Apple & ASUS Cut Notebook Outsourcing Over Reduced Demand

Apple has scaled down notebook production, suggesting that the Cupertino company expects lower sales than initially predicted.  The move, reported by DigiTimes, saw a 20 to 30-percent decrease in notebook outsourcing to Apple's main OEM hardware partner, Quanta Computer, according to a Chinese-language report in the Commercial Times.

The report suggests that ASUS, too, have reduced outsourcing from their own primary OEM partner, Pegatron Technology.  The company has estimated notebook shipments in Q4 2008 will only reach 1.7-million units.

It's expected to only be the start of reduced demand on OEMs, with tough economic conditions and reduced sales predicted to continue throughout the first half of 2009.  Neither Apple nor ASUS have commented on the news.