Asustek blamed the 29% fall – a decrease that was actually less than the one forecasted – on a “big slowdown in netbook growth”.

Speaking at an investor conference, Asustek CEO Jerry Shen spoke of a cautious optimism in the face of such losses.

“Right now [the underperforming netbook market] is the big problem in the US, but Europe is stabilising,” Shen said. “The netbook market will still grow this year.”

Like most other PC makers, Asustek have tried to offset the effects of the slowing market by branching out into tablet devices, but recent press releases and statements have seen Asustek vow loyalty to their core product ranges of netbooks and notebooks.

Shen told investors that he expected the new tablet device – due for release in April – to contribute around 5% of total second quarter sales, rising to 10% for the rest of the year.

The dawn of 2011 has not been kind to Taiwanese netbook manufacturers; Acer, currently the world’s number 2 PC vendor, released figures on Thursday that showed their January sales to be 34.7% lower than last year.

Like Asustek, Acer are combating the slowdown with their own tablet devices.

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