Commenting on Microsoft's latest operating system, some notebook component makers are taking a pessimistic attitude about Windows 10 helping to boost notebook demand and expect overall notebook shipments to only grow 5-10% on year in 2015.
The sources pointed out that Windows 10 is developed mainly to fix consumers' dissatisfaction about Windows 8, and without innovations, the new operating system is unlikely to attract consumers to buy new PCs. Windows 8 users' free upgrade to Windows 10 means there will not be any significant replacement demand.
With Apple's new products such as Apple Watch set to become available in the market in the first quarter of 2015, these devices are also expected to draw consumers' attention away from Windows 10, dampening sales of Windows 10-based products.
However, ODMs such as Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics, are less pessimistic about notebook demand and expect notebook shipments to remain flat in 2015. As for vendors, Acer and Asustek Computer believe convertible notebooks will still see meaningful demand if their prices drop to a sweet spot.
Article translated by Joseph Tsai
