There can be no assurance that the benefits to the Company of the Microsoft relationship will not be offset by the disadvantages. 

GLOBAL MARKET RISKS 

A large portion of the Company's revenue is derived from its international operations. As a result, the Company's consolidated operating results and financial condition could be significantly affected by risks associated with international activities, including economic and labor conditions, political instability, tax laws (including U.S. taxes on foreign subsidiaries), and changes in the value of the U.S. dollar versus the local currency in which the products are sold and goods and services are purchased. 

Countries in the Asia Pacific region, including Japan, have recently experienced weaknesses in their currency, banking and equity markets. These weaknesses have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect consumer demand for the Company's products, the U.S. dollar value of the Company's foreign currency denominated sales, the availability and cost of product components to the Company, and ultimately the Company's consolidated results of operations. 

Further information related to the Company's global market risks may be found in Part II, Item 7A of this Form 10-K under the subheading "Foreign Currency Risk" and may be found in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K at Notes 1 and 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which information is hereby incorporated by reference. 

INVENTORY AND SUPPLY 

The Company records a write-down for inventories of components and products that have become obsolete or are in excess of anticipated demand and accrues for any cancellation fees of orders for inventories that have been canceled. Although the Company believes its inventory and related provisions are adequate, given the rapid and unpredictable pace of product obsolescence in the computer industry, no assurance can be given that the Company will not incur additional inventory and related charges. In addition, such charges have had, and may again have, a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations. 

The Company must order components for its products and build inventory in advance of product shipments. Because the Company's markets are volatile and subject to rapid technology and price changes, there is a risk that the Company will forecast incorrectly and produce excess or insufficient inventories of particular products. The Company's consolidated operating results and financial condition have been in the past and may in the future be materially adversely affected by the Company's ability to manage its inventory levels and respond to short-term shifts in customer demand patterns. 

Certain of the Company's products are manufactured in whole or in part by third-party manufacturers. In addition, the Company has outsourced much of its transportation and logistics management, particularly in North America and Europe. The Company expects that the proportion of the Company's products produced and distributed under outsourcing arrangements will continue to increase. While outsourcing arrangements may lower the fixed cost of operations,