30 Percent of Prospective Netbook buyers Get iPad Instead

30% of prospective netbook buyers opted for an iPad instead, according to a recent survey by Retrevo. Retrevo, an electronics shopping and review site, commissioned the survey of 1,000 people in the United States and asked them several questions regarding their plans for purchasing a netbook or iPad.

It seems that the iPad is putting a dent in potential netbook sales. Out of those surveyed, 30% said that after the iPad was announced they held off their purchase of a netbook and instead bought an iPad. Reveo’s Pulse study went on to report that 78% of respondents said they are leaning towards purchasing an iPad versus only 22% for a netbook.

So is the iPad killing the netbook? Based on the data, it’s clear that the iPad will impact netbook sales here in the US, but netbook sales should remain strong in other parts of the world where the iPad is currently not available.  We also think that netbook sales will remain strong in developing countries where a netbook might be the main computing platform for a family versus an iPad which is more of a complementary device to your current PC or Mac.