TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AST to Drop Development of Subnotebook: AST Research Inc. said it is ending the development of its first subnotebook computer, which had been announced on Aug. 15 and was to be marketed this month. AST said the computer is a victim of the difficulties in the subnotebook market as well as of unspecified development delays. “The combination of the recent price cuts and slow subnotebook market growth prohibits us from competing in this market at the margin levels we need to sustain our high-volume, horizontal-focused business model,” said Jim Schraith, president and chief operations officer of AST. Even with AST’s moves, analysts are not counting out the subnotebooks, which are computers that weigh about three pounds.