February 11, 1998 (TAIPEI) -- By the end of 1998, prices of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels are expected to fall to about half of the price levels of early 1997, making the devices much more affordable for personal computers.

Because of the lower LCD prices, several local companies, including Mitac International Corp., Tatung Co. and Acer Inc. are introducing desktop PCs equipped with LCD monitors.

Twinhead International Corp. and Clevo Co. have announced plans to make LCDs, and both will focus on the original-equipment manufacturing (OEM) market.

Mitac International, Tatung, Acer and Chuntex Electronic Co., Ltd., have unveiled 13-in. and 14-in. LCD monitors to be sold with their Pentium 233MHz and 266MHz MMX PCs.

Clevo plans to equip its Pentium II PCs with LCD monitors in March.

Market analysts said that prices of LCD panels have been falling at a pace of US$50 per quarter since January 1997. The prices of 13.3-in. and 14.1-in. TFT-LCD panels have dropped to US$300 and US$800-US$1,000 a unit, respectively. The downward trend in prices is expected to continue for at least a year, the analysts said.

NEC Corp. and Hitachi Ltd. are the largest clients for local makers of LCD panels.





(Commercial Times, Taiwan)