Facing the fact that the notebook industry is no longer enjoying strong growth, brand vendors have been trying to transform, or are searching for new business opportunities. Observing brand vendors' latest innovations at CES 2014, Digitimes Research believes 2-in-1 devices and Chromebooks will become star products that the vendors will focus on pushing in 2014.
Digitimes Research expects 2-in-1 devices to be mainly promoted in the entry-level dual-OS product market with Intel providing resources such as reference platforms, marketing subsidies and discounts on CPU prices. Asustek Computer's Transformer Book TD300, showcased during CES 2014, is packed with performance and an attractive price, but is weak in terms of mobility, indicating that the device will mainly target the consumer group that is sensitive to cost.
More brad vendors will release dual-OS 2-in-1 devices in the first half of 2014.
With the release of Acer's new Chromebook, plus upcoming models from Toshiba, Dell and Asustek, shipments are estimated to enjoy an over 100% on-year growth to challenge a volume of four million units in 2014, expanding their presence from the education to the enterprise sector.
