Brand vendors to back down from releasing touchscreen conventional notebooks in 2014

Some first-tier notebook brand vendors have recently adjusted their notebook roadmaps for 2014 and will delay the releases of touchscreen conventional notebooks to focus on non-touchscreen models, which have a pricing advantage, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

The new strategy is expected to prompt other notebook brand vendors to follow suit and further delay Microsoft and Intel's schedules for popularizing touchscreen notebooks, the sources noted.

The sources believe notebook vendors are unlikely to increase their ultrabook shipment proportions for 2014 due to weak demand, keeping the penetration rate of touchscreen notebooks at around 10%.

Currently, prices of touchscreen notebooks are still about 10% higher than non-touchscreen counterparts. Since consumer demand for touchscreen functions is still not strong, many vendors are turning back to push non-touchscreen models to boost sales.