Hasee

Hasee Computer Company, Ltd. (Chinese: 神舟电脑; pinyin: Shénzhōu Diànnǎo) is a Chinese personal computer manufacturer headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. In 2008, it was the second largest Chinese computer maker.^[2]

For the neopet, see Neopets.

Hasee Computer Company, Ltd.

Founded	1995[1] or 2001/2002[2]
Founder	Wu Haijun
Headquarters	Shenzhen, Guangdong , China
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Wu Haijun (Chairman and President), Jean Tafazzoli (CEO for European market)
Products	Personal computers, cell phones
Parent	Hasee Group
Website	http://www.hasee.com (in Chinese)

In addition to its domestic market, Hasee products are sold worldwide.

History

Hasee Computers was founded on January 3, 1995, originally as Shenzhen New World Industrial Co., Ltd. In April, the company collaborated with Hong Kong-based Yali Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. (later renamed Shuangmin Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. in 1996) to distribute movie cards as the agent for Accton Technology, a Taiwanese company. The following year, Hasee launched its own sound card "小声霸" (directly translated as "Little Sound King") in January. That same year, the company earned the distributorship of Shuangmin Electronics’ "小影霸" (directly translated as "Little Video King") graphics card and began distributing NEC-brand floppy drives, hard drives, and optical drives in November.

In July 1997, Hasee introduced its own brand of motherboards, "磐英" (directly translated as“Panying”).^[3] Between April and May of 1999, the company launched two new motherboard series, "奔驰" ("Beng-Chi") and "神龙" ("Shen-Long"). In January 2000, Hasee established its R&D center, and by July, they released the "Little Net King" modem. Additionally, New World Technology Co., Ltd. was founded in the same month to manage the NEC agency business.

In September 2000, Hasee Computers Co., Ltd. was established, marking New World’s transition from the component market to the complete systems market. However, the company continued its agency business, and in the following month, it began representing NEC monitors. In January 2001, the Hasee Electronics Factory was completed and went into production, and by August, the first Hasee-branded desktop computer was released. In December, New World Industrial Co., Ltd. was renamed New World Group Co., Ltd.

In January 2002, Hasee gained significant public attention with its "四千八百八，奔四扛回家" (directly translated as “¥4880, bring a Pentium 4 home”) advertisement campaign aired on CCTV, which quickly boosted its popularity.^[4] In May of that year, construction began on the New World Industrial Park. The following year, in February 2003, Hasee started producing laptops. That same year, Hasee's chairman, Wu Haijun, was ranked 18th on the Hurun "IT Rich List" with a net worth of 1 billion yuan.^[5] Around this time, the company also entered the South Korean market.^[6]

In November 2005, Hasee’s Commercial OEM Division was officially established, and in May 2006, the company began planning its entry into the German market.^[7] By January 2007, Hasee expanded into the Middle Eastern market.^[8] In 2008, the company faced a setback when a defect in some of NVIDIA’s graphics chips led to the “Graphics Card Scandal.” Despite this, Hasee continued to grow and entered the Japanese market in May 2009.^[9]

In July 2010, reports indicated that Hasee Computers was planning to list on the ChiNext board.^[10] On March 22, 2011, Hasee officially submitted its application for listing on ChiNext for review. However, the very next day, the application was rejected by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC).^[11] According to reports, this was Hasee’s (and its parent company’s) third unsuccessful attempt to go public.^[12]

On July 6, 2011, Hasee officially launched its tablet computer Lipad.^[13] On September 30 of the same year, Hasee submitted its fourth application for listing on the ChiNext board.^[14] On the evening of July 31, 2012, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) announced that Hasee's request to list on the Shenzhen ChiNext board had been approved.^[15] However, the decision was met with significant public skepticism, with many questioning whether Hasee had "beautified" its financial statements in order to gain approval, as well as concerns over the company's long-term profitability.^[16][17]

In September 2012, media reports indicated that due to declining sales, Hasee had closed several subsidiaries and distributors, as well as two of its four factories. Additionally, some of the company’s production land was reportedly being leased out for profit under the name of Hasee’s parent company, New World Group, by Chairman Wu Haijun.^[18]

In May 2013, nearly a year after its request for ChiNext listing was approved, Hasee withdrew its listing application voluntarily, as it was unable to submit the required self-inspection report on time.^[19]

Products

Hasee products include no frills systems sold at low prices. In 2003, some of its desktop models were referred to as "among the cheapest on the [Chinese] market,"^[20] and in 2008, a Hasee laptop could be purchased for little more than US$370.^[2] C. 2010, Hasee calls some of its products "competitively priced".^[1]

Hasee's products include laptops,^[21] desktops,^[21] smartphones,^[21] tablets,^[21] and panel PCs.^[1] In the mid-2000s, Hasee manufactured its own motherboards,^[22] and in 2010, the company states that its motherboard manufacturing division continues.^[1]

Operations

Subsidiaries

Hasee's subsidiaries include Shenzhen Hasee Computer Co Ltd, Shenzhen Paradise Science and Technology Co Ltd, Shenzhen Hass IC Co Ltd, Shenzhen Creative Science and Technology Co Ltd, Hasee Electronics Fty, and Shenzhen Paradise Advertisement Co Ltd.^[23]

Production bases and facilities

Facilities include 230,000 sq meters in Hasee Industrial Park located in Bantian, Shenzhen,^[22] and the total floor-space of all Hasee facilities was estimated to be 400,000 sq meters in 2004.^[23]

Production bases, as of 2004, include a site in Longgang, Shenzhen.^[23]

See also

• White box (computer hardware)