14 DAY TRIAL // Every once in a while, a product type will become so popular that a sudden surge in demand and, thus, production will cause material and component shortages.
Touch-enabled notebooks are having this effect on laptop developers and manufacturers.
Back in 2012, touch-based notebooks accounted for less than 10% of the total shipments.
In 2013, they are expected to go above 10%, maybe even 20% if things go well.
That is why panel makers have been devoting more of their capacity to meet demand, and why notebook brand vendors are placing security deposits to ensure smooth supply.
The touch technology in Windows 8 is a large part of all this, which is paradoxical considering how disappointed everyone seems to be in Microsoft's OS.
Still, touch panel makers aren't blindly expanding their capacities, because they don't want to risk oversupply. The DRAM industry has taught them that much.