For example, Canon, the world's largest copier maker, is planning to spend about $45 million to build a factory in Vietnam.

The market for such machines, currently costing $10,000 or more, has so far been led by the traditional copier makers like Xerox, Ricoh, Minolta and Canon.

Moreover, in the early 1980's Xerox came under attack from Japanese copier makers and it turned its attention to protecting its leadership in that market.

The copier maker developed office-computing systems based on a prototype computer called the Alto, which could be networked with other computers as well as connected to high-quality laser printers.

"It was like a grand dream for copier makers," Tsuyoshi Yoshimura, the product manager, said Wednesday.

The insides of laser printers come from Japanese copier makers.

Industry watchers say the uncertainties surrounding the distributors have thrown wrenches into the plans of copier makers.

Of the top-tier copier makers, it may be fighting the worst headwinds.

The Xerox Corporation, the world's biggest copier maker, said today that it had introduced a new high-speed digital printer and cut the price of another to increase sales of business publishing machines and fend off competition.

The copier makers say they respect Hewlett-Packard, but they also expressed confidence that they could fend off the competition.