As the PC industry embarks on its fitful road to recovery, many are betting that Taiwan's Acer and HP will lead the rebound with surging netbook sales and a strong presence in booming Asia.

These two PC makers are expected to gain from consumer demand in China, India and other resilient Asian markets, even as corporate demand stays weak in the global economic slowdown.

Acer, the world's No 3 PC brand, can bank on its strength in the fast-growing low-cost netbook segment, while HP's broad customer base and product mix will stand it in good stead.

Acer will more likely recover quicker because they're doing well in the pockets that they're in... They’re one of the lower cost providers out there that is still respected, said Louis Miscioscia, research director at tech-focused US firm Brigantine Advisors.

In this bad market, someone might be more willing to give Acer a chance, maybe before they would have bought an HP or a Dell or something else.

Money from China's $585 billion stimulus package is spurring growth in netbooks -- cheaper laptops with fewer features -- with consumers in the world's No 2 PC market after the United States making use of the scheme to buy their first computer.

Acer dominates the netbook PC segment, shipments of which research firm IDC forecast will more than double this year to 26 million units, helped by consumers reining in on their discretionary spending.

This has pushed up valuations at the Taiwanese firm, which trades at a relatively high 18.3 times forward earnings, bolstered by a 90 per cent advance in its stock price since the start of this year.

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