Lenovo expects big PC sales boost from Windows 7

By Norman Dabell

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Lenovo <0992.HK>, the world's fourth-biggest personal computer maker, expects a boost in its PC sales from the launch of Microsoft's <MSFT.O> new operating system, Windows 7, its chairman said on Saturday.

"It will have a big impact, and we have made a lot of preparations for it," Lenovo Chairman Liu Chuanzhi said in remarks, translated from Mandarin, which indicated the impact would be positive.

Liu spoke to Reuters on the sidelines of an industry forum but declined to give a revenue contribution forecast.

Earlier this week, Lenovo launched two new laptops under its corporate line, both running the new Microsoft operating system.

Industry-watchers are betting on further recovery of computer sales next year as the global economy improves and businesses replace old machines. However, opinion is divided on how strong the impact of Windows 7 will be.

Microsoft Corp launched Windows 7 on Thursday, its most important release for more than a decade, aiming to win back customers after the disappointing Vista.

Taiwan's Acer Inc's <2353.TW> chairman J.T. Wang also told Reuters recently he expected the launch of Windows 7 to be a positive factor for sales as consumers look to upgrade computers running on the Vista or the 8-year-old XP system.

PC shipments in the Asia Pacific region, excluding Japan, grew 17 percent in the third quarter, research firm IDC said on Tuesday. Lenovo had the largest market share in Asia.

(Reporting by Melanie Lee and David Lin; Editing by Paul Tait)

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