Taiwan-based MSI expects to ship 400,000 small PCs worldwide by the end of this year, one-fifth of its total laptop sales this year, according to Anita Lin, its notebook channel sales manager.

However, an unexpected chip supply shortage has delayed the newer models.

Intel won't guarantee the supply of its mobile-platform chip ATOM until the middle of August, which means vendors will launch them a month later than scheduled, several PC firms told Shanghai Daily.

"The sales target still remains uncertain because of the shortage of Intel chip supplies," MSI's Lin said.

Industry officials are also cautious about the forecast for small PCs because it's such a new concept.

"China's IT environment is not very suitable for the development of EeePCs, because of the need to build Wi-Fi networks," said CCID's Wen.

And Lenovo doesn't expect a sales boom in China, said Peng. "It's an ideal choice for a second laptop, but many people in China can't afford two."

(Shanghai Daily July 4, 2008)