With notebooks offered by China-based vendors continuing to improve in both quality and appearance, companies are making more aggressive moves to opening up overseas markets. Besides first-tier vendor Lenovo, second-tier players such as Hasee, Haier and Ansion are expected to launch multiple entry-level notebooks and netbooks in Taiwan in the second half of 2010.
These second-tier players have already cooperated with Gigabyte's branding subsidiary for distribution in the Taiwan market.
Hasee and Haier will initially launch 10.1-inch netbooks and 11.6- to 15.6-inch notebooks for the entry-level market which will be priced 10-20% lower than corresponding models from first-tier brand vendors. Atom N450-based 10.1-inch netbooks are expected to be priced at NT$12,000 (US$372) and may drop below NT$10,000.
Ansione, which has an industrial design similar to Apple's, will also launch its 11.6-inch Atom N450 notebook priced at US$749. The company's products are manufactured by Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and it is currently preparing to cut into the Japan market.
In addition to Taiwan, the second-tier players are also being aggressive in cutting into emerging markets such as Russia and India.
Haier
Photo: Monica Chen, Digitimes, June 2010
Hasee
Photo: Monica Chen, Digitimes, June 2010
Ansione netbook
Photo: Monica Chen, Digitimes, June 2010
Article translated by Joseph Tsai
