ASUSTeK Computer has pushed back the launch of its Eee PCs in some Asian markets because of a serious shortage of the popular low-cost notebooks, according to Benson Lin, president of the company's Asia Pacific and Taiwan business unit. Lin said ASUSTeK originally planned to introduce Eee PCs in 15 more Asian markets in November, but the shortage has prompted the company to postpone the launch dates towards the end of the year for 10 of the countries. Eee PCs are currently available in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia, and the low-cost systems are expected to hit the Japanese market in the first quarter of 2008, according to Lin. He said the company aims to ship 20,000 Eee PCs to Taiwan this month, with the new system expected to account for half of the company's entire notebook shipments to Taiwan for the fourth quarter.