Vendors including Hewlett-Packard (HP), Lenovo, Acer, Asustek Computer and Sony have offered or will offer Windows 8 touch controlled notebook models, but touch panel supplies are estimated to be 70% short of demand because yield rates are too low and shipments are concentrated in September and October, according to Taiwan-based notebook supply chain makers.
Sources from brand vendors pointed out that touch panel makers have put most of their resources on the production of panels for smartphones and tablets in the past and do not have experience in the mass production of medium-to-large size products. As a result, with notebook vendors all placing orders at the same time, the touch panel makers are unable to satisfy demand, while poor yield rates have gradually widened the shortfall.
Compal Electronics president Ray Chen also noted previously that the biggest issue that touchscreen notebooks are facing is not demand, but supply, and since touch panels have a rather complicated production process, any issues will easily affect the component's shipment status.
Acer president Jim Wong pointed out that the company's touchscreen notebooks will account for 5-8% of its total shipments in the fourth quarter of 2012, and reach 15% in 2013, citing figures from research firms; however, Wong believes that the proportion will have a chance to reach 20-30% in 2013, if Windows 8 successfully drives demand from consumers.
Source: DigiTimes
