Suppliers enhance products to ensure performance reliability and stability in rugged environments.

IR units will yield mainstream position to higher wireless technologies in the years ahead.

Units suit 1.8, 2.5, 3.5 and 5.25in hard drives, with the second rising with the global HDD trend.

Makers underscore improved product performance by adopting more powerful CPUs and high-resolution capacitive touch panels.

Suppliers are developing slim units to expand into the popular tablet PC line.

Bluetooth and streamlined designs are the buzzwords in China’s wireless keyboard industry. Makers, particularly those setting their sights on the tablet PC sector, are highlighting these trends to cater to requirements in slim computers.

Makers are underscoring low-priced, environment-friendly units to spur sales.

Suppliers of black toner cartridges in China are emphasizing remanufactured models in line with environmental protection and cost-reduction strategies. Sales of the category rose by 30 to 35 percent last year owed to lower prices compared with OEM brands. The former are currently 50 to 60 percent less expensive than the second.

Suppliers are gearing up to meet requirements in home and office networks.

Driven by the prevailing trend for wireless capability in electronic devices, manufacturers of servers in China are venturing into cordless models despite the continued dominance of wired types. Makers are developing 4-port network servers that are compatible with 802.11b/g. For network video kinds, product development is geared toward variants that deliver 3G or WLAN. Suppliers are likewise supporting 1080 or 720p resolution to ride the HD bandwagon.

Makers match trends for greater functionality and portability to compete with popular tablet rival.

The rising popularity of tablet PCs is driving China suppliers of laptops to enhance their selections with emphasis on high performance in a compact and lightweight form factor. The first trend applies particularly to gaming or multimedia variants. Units in 15 or 17in configurations adopt the latest Intel or AMD CPUs, including the former’s second-generation Core i versions, and Nvidia GeForce GT Series discrete graphics cards. Some integrate solid state disks as storage option.

LED backlighting is steadily replacing CCFL technology. 3D LCD monitors are gaining traction.

Suppliers of LCD monitors in China are highlighting larger, widescreen models. More than half of many makers’ output now constitutes 19in and bigger screens. Such units represent approximately 70 percent of Weihai Daewoo Electronics Co. Ltd’s yield, while they are 50 percent at Maxpac International Ltd and Guangzhou Viewg Sci-Tech Co. Ltd.

PU is mainstream, while PU microfiber and genuine leather are favored in upscale versions.

China’s leather cases for the iPad generally depend on updates in the tablet PC. At present, many suppliers are emphasizing variants that suit the iPad 2, but those for the earlier version are still offered. Slim form factors and multifunctionality are the major trends. For the latter, some companies incorporate a Bluetooth keyboard for added value. Varieties with this feature are about $11 more expensive than regular types. Prices are from $18 to $30, with units typically made of genuine or PU leather and having a magnetic clasp or elastic band.

Latest releases come in various patterns and compact designs for better visual appeal.

China makers of wired computer keyboards are emphasizing cosmetic enhancements to boost competitiveness. Many are launching variants with chocolate keycaps in pure black or white base, which became popular with the release of Apple’s MacBook Air. The compact keycap design minimizes the accumulation of dust and enables easy operation.

Companies are also broadening product compatibility by ensuring releases work with several devices.

China suppliers of USB speakers are underscoring multifunction models that are compatible with a host of other devices to enhance product performance. They are likewise developing portable and visually appealing releases toward improved user convenience.

Graphics and video card makers are adopting the latest GPUs to improve product functionality and expand markets.

High-performance discrete and external types lead product development initiatives in China’s graphics and video card industries. Manufacturers are working on models that support 3D and HD video playback and adopt 40nm processors and GDDR5 memory.

Makers match trends for greater functionality and portability to compete with popular tablet rival.

The rising popularity of tablet PCs is driving China suppliers of laptops to enhance their selections with emphasis on high performance in a compact and lightweight form factor. The first trend applies particularly to gaming or multimedia variants. Units in 15 or 17in configurations adopt the latest Intel or AMD CPUs, including the former’s second-generation Core i versions, and Nvidia GeForce GT Series discrete graphics cards. Some integrate solid state disks as storage option.

LED backlighting is steadily replacing CCFL technology. 3D LCD monitors are gaining traction.

Suppliers of LCD monitors in China are highlighting larger, widescreen models. More than half of many makers’ output now constitutes 19in and bigger screens. Such units represent approximately 70 percent of Weihai Daewoo Electronics Co. Ltd’s yield, while they are 50 percent at Maxpac International Ltd and Guangzhou Viewg Sci-Tech Co. Ltd.