Tablets Surpass Netbooks In Sales, iPad On Top
ABI Research has just released a report showing that tablet sales for the second quarter of 2011 have far exceeded expectations by selling more units than netbook sales by nearly twice as much. With Apple’s tablet dominating the market share, it can also be said that the iPad alone has toppled the netbook industry.
According to a ABi Research, the iPad held 68 percent of the tablet market share for 2Q11, which is just under nine million units. Netbook sales for the same quarter reached 7.3 million. Tablet sales for 2Q11 totaled 13.6 million units.
Researchers believe that tablet sales are gaining momentum because of the ease of use of the technology.
“Media tablets are perceived to be easy to use, compared to the keyboard and mouse interface of a netbook computer. Those who have avoided PCs because they are difficult to use – think the Baby Boomer generation and older – see media tablets as an opportunity to re-engage with Internet access. Cost, however, is certainly not a reason driving tablet interest, as the average media tablet costs approximately $600 and the average netbook is only about half of that,” says Jeff Orr, group director, mobile devices.
While tablet sales are booming, netbooks have not yet gone the way of the 8-track. Thirty-two million netbooks are expected to ship worldwide in 2011. They continue to be popular in underserved countries, while tablets tend to be popular with early-adopter countries like the US, Western Europe, South Korea and Japan.
