According to Digitimes, the outfit plans to release a 12.5-inch version which will be made by Inventec and a 13.3-inch flavour made by Compal. Xiaomi has ordered 250,000 units for the 12.5-inch model and 500,000 units for the 13.3-inch one.

Of course this is rumour and speculation, but it is a fairly good bet. It is less certain if the battleground will include Europe.

Xiaomi's notebooks are expected to feature a price-performance ratio as high as its smartphone products and use the outfit’s brand recognition in China to get a foot in the door.

Xiaomi is likely to bundle its notebook with a smartphone to promote both product lines. This could put the fear of god into traditional notebook competitors.

The outfit’s sworn enemy is Lenovo and it will be very concerned about Xiaomi’s tactics, particularly as it is headhunting Lenovo's executives.

It is an odd market to want to get involved with. Competition is cut-throat and margins are small. Still with Xiaomi driving the cost down we would expect to see more price competition among notebook players and falling prices.