[ # ] Asus Expecting Eee PC Surge in Q2
/* Posted April 22nd, 2008 at 10:40am *//* Filed under Laptops, News */
An Asus executive revealed yesterday the company’s goal to sell 80% more of its ultra portable mobile laptop the Eee PC this quarter largely due to demand in Europe. This puts Asus well on their way to hit the 5 million mark for sales this year for the tiny but mighty computer.
Riding on this new wave of popularity, Asus is also shipping a larger 9 inch Eee PC as well as unveiling a 10 inch Atom powered (Intel’s new mobile computing chip) Eee PC in June. Asus’s chief executive Jerry Shen said this move caters to better mobility and bigger screens.
Again, Shen cited battery supply woes as a major concern: “Our supply now still lags behind demand because of battery shortage and strong demand largely from Europe.” Europe is expected to take up the 40%, largest portion, of Eee PC shipments. A fire at an LG plant where the batteries were being manufactured made things worse, but Shen has since sourced battery production to other plants and supply should pick up by June. With a first quarter target of 700,000 units, Shen predicts unit sales to jump 80% to 1.3 million in the second quarter.
“The launch of the enhanced Eee PC series strengthens my confidence of reaching the goal of selling five million units this year,” Shen said.
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