Glass BOM blamed for Asustek price hike

WE REPORTED from the Intel Developer Forum earlier this year that the bill of materials (BOM) for Asustek's EEE PCs were likely to exceed the firm's original estimates.

Now, according to Digitimes, that's confirmed.

Asustek optimistically pitched the price of a seven inch bit of glass at $15 per unit, and that led it to predict the price of the cheapest unit would be about $200. In fact the price is closer to $350, although the BOM still doesn't make any sense at that price.

But, in fact, seven inch panels currently cost about $28, although the Intel guy we talked to at IDF reckons the real price was closer to $40 for the bit of glass.

The major supplier for the seven inch screens are AU Optronics and Chi Mei Opto, notes Digitimes, here. µ