Lap Shun Hui
Encyclopedia
Lap Shun Hui, also known as John Hui, (born 1955) is a Chinese American
tech entrepreneur
. He is the co-founder of PC
manufacturing companies Everex
and eMachines
. He is also the current owner of LCD manufacturer InFocus
and the former owner of PC
manufacturer Packard Bell
.
but was raised in Hong Kong
. He moved to the United States
in 1973 to attend college at University at Buffalo, and later received his MBA from McMaster University
in Canada
.
Hui's first involvement in the tech industry began when he helped found computer manufacturer Everex
in 1983. Several years later, in 1995, Hui founded monitor manufacturer Korea Data Systems, which he used to help form tech start-up eMachines
in 1998. In 2004, Hui sold eMachines
to computer hardware
giant Gateway
for $266 million in cash and stock. In the process, he became Gateway
's second-largest shareholder. In 2006, after becoming dissatisfied with Gateway
's leadership, he offered to purchase the firm for $450 million but was rebuffed. That same year, Hui purchased Packard Bell
, later selling it to Acer
in 2008. He then purchased Oregon
-based LCD manufacturer InFocus
in 2009.
Hui and his wife Pauline Wong, a former Hong Kong
film actress, have one son and reside in Bradbury, California
.
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
tech entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. He is the co-founder of PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
manufacturing companies Everex
Everex
Everex is a manufacturer of desktop and notebook personal computers. It was established in 1983 and headquartered in Fremont, California. The company was founded by Steve Hui, John Lee and Wayne Cheung. In 1988, Everex was the leader in tape backup sales with half the world market...
and eMachines
EMachines
eMachines is a brand of entry level PCs, based in Irvine, California. eMachines employed about 135 employees and sold between 1 to 2 million computers each year before its purchase on January 30, 2004, by rival Gateway Computers...
. He is also the current owner of LCD manufacturer InFocus
InFocus
InFocus Corporation is a privately owned American company based in the state of Oregon. Founded in 1986, the company develops, manufactures, and distributes DLP and LCD projectors and accessories as well as LCD flat panel displays. Formerly a NASDAQ listed public company, InFocus was purchased by ...
and the former owner of PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
manufacturer Packard Bell
Packard Bell
Packard Bell is a Dutch computer manufacturer and a subsidiary of Acer. The name was previously used by Packard Bell, an American radio manufacturer founded in 1926. In 1986, Israeli investors bought the name for a newly formed personal computer manufacturer. Originally the company produced...
.
Biography
Hui was born in South ChinaNorthern and southern China
Northern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
but was raised in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. He moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1973 to attend college at University at Buffalo, and later received his MBA from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Hui's first involvement in the tech industry began when he helped found computer manufacturer Everex
Everex
Everex is a manufacturer of desktop and notebook personal computers. It was established in 1983 and headquartered in Fremont, California. The company was founded by Steve Hui, John Lee and Wayne Cheung. In 1988, Everex was the leader in tape backup sales with half the world market...
in 1983. Several years later, in 1995, Hui founded monitor manufacturer Korea Data Systems, which he used to help form tech start-up eMachines
EMachines
eMachines is a brand of entry level PCs, based in Irvine, California. eMachines employed about 135 employees and sold between 1 to 2 million computers each year before its purchase on January 30, 2004, by rival Gateway Computers...
in 1998. In 2004, Hui sold eMachines
EMachines
eMachines is a brand of entry level PCs, based in Irvine, California. eMachines employed about 135 employees and sold between 1 to 2 million computers each year before its purchase on January 30, 2004, by rival Gateway Computers...
to computer hardware
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
giant Gateway
Gateway
A gateway is a point of entry or exit at which a gate may be hung.Gateway may also refer to:-Computer terminology:*Gateway , a computer or a network that allows or controls access to another computer or network...
for $266 million in cash and stock. In the process, he became Gateway
Gateway
A gateway is a point of entry or exit at which a gate may be hung.Gateway may also refer to:-Computer terminology:*Gateway , a computer or a network that allows or controls access to another computer or network...
's second-largest shareholder. In 2006, after becoming dissatisfied with Gateway
Gateway
A gateway is a point of entry or exit at which a gate may be hung.Gateway may also refer to:-Computer terminology:*Gateway , a computer or a network that allows or controls access to another computer or network...
's leadership, he offered to purchase the firm for $450 million but was rebuffed. That same year, Hui purchased Packard Bell
Packard Bell
Packard Bell is a Dutch computer manufacturer and a subsidiary of Acer. The name was previously used by Packard Bell, an American radio manufacturer founded in 1926. In 1986, Israeli investors bought the name for a newly formed personal computer manufacturer. Originally the company produced...
, later selling it to Acer
Acer
Acer may refer to:* Acer , the genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as Maple, from the Latin word ācer meaning sharp* Acer Inc., a Taiwan-based international computer company...
in 2008. He then purchased Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
-based LCD manufacturer InFocus
InFocus
InFocus Corporation is a privately owned American company based in the state of Oregon. Founded in 1986, the company develops, manufactures, and distributes DLP and LCD projectors and accessories as well as LCD flat panel displays. Formerly a NASDAQ listed public company, InFocus was purchased by ...
in 2009.
Hui and his wife Pauline Wong, a former Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
film actress, have one son and reside in Bradbury, California
Bradbury, California
Bradbury is a small, affluent city in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains below Angeles National Forest. Bradbury is bordered by the city of Monrovia to the west, and Duarte to the south and...
.