Shipments of touch screen notebooks are expected to reach 7-7.5 million units in third-quarter 2013, up 50-60% on quarter, according to market observers.

　　The estimated amount should keep the penetration rate of touch screen notebooks at around 10%, the observers said, adding that the percentage is likely to climb to as high as 13% by the end of the year due to vendors' plans to release even more notebooks featuring the technology.

　　A lot of the notebooks are expected to be sized 11.6-inch and may be as low as US$400-450. However, the vendors also have plans to release 14- to 15.6-inch units, which are expected to hold nearly a 70% market share later in the year, the observers noted.

　　Shipments of touch screen notebooks in second-quarter 2013 meanwhile are expected to reach between 4.2-4.5 million units.