The unexpected popularity of netbook computers helped carry the PC industry through the recession, but industry analysts believe the scaled-down laptops will soon be overtaken by a wave of iPads and similar tablet devices.
Tablet computers will outsell netbooks in the United States by 2012, according to a report issued June 17 by Forrester Research, which also predicted that nearly one in four personal computers sold to U.S. consumers will be tablets by 2015.
The report echoes earlier projections from other leading research firms, which have suggested that sales are beginning to slow for netbooks, also known as mini-notebooks or mini-notes. Meanwhile, Apple has reported selling 2 million iPads in the first two months since the product was introduced.
Hewlett-Packard, Dell and other leading computer-makers are all rushing to introduce their own iPad-style tablets, which some in the industry refer to as “slate” computers. HP had planned to launch a Windows-based tablet this summer, but has recently emphasized plans to use software from Palm, the smartphone maker that HP is in the process of acquiring.
“It appears the momentum is shifting from mini-note PCs to slates,” said a report issued this week by NPD Group. As more computer makers begin to introduce their own tablets in the coming months, the NPD report predicted consumers will increasingly turn away from netbooks.
Lower-priced netbooks, which have smaller screens and keyboards than traditional laptop computers, have been extremely popular since their introduction in 2008. The Gartner research firm reported more than 32 million netbooks were sold worldwide last year.
Analysts say the strong demand for netbooks helped major PC makers maintain their sales volume through the economic downturn — when some customers shied away from buying higher-priced desktop and laptop models — although some of the netbooks provided a lower profit margin than full-size models.
But netbooks generally offered less…