Brand notebook vendors Acer, Asustek Computer and Lenovo will launch new ultra-thin notebooks beginning the second quarter of 2011 with product performance and prices more competitive than Apple's MacBook Air, according to industry sources.

In the second quarter, Acer is expected to release the new generation of its Timeline notebooks outsourced to Wistron, while Asustek will continue to launch its U-series slim models focusing on 13- to 14-inch sizes which will be manufactured by Pegatron Technology, indicated the sources.

Lenovo is expected to launch new ultra-thin models under its IdeaPad lineup in the third quarter with Pegatron as its production partner, said the sources.

Prices of the new slim notebooks launched by the three vendors are likely to be set below US$1,000, in order to avoid the experience of Dell's ill-fated Adamo lineup, which carried a unit price of over US$2,000 when launched.