Notebook shipments in Latin America had an annual growth of 33% in the third quarter of 2010 with Hewlett-Packard (HP), Acer and Dell saw 40%, 31%, and 21% growth, respectively; however, the largest brand in Brazil Positivo had a drop of 12%, indicating that regional brands are facing strong pressure from competition of first-tier brands.

Although some countries such as Brazil are using heavy tariffs as well as government policies to protect local players, notebook maker are establishing plants locally and hiring local labor to assemble PC products, indirectly helping global first-tier brands cut into these markets.

Since white-box makers do not have the economical scale that large first-tier brands do, they will need a new business model or they may be squeezed out of the market or be acquired by other large players.