Taiwan-based supply chain makers have said they have received notification from Intel that all Haswell-platform ultrabooks should be equipped with touch panels to qualify for subsidies on the processors.
Intel pointed out that touch will be a necessary feature for Haswell-based ultrabooks, but refused to comment on processor subsidies.
The sources believe the strategy will help accelerate the penetration of touchscreen notebooks, but some players are concerned that the adoption of touch panels will push consumers away due to pricing.
The sources also pointed out that a shortage of touch panels due to weak yields is the main obstacle delaying the standardization of touchscreen notebooks and they expect touchscreen notebooks to only account for 10-15% of total notebook shipments by the second half of 2013.
