Windows Vista delay to pull Intel price cut schedule forward?

Taiwanese notebook makers expect Intel will stimulate the worldwide notebook market by reducing the price of its Yonah processors in advance of the planned date of May 28.

One of the reasons is because various market research firms expect the delay of Windows Vista will slow down notebook demand and push back the peak buying season.

Microsoft, as cited by Toms Hardware,is indicating that the delayed availability of Windows Vista, with the consumer version now slated for release in early 2007, is due to quality concerns, and notably concerns over system security and difficulty on the part of notebook suppliers in following launch and shipment schedules.

The availability of new technologies, including dual-core processors and a 64-bit Windows OS, will be driving up Taiwan’s notebook shipments in 2006, domestic notebook makers earlier estimated. In addition, Intel’s CPU price cuts would further spur worldwide notebook demand, while Taiwan’s contract manufacturers would benefit from increased orders, according to the makers. Affected by Microsoft’s delayed launch of a 64-bit Windows OS, the makers hope that price cuts of up to 67% on Intel’s Pentium D-series CPUs, slated for the third quarter of this year, will be brought forward.

More details over at DigiTimes.