The popularity of 19-inch widescreen LCD montiors will continue growing through the rest of this year, with the segment expected to acocunt for 15% of LCD monitor shipments in the fourth quarter, and 10% for the whole year, according to Hsiung Hui, executive vice president of AU Optronics (AUO).
Although 19-inch widescreen models have a lower resolution than 20-inch widescreen models and are less ideal for presenting two A4-size pages side by side on-screen, Hsiung said the lower prices for 19-inch widescreen models will drive demand for the segment.
He also predicted that with the mass release of Windows Vista in 2007, demand for 20-inch widescreen LCD monitors will pick up next year.
Industry sources pointed out that the 19-inch widescreen segment curently accounts for 6.4% of the LCD monitor market, which is better than was expected for the segment at the beginning of 2006.
However, demand for 20-inch widescreen monitors has yet to pick up, with the market share staying at 1.6-1.9% so far this year, the sources added.
The 20-inch segment may also be caught between the 19-inch segment and the 22-inch segment, for which makers are expected to roll out more models in the third quarter, the sources added.
However, Hsiung thinks it is still too early to say whether the 20-inch or the 22-inch segment will emerge as the winning segment. The answer may not be known until more 22-inch models hit the market later this year, he said.
BenQ has revealed that the 19-inch widescreen segment has about 20% of Taiwan's monitor market, and the share is expected to rise to 25% by the end of the year.



