Samsung Electronics launched an 11.6-inch Chromebook developed through cooperation with Google for sale at US$249 in October 2012 and Acer launched another 11.6-inch Chromebook for sale at US$199 on November 12, but total shipments of the two second-generation Chromebooks are expected to be limited, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

The first-generation Chromebooks had shipments of less than 200,000 units, and the sources believe that the second-generation models, which are facing competition from 11.6-inch Windows 7-based notebooks priced at sub-US$399, are unlikely to receive much attention during the year-end holiday season.

Meanwhile, Intel and Samsung's Tizen netbook project, which is set to appear in the fourth quarter of 2012, may also face similar difficulties, the sources noted.