DigiTimes: Paul Peng, executive VP of AU Optronics’ (AUO’s) global business unit has commented that Apple’s new iPad may take away some demand from the netbook market as their pricing is similar.
Peng commented that iPad’s starting price of US$499 is very competitive and should give Apple a chance to achieve annual sales of 10 million units, which is a significant estimate considering the current tablet PC market is only about three million units a year.
However, sales may be impacted by component shortages. AUO has already received enquiries from clients to supply panels similar to that in the iPad, Peng said, adding other panel makers are likely in similar talks. As to whether iPad will impact demand for e-book readers, AUO CEO and president LJ Chen commented that the issue will mainly depend on consumer reading habits since electrophoretic displays (EPDs) are currently still more comfortable than LCD panels if reading times are longer than an hour.
In addition to e-book readers, e-paper displays can be used in many different kinds of products such as electronic labels (e-tags) and digital signage and are unable to be replaced by LCD panels. AUO’s e-tag shipments will grow 300% and reach a total of eight million units in 2010, Chen added.
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