The surging popularity of the tablet computer — popularized by Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab — has put the kibosh on sales of netbooks.
Just a year ago, predictions were that the netbook would be the hot seller of 2010. But the ultra-compact, cheap notebook computers popularized by companies like Acer and Asus saw little growth this year. Meanwhile the tablet PC grew a category that barely existed a year ago, with sales of more than 20 million units, according to technology research firm Gartner.
Consumers preferred the styling, apps, touch-screen and compactness of tablets over the traditional netbook. Only 33.4 million netbooks sold in 2010, a slight increase over 2009’s 32.2 million, Gartner says. “The predictions were that netbooks would surpass 40 million this year,” says Roger Kay, an analyst at research firm Endpoint Technologies. “That didn’t happen.”
“The netbook was a disappointment to many consumers,” Kay says. “It was perceived as a lousy notebook.”
Netbooks won’t go away, predicts George Shiffler, an analyst at Gartner. “We see them flattening out, and more or less holding the position they do now.” He expects sales in the mid-30 millions for 2011. Kay disagrees, forecasting the demise of netbooks in the next few years. “The market will further shrink,” he says. “It’s just not up to the experience of the notebook.”
Generally available for $250-$400, netbooks offer a full-size keyboard, Windows and a slower processor than bigger computers. “They were just too slow for many people,” Kay says.
The iPad, at $499 for the entry-level model, is nearly twice as expensive but zippy and easy to operate.
Netbooks were also hurt by the falling price of laptop computers. Prices on some entry-level notebooks fell to $400 to $500 in 2010. “People started looking at what they could get for an extra $100, and opted for the notebook…