan. How the Hsinchu Science Park has run out of space; Creation of a replica of Silicon Valley, California by Wen Hsiung Huang near the city of Tainan; Computer components made in Taiwan; Taiwan being the largest producer of notebook computers; Factors of Taiwan's success in the computer industry.

The article offers information on the Computex Exhibit held at the Nangang Exhibit Hall in Taipei City, Taiwan. The author calls the event as "The Last Computex" based on the history of the exhibit. It adds that the allocation of floor space of the personal computer (PC) market at Computex may reach 25 % of the total market as compared to the gaming industry.

The article discusses the information technology (IT) industry in Taiwan. The growth of Taiwan's IT industry has resulted in its firms producing more than half of all computer chips, almost 70% of computer displays and almost all portable computers, according to the article. How the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan's history, and its network of small firms that can make computer parts have contributed to its growth are discussed.

The article reports on the innovation of ultramobile portable computers (PC) by various computer manufacturers in Taipei, Taiwan. The Microsoft Corp. is focusing in the ultramobile PC market and introducing its first product in the form of Samsung's Q1 tablet computers. The Via Technologies Inc. is offering a CoreFusion system in a package that combines C7-M microprocessor with integrated north and south bridges.

Focuses on the expansion of personal computer companies into the consumer electronics market in Taiwan. Computer peripherals manufacturer BenQ Corp.'s rollout of consumer electronics products; Product introductions at Computex Taipei 2004 exhibit; Influence of consumer electronics on the personal computer sector.

Reports that personal computer core logic designers in Taiwan are preparing dual-channel, double-data-rate (DDR) random access memory designs. Ability of DDR chip sets to give dynamic random access memory a bandwidth edge over Rambus memory in high-performance desktop systems, entry-level servers and workstations; Chip sets from Silicon Integrated Systems Corp. and Via Technologies Inc.

Examines how the adoption of the PowerPC microprocessor by a consortium of Taiwanese personal computer (PC) manufacturers stands to escalate the rivalry between Intel's Pentium and the standard developed by Motorola and IBM in the United States. Effect of adoption of PowerPC standard upon Taiwan's PC industry; Difficulties faced by Taiwanese PC makers on Intel's Pentium.

Reports on partnership agreements by major American computer companies with Taiwanese companies. Digital Equipment Corp.'s alliance for its Alpha AXP microprocessors with Elitegroup Computer Systems Co.; IBM Corp.'s negotiation with Computer and Communications Laboratories; Acer Inc.'s multiplatform strategy; Cyrix Corp.'s alternative.

Features Taiwanese computer group Acer Group. Goal of the company' Stan Shih as founder and chairman of Acer; Problems faced by Taiwanese electronics industry; Need for large-scale investment in technology development and international marketing; Taiwan government's budget for research and development programs; Establishment of the Brand International Promotion Association (BIPA).

Reports that Taiwan's computer industry, best-known as a low-cost parts maker, wants to make the whole caboodle. Speculation over whether this Asian nation's information technology industry is up to the challenges such a goal entails.

The article reports that companies in Taiwan are grabbing a bigger share of the laptop computer market but system makers are facing difficulties such as the need to expand their foreign markets and transition to LED backlights. Asustek Computer and Acer Inc. are among the 15 companies in Taiwan who have large laptop businesses under their own brands.

The article presents news from the computer industry. An effort to revive deadlocked talks aimed at unifying competing next-generation DVD standards has failed, according to the president of Matsushita Electric Corp. Taiwan's industry executives are pressuring their government to loosen restrictions on interactions with China. STMicroelectronics NV has scrapped its traditional R&D model to focus exclusively on funding near-term projects. Intel Corp. is set to launch a desktop PC design for business users as a platform for its chips.

Reports on Taiwanese technology company Acer Inc.'s decision to withdraw from the computer manufacturing business. Focus on information technology services; Outsourcing of design and manufacturing; Possible buyers of the manufacturing division, which will be spun off.

Focuses on the possible contribution of computer notebooks in regaining the economy of Taiwan. Growth rate of hardware production in Taiwan in 2000; Factors which have contributed to the economic slowdown in Taiwan; Information on the computer notebooks presented in Computex 2001 in Taiwan.

Reports that computer companies in Taiwan have lowered their sales projection for 2000 due to a loss of original equipment manufacturing orders from the United States. Forecast on the global personal computer market; Overview of the sales of computers from computer manufacturers in Taiwan.

Comments on the ways Taiwanese computer and electronics manufacturers manage their production. Changes in the cycle of time in delivering manufactures in Taiwan; Reason for the changes in delivering manufactures in Taiwan.

Reports on the PC133 motherboards prepared by vendors in Taiwan. Features of the motherboards; Microprocessors used in the product; Information on the PC133 core logic offered by Via Technologies Inc.

Discusses the situation of Intel and Taiwan's personal computer industry. Conflict between Intel and Taiwan's motherboard makers; Suggestion of Intel that the Taiwanese consider making software; Intel's acknowledgement of Taiwan's role in the creation of the low-priced computer.

Focuses on the Taiwan New PC Consortium (TNPC), a group of personal computer manufacturers. Operating systems of TNPC computers; Issue on software; Marketing schemes.

Editorial. Focuses on PowerPC-based computers showcased at the 1994 Computex Trade Show in Taiwan. Companies which participated in the event; Taiwan New PC Consortium's display of prototype systems that are compliant with PowerPC Reference Platform (PReP); Potentials of OS/2 for PowerPC; Eventual manufacture of International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. computer systems based on the PowerPC architecture.

Reports on the reengineering of Taiwan's computer industry from manufacturing to design orientation. Rising labor rates; Government support; Science-based industrial park in Hsinchu; Winning products at the 1993 Computex computer show.

Reports on the increasing demand for notebook computers in Taiwan. Plan by computer makers led by Acer to increase monthly output of notebook computers; Average monthly shipments of computers in 1995; Taiwan as third largest producer of communications equipment.

Editorial. Presents highlights of two computer trade shows in Taipei, Taiwan and in Moscow. Desktop computing future; Soviet computer industry; Problems.

Reports that Chromatic Research Inc.'s Mpact single-chip hardware/software multimedia solution has attracted the attention of original equipment manufacturers in Taiwan. Features of the chip; Price point as the main appeal of the Mpact; Scheduled completion of the software modules for Mpact by August 1996.

Reports on Ado Electronics' plans to market personal computers (PCs) in Taiwan. Establishment of Pacific T-Zone in Taipei with local firm Pacific Electric Wire & Cable; Slated opening of the first Pacific T-Zone shop.

Reports on the success of Taiwanese computer company, Acer Computer Australia Pty Ltd., in the Australian market. Rank of Acer in the Australian market; Major competitors of Acer; Strategies used by the company to keep up with the competition; Factors affecting the financial and operational performance of the firm; Characteristics of Acer's manufacturing process.

Deals with the declining demand for personal computer systems and motherboards in Taiwan as of April 2001. Factors contributing to the trend; Negative effect on semiconductor makers; Companies that may possibly survive the financial trouble.