05.23.2001
All Apple PCs to go out with LCD monitors

• PC giant Apple announced at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) yesterday that it will become the first in the industry to move to an all LCD flat panel display lineup (instead of using traditional CRT monitors). Apple unveiled its new 17-inch LCD monitor at the conference. The company has also lowered the price of its two existing models, the 15-inch and 22-inch displays.

• Apple's initiative will affect the current LCD monitor sales infrastructure, which relies heavily on display distributors rather than PC vendors. Meanwhile, it will help boost LCD monitor shipment. Apple's move validates our earlier prediction on market trends that US PC vendors will start to bundle LCD monitors into PC sales from 2H01. Now may be a good time for PC vendors to offer more LCD monitors with PC sales, given the affordable LCD monitor prices following recent declines.

• It is reported that Amtran (5405 'Rui Xuan') has already obtained LCD monitor orders from Apple. The company declines to comment. However, Amtran confirmed it has secured two US PC clients after adjusting from last year its sales strategy to seek OEM orders from PC vendors. Amtran started to ship 17-inch LCD monitors from April and expects to produce 20-inch plus LCD monitors from June.

• VB Primasia Investment Opinion: ACCUMULATE Amtran on the back of sequential growth in LCD monitor shipment.

MarthaChen@Primasia.com +886-[0]2-2547-8878