Netbook sales growth doubles laptops in Q2 '09
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 31st 2009 5:56PM
posted August 31st 2009 5:56PM
While it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise given the fairly steady growth netbooks have seen since their inception as a product category, it's still pretty notable that they've apparently now managed to nearly double traditional laptops in sales growth during the second quarter of this year. That word comes from market research firm DisplaySearch, which found that netbook shipments grew an impressive 40% compared to the same quarter last year, as opposed to 22% for plain old laptops. As excitingly illustrated in the chart above, however, that still leaves netbooks (or "mini-notes") well behind laptops in terms of total shipments, although that seems almost certain to narrow considerably in the months and years ahead -- at least until the line between netbooks and laptops becomes so blurred that we just start calling everything "laptops" again.
And far off Redmond a cry can be heard...
Windows is on 97% of the things. What exactly are they crying about?
Yeah, i just got a dell mini 10v and its awesome. Like many it was my 2nd laptop - dell is having a sale where you can get 25% off a studio XPS laptop AND you can throw in a mini10v for $99, so I jumped on it. They're a great pair. I need the XPS for 3d parts design, but the mini is awesome for just carrying around, looking up recipes in the kitchen, or taking to a buddie's house if we don't have a lot going on. I was worried the screen would be too small, but for basic browsing its totally fine. And i got the 1080p screen on my XPS so normally I'm a resolution hound.
-Taylor
I'm thinking netbooks will soon be overtaken by 12-14" super thin laptops.
Weren't they supposed to disappear from the market by this time?
This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
Very vivacious, inveed.
Wait, are the netbooks vermin? What's the by-gone vexation supposed to be?
I think you should've alliterated with "L" or something...
People are obviously attracted by netbooks price and capabilities. Not everyone wants to play WOW on the go...
I don't care what they're called, I'm just happy I can get a brand new laptop right now for under $400. Keep em cheap and they can call em whatever they like.
The screens are to small for me, just saying looking at one in my lap. I think their price is more appealing then their size though.
I wonder what the price points for a netbook will be in a year or so. Will they hit $200US? Given that full size entry level notebooks are starting to hit $400 - the netbook will likely continue to drop in price.
Agreed that Redmond must be concerned. If the price point of the netbook continues to decline - they will have to drop the price of their OS (Win 7) otherwise vendors will look otherwise.
I always thought that Microsoft cash cows would end when some new fancy technology came around. Looks like they may end due to price pressure and profit margin erosion.
"Three Reasons Why Netbooks Just Aren’t Good Enough"
by Michael Arrington on November 29, 2008
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/29/three-reasons-why-netbooks-just-arent-good-enough/
Arrington knows shit about hardware. All he does in this article is try to hype his Crunchpad thingy...
What is the purpose of pointing out this irrelevant article?
Funny read. I bought my eee for $170, got windows 7 on it and I couldn't be happier. They keyboard is fine, I use it for typing notes in my college classes. The screen is fine, you just have to be more minimalist with your themes toolbars. Oh, and that helpful F11 key is always there. No shit it's not as powerful as a core 2 duo, but it's plenty fast for browsing, typing, and old 90's games.
The writer of the article seems to think a better solution is kind of a giant ipod touch that is JUST a web browser, and if you ask me that's taking a step down in usability and flexibility.
He clearly has more experience with the earlier 7" models, which had a slower celeron processer instead of the atom, as well as a much worse keyboard. Plus, he's been using them with Vista apparently, and vista just doesn't run well on entry level hardware. If he was using windows 7 it would be an entirely different experience.
I hate it when people think that just because something doesn't fit their specific needs, it's not good enough for anyone.
"In other words, the iPhone or iPod Touch, with a tiny 3.5 inch screen, has a vastly better browsing experience than any Netbook (it’s faster too)."
And then I stopped reading.
The article is no more than flamebait, though to its defense it was written last year when they were SO small and underpowered that they did kinda suck. Excuse me while I go play Half Life 2 on my Eee PC 1000HE now.
Now that I think about it. Maybe those computer screen glasses are where its at for portable computing...
Guys. Seriously.
Atom was introduced Q3 2008.
You should know better.
I wish someone would release a tablet netbook, can even make it use on-screen keyboard only. Hey Apple I'm talking to you!
You mean like the Eee PC T91?
@Mark Oh snap. Sick burn, bruh.
Just a question:
Are people buying cheap netbooks in addition to full-sized notebooks, or are these low-enders cannibalizing the sales of the more expensive (and more profitable) full-sized notebooks?
I hope they are. The lesson full notebook manufacturers should take from this is that the consumer is gradually refusing to buy otherwise decent Core 2 Duo notebooks if they're contained within 15-17" mammoths that weigh anywhere from 5.5 to 7.5lbs and offer 3 hrs of battery life...essentially useless when on the move. I personally would not mind paying higher prices if the hardware was worth it...the Dell Latitude E4200 has Core2 Duo (a slightly slower one admittedly), 64GB SSD and a removable external bay with a DVD-RW drive, and weighs 2.2lbs and sells for about $700-$800. Of course, the Sony Vaio TT is the king of this category, but these companies (along with Lenovo (X301) and Samsung (X360) really need to be able to offer these machines at the price points Dell is managing to hit.
They also doubled in existence in Q2 '09. There were tiny Eee PCs back then, now every company from MSI to Gateway has a netbook out!
The $800 - $1000 is dead, long live sub $500.
We just need Apple to enter this price point and put some profitability in it.
re-read your second sentence and see if it makes sense.
@ichheissesuperfantastisch
Yes, it does.
How about:
The profitability in the sub $500 price price range is noted to be very small. Small profits tend to lead to a price war and a further lowering of quality. Apple is noted for having a high profit to price ratio whilst having good quality. Even with less features, Apple products tend to sell well. Other companies tend to follow Apple successes. If/When Apple enter this price point, they will do so and make a healthy profit. More profit as well as increased sales means a more stable market.
I thought the above was known to those reading here so I could just put it in the one sentence.
For so many people $1000 is out of their price range, and face it... for every video-editing/gaming techie there are thousands of basic computer users (browsing the internet, typing word documents, playing low quality streaming video and listening to music).
Yes it sucks that these netbooks aren't dual-core, but for most people Intel Atom is enough. Netbooks are here to stay.
See if you can follow the yearly trend
My old laptop ( which was already thin) 2007
Sony Vaio SZ470n/c 3.7 lbs , 13.3" 2.5 hour battery life $1800
My current laptop 2008
MSI WIND 2.8 lbs 10" 3 hour battery life $300
My Next laptop 2009
Asus 1005ha 2.8 lbs 10" 10 hour battery life $360
Do you see a trend ?
whats the point in paying for power and a lightweight design when the battery life makes you carry an AC adapter
i think the asus 1005ha is what every netbook should strive to be, small, good form factor and an amazing battery life... all for under $400 !