CULVs boom as HP readying to out 13.3" notebooks
updated 09:00 pm EDT, Tue March 31, 2009
HP to out CULV notebooks
HP is expected to introduce a few 13.3-inch notebooks equipped with Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV) processors in the second quarter, industry sources indicate, according to a Tuesday DigiTimes report. The most likely suppliers of the low-voltage chips to HP will be Quanta or Compal, or both, as they are the main manufacturers of CULV chips. Acer has similar plans for 13.3-inch CULV processors, though it has not narrowed down its supplier. An 11.6-inch Acer notebook with a CULV CPU is due out in April, with Quanta supplying the processor.
In related news, Compal president Ray Chen said his company will aggressively pursue orders from PC makers for CULV production during the second half of the year, as he's expecting the market to grow significantly. At the same time, Compal will work on vertically integrating its operations, reducing its dependence on outside suppliers, including Foxconn Electronics. Once its joint chassis venture is done, Compal will be able to create 40 percent to 50 percent more chassis in-house.
