Sources from research institutions that have conducted studies on portable computer devices have said that the sales of laptop and netbook have reduced due to the introduction of iPads. According to reports, a growing number of consumers have shifted their preferences in favor of the lighter and smaller tablet devices instead of netbooks and laptops. Although laptop sales continue to increase this year, the growth rate has significantly dropped since last year, a sign that the device’s acceptability among consumers is gradually diminishing. This has been confirmed through the latest research conducted by the NDP Group on the sales of laptop in the domestic market of the United States.
According to the NDP Group, they have an estimate that the sales of laptop in the country could reach 12.3 percent since the year’s start. While this may appear to be rosy, the fact is that this estimate is already way below the 30 percent growth achieved in the first eight months of 2009 as reported by Wall Street Journal. Last year, the growth rate of laptop sales was prompted by the 6 percent decrease of the prices of many brands. Only in July and August of this year, there occurred a one percent drop of the entire mobile PC market. Ronald Sargent, chief executive of Staples, however, said that the drop does not mean that laptops will soon be gone although he admitted that its sales are no longer as big as five years ago. He proceeded to say that laptops remain valuable for business use.
The notion that the laptop sales drop is brought about by the continuing economic recession may be valid. However, survey results also confirm that the iPad and other tablet devices have contributed to this phenomenon. In a report by Forrester Research, only 13 percent of the individuals surveyed have expressed interest in buying a laptop next year. On the other hand, 14 percent of the respondents have said that they are planning to buy tablets in 2011.
What is an even more interesting piece of information came from the Morgan Stanley/Alplawise research. According to their findings, almost 45 percent of the respondents have expressed intentions of purchasing iPads in the coming year and that they will treat such devices as alternatives to the laptops. All such findings have led to portable computer companies to wonder whether the laptop will be gone soon with the entry of tablet devices. It is, however, clear that the netbook is on its way out due to table devices.
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