As wireless technology makes it possible for people to surf websites and use e-mail on the go, notebook makers are betting that their products will find wider acceptance. That is why you hear snappy spots on Singapore radio for Fujitsu portables. Or see pouty male and female mannequins flaunt their IBM Thinkpads on glossy posters. They have to talk to an audience who doesn't care whether it understands what the machines can and can't do. Better get used to the hype.
Some analysts see desktop computers fading away, at least in homes.
By 2004, says IDC, that figure will rise seven-fold. Fight back with ever handier notebooks, of course. Some of the most agile companies, such as Toshiba, have not bothered to produce desktops for Asia, choosing to focus instead on portables. Research by industry leader Toshiba shows that most notebook buyers place a premium on form and appearance. Apple's colorful satchel computers are making a big splash in Asia, especially Japan.