SVOA is revamping its notebook product line to focus on low-end, first-time buyers to avoid competition with international PC brands.

One of Thailand's largest PC makers and IT distributors, the company will introduce its new notebook line, some priced under 10,000 baht, at Commart from tomorrow to Sunday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.

Most notebooks have starting prices of 12,000 baht and up. Cheaper options include netbook models featuring smaller screens, slower processors and Linux operating systems or a Windows starter edition.

SVOA's notebook will feature a 14" screen and be capable of running the Linux operating system.

"After almost a decade of selling a full portfolio of notebooks, we are abandoning the intense competition with international vendors," said Vira Intanate, the chief executive of SVOA.

The company is preparing to introduce one or two new models priced at 9,900 baht. These will be offered in select channels to avoid price competition with unattractive margins.

Mr Vira said the company expects its notebook sales to halve to 10,000 units this year.SVOA recently merged with Asys Computer, its components subsidiary, in a bid to offset declining notebook sales and reduce management expenses.

The group expects 5 billion baht in revenue this year, up from 4 billion last year, he said.

Boonchai Ngouvisitkul, associate director for consumer product management of Acer Computer, said the company planned to launch a new notebook priced at 9,900 baht, a special offer at Commart targeting first-time buyers.

He acknowledged that intense price competition and global economies of scale were continuing to reduce prices on entry-level notebooks, previously 15,000 baht.

Entry-level notebooks account for 10-15% of total notebook sales. Notebooks priced from 15,000 to 25,000 baht are the best-selling models, making up half the market.

The country's notebook sales in the first six months remained unaffected by the increasingly popular iPad, thanks to few tablet alternatives and a limited number of vendors.

Overall notebook sales are expected to reach 2.4 million units this year, up from 1.8 million last year, Mr Boonchai said.

Warawut Gosolgitwong, the country manager of Fujitsu PC Asia Pacific, said it would introduce its LifeBook LH531-Vi3S featuring Intel Core i3 at 16,900 baht, 2,000 baht below its normal price.