DigiTimes: Six biggest laptop makers to own 81.7 percent of the market in 2015

DigiTimes Research predicts sales from world's six largest laptop makers, which includes HP, Lenovo, Dell, Apple, Acer and ASUS, will total 81.7 percent of global laptop shipments in 2015, up 1.7 percent year-over-year. The research firm predicts most vendors will have trouble sustaining shipment gains, with the exception of Lenovo and ASUS. Lenovo is expected to continue its aggressive strategy to maintain its market leading position, while ASUS is anticipated to ramp up its revenue with more low-priced notebooks.

HP, Dell and Apple will see their combined shipments decline slightly in 2015 as the buying activities triggered by the expiration of Windows XP and Sony's phasing out from the notebook market will dwindle. However, the three vendors will take a combined 40% share.

Facing the mature notebook market, product differentiation among brand vendors will become more vivid in 2015, with Apple likely having drastic changes, Digitimes Research asserted.

Asustek and Acer are expected to focus on models using Microsoft's Windows with Bing low-royalty program as well as Chromebooks.