With notebook companies rolling out their new ultrabook devices, the new category of computer is highly expected to see its adoption expand substantially later in 2011 and 2012. While ultrabooks are expected to open up new opportunities for some IC component businesses, they will also bring challenges to certain parts producers.
Taking DRAM as an example, industry observers generally believe that the popularity of ultrabooks will accelerate the transition to 4GB as the mainstream memory density in PCs, benefiting DRAM chipmakers as growth in memory content per PC will help digest their excess capacity.
However, while most ultrabook designs will have RAM directly bonded onboard, and will not have sockets for users to upgrade system memory themselves, the market for aftermarket upgrade modules will likely be impacted, the sources pointed out.