Asustek, which recently launched the EeePC ultra low-cost laptop, on Tuesday said it expected other companies to follow suit about six months from now in what would mark the take-off of a sizeable new computer market segment.

The Taiwanese company this month became the first PC vendor commercially to launch an ultra low-cost laptop worldwide. The company expects to sell at least 3.8m units next year of the EeePC, which sells for US$245 and upwards in retail.