NEC to dump Packard Bell name for business PCs

The Japanese giant is also reorganising its UK operation under the name NEC Computer Systems and dropping the Packard Bell-NEC name in favour of just 'NEC' on business machines.

"Everyone knows Packard-Bell as a home brand [but] when we traded under Packard Bell-NEC things went horribly wrong and corporates asked why the PB badge was on machines," said Chris Davies, UK general manager of NEC.

The firm will produce its first "fast and furious" Direction line of business desktop PCs and PowerMate corporate PCs at its Nice, France facility towards the end of the year, said Graeme Simons, European marketing manager.. The factory can produce up to 150,000 units per month.

"The important thing to establish was that we could make them first. For us to rely on the US [for supply] would be a very dodgy thing," added Simons.