Driven by falling prices and a major initiative from Intel, shipments of touch-enabled mobile PCs are expected to enjoy rapid growth in 2013 and the coming years, rising to about 25% of all notebooks by 2016. Global shipments of touchscreen-equipped notebooks will rise to 78 million units in 2016, up from just 4.6 million in 2012, according to IHS.

　　By 2016, touch notebooks will represent 24.6% of all global notebook shipments. This year is expected to represent a major threshold for market growth, with shipments expected to surge to 24 million, up more than 400% - the highest rate of growth the market is anticipated to achieve for the next four years.

　　The year 2013 will be a banner year for touch notebooks because prices for low-end 14-inch capacitive touchscreen display panels fall to US$35 - down dramatically from US$60 to US$70 in 2012. The US$35 price will help spur widespread market acceptance, enabling the production of more affordable touchscreen mobile PCs.