First-tier notebook vendors and ODMs enjoyed on-month shipment growth in May with brand vendors together having an increase of over 10% and ODMs around 5%, according  latest figures.

　　The figures showed that among first-tier vendors, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Acer and Apple had better shipment growth than other vendors in May. HP's and Acer's growth were mainly due to their weak comparison base in April, as well as orders for new notebook models.

　　Apple has also started placing new notebook orders after finishing adjusting its inventory level. However, the delay of its new MacBook launch from June to August is expected to impact Apple's shipment performance in June.

　　As for notebook ODMs, all makers except Compal Electronics and Wistron, saw on-month shipment growth in May, figures showed. Since notebook shipments were weak in both April and May (May shipments were weak despite the growth), global notebook shipments in the second quarter are expected to stay flat sequentially and fall 16.3% from on year.

　　The notebook market received an expected boost during the first day of Computex, as Intel officially introduced its fourth-generation Intel Core processor family (Haswell). The fourth-generation Intel Core processors are capable of delivering up to 15% better performance than the previous generation, and can bring a 50% improvement in battery life. Intel also expanded its range of Intel graphics and its Iris graphics, available on select SKUs, which can deliver up to double the 3D performance over the fastest current mobile Intel HD Graphics solutions, Intel claims.

　　Consumer and business systems based on the quad-core versions are now available. Summer availability is planned for 2-in-1s ultrabooks, portable all-in-ones and traditional notebooks. New mobile business products with fourth-generation Intel Core vPro will be available later this year.

　　All new ultrabooks will be touch-enabled, but according to, touchscreen notebooks are only expected to replace demand for conventional notebooks, while tablets and smartphones will continue attracting demand away from conventional notebooks.

　　Moreover, although most notebook players are optimistic about the second half of the year, expects global notebook shipments to increase only 10% in the second half of the year, compared with the first half of the year. Annual shipments in 2013 will drop 9.3% on year, the largest decline in the notebook market's history, figures showed.