Global shipments of traditional PCs, including desktops, notebooks, and workstations, grew 55.2% on year during the first quarter of 2021, according to IDC.

Notebook ODMs remain optimistic about shipments in the second quarter of 2021, but are aware that the ongoing chip and component shortages may constrain their shipment growth during the quarter.

TSMC is scheduled to hold its investors' conference later this week. Market observers speculate that the foundry house may disclose plans to revise upward its capex budget for 2021, judging from the fact TSMC has recently vowed to spend...

Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics expect their notebook shipments to see double-digit sequential growths in the second quarter of 2021, but remain cautious about the second half of the year.

The notebook market has been robust in recent months thanks to stay-at-home needs. Chromebook shipments are expected to rise sharply in 2021. Apart from Intel, some other chip vendors, such as MediaTek and Elan, are poised to see robust growths in reenues from the Chromebook...

Wistron shipped a total of 5.4 million notebooks in the first quarter of 2021, up 52.1% from a year earlier, while revenues grew by a slight 2% on year to NT$177.14 billion (US$6.23 billion).

Taiwan-based IC design houses including MediaTek, Elan Microelectronics and Integrated Technology Express (ITE) continue to enjoy a strong pull-in of orders for Chromebooks, which will boost their respective revenues to record highs in the second quarter, according to industry sources.

Vietnam has joined the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) and RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), and has signed FTAs (free-trade agreements) with the EU and the UK. These deals have positioned Vietnam as a preferred location for manufacturers...

Acer expects shipments into Asia Pacific to grow sequentially in the second quarter thanks to the stay-at-home economy driven by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the company's president of Pan Asia Pacific region Andrew Hou.

TSMC has aggressive plans for expanding its fab capacity. In a recent letter sent to clients about canceling discounts for foundry service quotes, TSMC discloses it plans to spend US$100 billion on capacity expansions for the next three...

Intel has announced the availability of its 11th Gen Core S series processors, codenamed Rocket Lake-S, adopting a 14nm process and upgraded Cypress Cove microarchitecture, in Taiwan.

Notebook ODMs have expressed concerns about overbooking by clients who continue to step up their pace of orders, according to industry sources.

Notebook brand vendors are planning to raise prices for their upcoming new products to reflect increasing costs from raw materials, ICs and transportation, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

Quanta Computer expects to post a double-digit increase in notebook shipments this year, while fellow ODM firms including Compal Electronics, Wistron and Inventec are also positive about their notebook shipments in 2021.

Graphics card makers expect their supply to remain constrained through the end of this year, due to shortages of chips and components, and are encouraged to raise their prices.

Clevo, which specializes in gaming and niche notebook manufacturing, expects shortages of display driver ICs and other notebook-use components and materials to worsen in the second quarter of 2021.

Judging from orders on hand and end-market demand, Compal Electronics expects its notebook and non-notebook shipments to experience double-digit growth in 2021, according to company president Martin Wong.

ODM Wistron has been developing electronic components and modules for electric vehicles (EVs) for years, and expects to start making profits from them later in 2021, according to company chairman and CEO Simon Lin.

The Acer Group via its four affiliates - AOpen, Acer Being Communication, Acer ITS and Altos Computing - is eyeing the business opportunities from smart city development particularly applications for buildings, traffic and water resource management, according to AOpen president Dale Tsai.

Getac Technology has announced plans to turn itself into a holding company by spinning off its ruggedized computing, mechatronic and energy businesses.

Micro-Star International (MSI) will raise its graphics card prices to reflect tight supply that may persist through the end of 2021, according to company chairman Joseph Hsu.

POS (point of sale/service) device maker Flytech Technology has launched the in-house-developed cloud computing-based UEM (unified end-point management) solution to tap the IoT market under its Inefi brand.

MediaTek has announced its MT7921 Wi-Fi 6 chipset is powering Asustek Computer's new ROG and TUF gaming notebook series, which will hit market shelves starting March 2021.

Asustek Computer saw its net profits jump 119% on year to a record high of NT$26.56 billion (US$938 million) in 2020, thanks to pandemic-driven demand.

Acer and Asustek are set to see strong notebook shipments in first-half 2021, with order visibililty becoming clear for the second half of the year, despite recent concerns that the PC market may weaken later in the year. Asustek and...