Taiwanese notebook computer makers Microstar International Co (MSI, 微星科技) and Asustek Computer Inc (華碩電腦) expected unit sales to grow between 20 percent and 40 percent during this year’s Taipei Computer Application Show from last year because of strong demand for Ultrabooks and gaming-friendly laptops.
MSI expected notebook sales to grow between 30 percent and 40 percent in this year’s show compared with last year, a company salesman surnamed Kao (高) said.
“We sold out every notebook in the first two days,” Kao added.
The gaming notebooks GE60 and GE70, with 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch screen sizes respectively, were the hottest items, he added.
An Asustek public relation manager said they were very optimistic about achieving the company’s sales target of growing 20 percent annually during this year’s show.
Judging from the show’s crowd in the first two days, “we are extremely optimistic about this year’s sales,” said Cynthia Chen (陳守玉), a spokesperson of the event’s co-organizer Taipei Computer Association.
“The gloomy global economy may be impacting local industry, but back-to-school demand is strong this year as it has been pent up since late in the second quarter when an assortment of new products were launched,” Chen added.
The show attracted up to 180,000 visitors yesterday and 250,000 people in its first two days, he said.
A public relations manager from Japanese brand Fujitsu Ltd said the company forecast sales would see an annual 20 percent increase. The manager said Lifebook LH 532 and Lifebook LH 572 Ultrabooks topped notebook sales.
Hewlett-Packard Taiwan Ltd also expected sales to increase at an unspecified rate this year, HP official Frances Wu (吳芳倩) said.
However, Toshiba Corp said notebook sales would be flat this year compared to last year, said Chien Chun-hao (錢俊豪), marketing manager of Toshiba’s local notebook vendor, Grainnex Corp (新禾科技).
The show, which opened on Friday, will close today.
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