Asustek Computer, developer of the popular Eee PC line of netbooks, predicts that it could break its quarterly netbook shipment record in the fourth quarter.

The company forecasts that Eee PC shipments will reach 1.7 million to 1.9 million units in the fourth quarter as people in Europe and China continue to snap up its products. The company's previous record high was 1.7 million units in the third quarter of last year.

Asustek shipped 1.6 million Eee PCs in the third quarter, which ended Sept. 31.

Shipments of notebook PCs carrying the Asustek name were also strong during the third quarter, beating forecasts to reach 2 million units, Asustek said in a statement. Asustek's laptop shipments will likely come in at between 2.2 million and 2.4 million units in the fourth quarter.

Asustek launched the original Eee PC in late 2007, shipping 300,000 units that year. Last year, shipments reached 4.9 million but were hurt at the end of the year by the global recession. Taiwanese rival Acer stole the spotlight in netbooks last year by shipping around 6 million units, edging out the netbook pioneer.