Microsoft is expected to launch Windows 10 in the second half of 2015, but Taiwan-based PC vendors doubt whether it can stimulate PC replacement demand because consumers will be able to make free online update to the new operating system, according to sources with Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

The sources pointed out that brand vendors usually launch new notebooks to pair with a new operating system, but it may not be the case with Windows 10 if Microsoft offers free upgrades.

Microsoft has also abandoned its old strategies and started offering its Office software on iOS and Android systems to give consumers access to its products on their smartphones or tablets.

Microsoft is also cooperating with its competitors such as Oracle and VMware for its Azure cloud computing platform, looking to break through its bottleneck, but its new strategy is expected to impact PC hardware makers, making them less important in the ecosystem, which could hurt their profitability.