China to buy 1.5 mln computers with Loongson CPUs

Sep. 23, 2009 (China Knowledge) - The Chinese government plans to procure 1.5 million Loongson-based computers in order to support the home-grown CPUs, according to Zhang Fuxin, general manager of Jiangsu Lemote Tech Co Ltd, sources reported.

Jiangsu Province has already ordered 150,000 Loongson computers from Lemote Tech, added Zhang, who predicted that the industrialization of Loongson PCs will experience explosive growth in the next three years.

He revealed that the firm's Loongson business achieved a balanced budget in 2008 and expects to achieve profitability this year.

Lemote Tech over the weekend launched a new line of all-in-one PCs at a Software Freedom Day celebration event. The new PC models, whose performance will be comparable to computers with Intel Atom processors, at present only support the Linux operating system.

The firm will develop PC models that support the Windows OS next year, said Zhang, adding that the Loongson-based Windows PCs may not meet the minimum performance requirements for cutting edge games.

Reportedly, the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the developer of the Loongson CPU, has plans to set up an RMB-1 billion joint venture for its computer processors. Lemote Tech took part in the discussion but declined to reveal more details.