Asustek preparing to launch 'brand-new' 2-in-1 devices
2015/08/27 21:48:40
Photo courtesy of Asustek.
Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) Taiwan's Asustek Computer Inc. (華碩) is poised to release two 2-in-1 detachable notebooks in the fourth quarter of this year or the first quarter of next year, offering new designs in a slowing PC market.
“We're working on the products, which will take some time,” Asustek Chief Executive Jerry Shen (沈振來) said in response to reporters' questions at the Taiwan launch of the company's three new ZenFone smartphones on Thursday.
“We will release two brand-new 2-in-1 devices,” Shen said, without elaborating.
He said 2-in-1 devices -- notebooks that function as tablets when the detachable keyboards are removed -- have become one of Asustek's key product categories and have gained results, alongside the company's ZenBook premium laptop series and gaming notebooks.
Asustek's first 2-in-1 computer, the Transformer Book T100, became a hit, racking up global sales of more than 3 million units since its release in October 2013 at a price of NT$12,988 (US$402).
Asustek has forecast that the 2-in-1 category will account for 30 percent of its total notebook shipments this year, compared with 20 percent in 2014, as the company is betting on the growth potential of tablet-notebook hybrid devices to counter a shrinking PC industry.
In February, Asustek launched its 10.1-inch Transformer Book T100 Chi and 12.5-inch T300 Chi -- both 2-in-1 products -- at starting prices of NT$14,988 and NT$22,900, respectively.
Tech research firm IDC has forecast that global shipments of 2-in-1 computers like Asustek's popular Transformer Book line will reach 13.44 million units this year, up 55 percent from the 8.68 million units recorded in 2014.
(By Jeffrey Wu)
