Computer manufacturing giant
Hewlett Packard has issued an apology and extended some
laptop warranties after Chinese officials began an investigation into complaints of faulty products. More than 500 Chinese consumers have contacted
lawyers claiming their
laptops were flawed, some of whom were requesting a recall. The complaints date back to 2007, with most relating to display screen problems or overheated graphic chips. Only 60 complaints have been successful so far, revealed Jiang Suhua, a
lawyer representing some of the unhappy consumers.
The American
PC manufacturer apologised for the inconvenience, and said it was in the process of launching a customer care programme for owners of Hewlett Packard
PCs in China. However, the vice president and general manager of the Personal Systems Group for
HP China and
Hong Kong, Isaiah Cheung, intimated that the programme would not apply to owners of HP
desktop computers, and would instead only apply to customers with certain HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario
notebook PCs.
The question of technology in China remains a controversial one, with
internet users still subjected to considerable constraints, though it is becoming harder for the Chinese government to regulate.