It’s been a while since ASUSTek released its first Eee PC, an ultraportable computer systems that opened the way for a new market segment, that of netbooks. Since then, the Taiwanese manufacturer has done well in extending its offer, which currently counts no less than 12 models, varying in size and technical specifications. In addition, the company is expected to unveil a couple of new models as well, of which at least one will compete in a new high-end segment of the netbooks market.

 

On that note, earlier this year, the company's CEO, Jerry Shen, confidently declared that his company estimated to ship no less than 5 million Eee PC units in 2008 alone. The statement came at a time when most analysts predicted that the market size would hit 10 million units by the year's end, with ASUS being responsible for a good 50% of that, while all the other manufacturers would have to compete for the other half.

 

However, should you have ever wondered how close ASUS is from achieving its 5 million Eee PC target, you must know that, according to recent numbers, the company has recorded a shipments mark of 700,000 Eee PCs in September, this year. According to Digitimes, which covered the story extensively, this figure represents a new monthly high for the company, while also bringing it closer to achieving the overall shipments target.

 

The total shipments for the third quarter registered somewhere around 1.7 million units and, with October and November being traditionally considered peak months, the company is said to be expecting fourth-quarter shipments to remain at similar levels, according to a Chinese-language paper, cited by Digitimes.

 

The reported figures helped ASUS achieve an Eee PC gross margin of between 15-20%, but market analysts predict that ASUS will adjust margins down to around 15%, taking in consideration Acer's increase in netbook shipments. The company, on the other hand, has already said that margins will remain in the same figures, with 10-inch Eee PC shipments starting to grow in the fourth quarter.