Quanta Computer Inc (廣達電腦), the world’s biggest contract notebook computer maker, confirmed an investment in touchscreen technology in an exchange filing yesterday.
“As part of Quanta’s continued efforts to research and innovate, our goal is to provide value-added services to our customers and remain globally competitive,” said Elton Yang (楊俊烈), vice general manager of the company’s finance department.
Yang said Quanta may branch out from its core business of notebooks as the company diversifies its product portfolio.
Touchscreen monitors have become popular in smartphones and personal navigation devices.
With the launch of Microsoft Corp’s Windows 7 finger-friendly platform, observers believe touchscreens will eventually dominate in PCs as well.
In related news, Taipei-based research and consulting firm Topology Research Institute (拓墣產業研究所) yesterday forecast global notebook and netbook shipments of 128 million units for this year, representing growth of 32.6 percent from last year.
Propelled by Quanta’s latest innovation as well as analysts’ positive projections for netbook growth, the Taoyuan-based company’s shares traded up NT$0.45, or 1.35 percent, to close at NT$33.85 yesterday.
Quanta remains Acer Inc’s largest notebook manufacturing arm and stands to gain from Acer’s shipment forecast of 12 million to 15 million netbooks this year, as well as its estimated gain of 2 percent to 3 percent in global notebook market share, the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported yesterday.
Also benefiting from computer users’ movement towards mobility, Compal Electronics Inc (仁寶電腦) saw its shares rally 4.79 percent or NT$0.80 to NT$17.50 yesterday.
Wistron Co (緯創) closed at NT$24.25, registering a 4.3 percent gain of NT$1.
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