Bloomberg reports Apple suppliers have already started producing new iPad models, chief of which being a full-size number with a 9.7-inch display possibly featuring a new anti-glare coating.

The news site adds manufacturing complications related to the anti-reflection coating (one designed to make the display easier to read) might be reason restrictions on larger iPad supplies. Either way the new iPad will be supposedly unveiled by either Q2 2014's end or on early Q3.

A 7.9-inch iPad mini is also starting production soon enough, and should be available by end 2014, Bloomberg continues.

Gartner reports global 2014 Chromebook sales will reach 5.2 million units with 79% growth, before reaching 14.4m units by 2017, as the education, business and consumer segments demand Google-powered low-cost notebooks.

"Competition in the Chromebook market is intensifying as more vendors launch Chromebooks, with eight models in the market in 2014," the analyst says. "Now that the PC market is no longer growing strongly, vendors are searching for new business opportunities."

The consumer segment accounts over 50% of global 2014 Chromebook sales. In the US the chief Chromebook sales driver is education, accounting for nearly 85% of 2013 sales in the continent.

However Gartner points out an opportunity within specific business workers, such as banking staff, financial services, estate agents and hotel receptionists.

The Google take on the low-cost notebook, the Chromebook, clearly worries Microsoft-- so much so that at its Worldwide Partner Conference the company reveals how it will "redefine the value category."

During the conference keynote COO Kevin Turner claimed Windows notebooks will win against Chromebooks, and Microsoft partners such as Acer and Toshiba are already working low-cost ($250) options.

"We are going to participate at the low-end," Turner says. "We’ve got a great value proposition against Chromebooks, we are not ceding the market to anyone."

According to a conference slide there are 6 things Windows notebooks can do that Chromebooks cannot-- run both native and web apps, run full Office, desktop applications, work well offline, work with many peripherals and print directly to printer.

According to NPD DisplaySearch tablet shipments are down for the first time in Q1 2014, leading to the analyst's reduction of its 2014 shipment forecast to 285 million units with a growth rate of just 14%.

The analyst continues annual growth will continue falling in the future, and will slow down to single digits by 2017.

Tablet shipments for Q1 2014 total 56m units, down from 59m in Q4 2013, with many vendors reporting "weak" shipments due to delayed product launches. On the other hand notebook PC shipments are "better than expected," if due to the commercial refresh cycle and Windows XP migration.

Vaio presents its first products since it was sold by Sony last February-- the Vaio Pro and Vaio Fit, a pair of laptops more or less identical to the Fit and Pro announced by Sony back at IFA 2013.

The Vaio Pro is a carbon fibre number featuring 4th generation Intel Haswell CPU and a 13.3-inch touchscreen display, while the Vaio Flip is a hybrid device able to switch between laptop and tablet modes. Of course both lack Sony branding, even if they will be found in the Sony Japan Online Store.

According to ABI Research branded OEM tablet shipments will exceed 200 million with sales reaching $85 billion in 2014, even as global tablets decline by -30% during Q1 2014.

The year will also be something of a "watershed" for the tablet installed base, as active Android devices should surpass iOS for the first time.

"We have yet to reach the top of the tablet market and with many world regions just now starting to adopt, the best is yet to come.” the analyst says. "Intel aims to make a large splash during 2014 with a projected 40 million devices powered by its processors… [A] significant portion will come from smaller manufacturers in China and Taiwan developing next-generation Android tablets during H2 2014."

The analyst predicts 35% of 2014 shipments will go to China and India, with Chinese tablets for Chinese customers serving as a further influence in the white box (non-branded) tablet segment.

Samsung launches what it says are its thinnest tablets yet-- the Galaxy Tab S tablet duo featuring  10.5- and 8.4-inch 2560x1600 Super AMOLED displays within a 6.6mm profile.

Both tablets carry the same specs, with the Exynos 5 Octa chipset (packs a 1.9GHz quad-core chip, 1.3GHz quad-core chip and 3GB RAM) plus either 16 or 32GB of internal storage, expandable to up to 128GB via microSD slot, and connectivity via either wifi or LTE. Android 4.4 handles OS duties.

The 10.5-inch model weights 465g while the 8.4-inch is 294g heavy.

Also included in the two tablets is built-in security via fingerprint scanner and the usual selection of Samsung apps such as the "Papergarden" magazine service and a Samsung-reskinned version of the Kindle app.

Notebooks come in all shapes and sizes at the HP Computex 2014 stand, where the company reveals "unique" two-in-ones and convertible PCs, a new Chromebook and even an Android-powered notebook.

"Customers have made it clear that they need devices that better adapt to work and play the way they do,” the company says. “Today, we are announcing the next generation of laptops and two-in-one PCs, along with a new Chromebook that combine power, versatility and design for home and on the go."

Convertible HP notebooks come in two flavours-- the Envy x360 and Pavilion x360, both with 360° display hinges allowing users to switch between notebook, stand, tent or tablet modes. Very reminiscent of the Lenovo Yoga lineup, that.