According to several Taiwanese LCD manufacturers, the second half of this year will bring a variety of capacitive multi-touch panels for use netbook and notebook markets. All in all, the firms are readying themselves for a highly anticipated Windows 7 launch later this year.

Two months ago, Young Fast Optoelectronics in Taipei started mass production of capacitive touch panels, and has said that it will enter the netbook touch panel market in the second half of this year. On the other hand, Mildex Optical, a worldwide exporter, has said that it will soon expand its production from resistive touch panels to capacitive multi-touch panels, likely for market competition.

Other manufacturers expected to follow this trend include AU Optronics, working with a subsidiary company, and Qisda. More concretely, LCD panel makers HannStar Display and Sintek Photronic are co-developing a capacitive touch panel with a Color Filter, which is expected to start shipping as early as the end of June.