[ajross]

That mostly just shifts the frame without answering the core question. Why can't the chinese design a decent laptop?

[gamble]

They're stuck in a local optimum. These companies have to be structured in a certain way to succeed at low margin, high volume commodity hardware sales. It isn't easy to adapt that to higher-end products, and when they try the market is slow to recognize changes in a brand, which discourages them from trying.

[seanmcdirmid]

R&D spending: when you are in a race to the bottom, you can only afford to invest in safe designs, and most of your focus is on efficiency. In contrast, Apple can afford lots of R&D spending.

[chii]

and yet, long term, it's apple that makes the bulk of the profits in this sector, while the rest rat race tothe bottom.

I m not sure if its by design, or these smaller companies just cannot come up with a long term plan...