Japan-based notebook vendor Fujitsu has launched several new Intel Sandy Bridge-based notebooks including 15.6-inch LifeBook AH531 and LH531, 17.3-inch LifeBook NH751 in Taiwan; although Fujitsu has declined to comment on its ODM partners, market watchers pointed out that the notebooks were mainly manufactured by Quanta Computer and Wistron.

As for tablet PC products, Fujitsu Taiwan pointed out that the company is set to launch its 10-inch Windows 7-based model in the first half of 2011 and the company is currently developing an Android model, but has not yet set a launch schedule.

Fujitsu's notebook market share in Taiwan was about 1-2% in 2010 with a rank floating between tenth and eleventh and as the company has adjusted its product mix for 2011, the company's ranking in Taiwan is expected to stay within the top-10, noted the company adding that since Fujitsu's notebook models that were manufactured in Japan have high demand in Taiwan, the company is considering increasing the models' shipments.

As for the affect from Japan's earthquake, Fujitsu pointed out that its notebook manufacturing has not been affected since the company's notebook production lines in Japan are located far from the affected areas, while power shortages and limitations in transportation are only creating limited impact; however, since the company's plants for manufacturing desktops and servers were damaged by the earthquake, the company has already shifted orders to its plants in western Japan, Fujitsu Taiwan pointed out.

Despite that most Japan-based brand vendors are increasing their notebook outsourcing to Taiwan ODMs, Fujitsu still maintains a high level of Japan-made models, which market watchers estimated to reach 40-50%.

In April, Fujitsu is set to launch new high-end enterprise notebooks that were made in Japan.

Fujitsu launches new Sandy Bridge notebooks in Taiwan
Photo: Terry Ku, Digitimes, March 2011