Market researchers ABI Research have released strong predictions forecasting a 100 per cent increase in the number of annual
netbook shipments over the next three years. ABI Research estimate that a total of 120 million
netbooks will be sold in 2013 – twice the 60 million expected to be shipped this year, as the mini
laptop market continues to expand at a considerable rate.
The 2008 launch of the netbook
PC category could not have been better timed, as the economic downturn saw consumers adopt a preference for the smaller and more affordable
notebook equivalents. The recent launch of the
Apple iPad has seen some analysts predict a considerable erosion into the success of
netbook computers, though this latest forecast from ABI indicate that not all experts share this view.
Despite the lofty predictions for the future of the netbook PC industry, analysts to not see the success of the mini
notebooks harming sales of more traditional
desktop and laptop PCs.
Intel Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith is just one industry leader to suggest that consumers view netbooks as an addition to
laptops or
PCs, rather than a replacement.