Demand for notebook computers continues to grow at a faster rate than that for desktops. Notebooks are projected to account for 25 percent of global personal computer shipments in 2004, with the proportion expected to reach 33 percent in 2006, according to the [url=http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c36831]Research and Markets[/url] research firm.

Of the 42 million to 47 million laptops that will be shipped worldwide in 2004, at least 50 percent will be produced in mainland China, mostly by Taiwan-invested manufacturers. There are over 30 suppliers of laptops in mainland China and Taiwan.

More than half of available models feature Intel mobile CPUs. Centrino is the most widely adopted notebook personal computer solution by makers. It's preferred because of the integrated 802.11b WLAN support and low power consumption, according to Research and Markets. Aside from WLAN, other features expected to become more common in 2004 and mainstream by 2005 are 16:9 wide screens, and built-in cameras and card readers. More features will also be introduced to promote laptops as multimedia entertainment appliances, the report says.