Andre Yoskowitz
15 Jul 2009 1:26
According to new DisplaySearch figures, netbook shipments will jump to 32.7 million worldwide for 2009, a large year-on-year spike.
Says John Jacobs, DisplaySearch's notebook market research director, via TWICE, that if the expected number is hit, the netbook market will have doubled in just one year, strong growth by any stretch.
The company expects the "Greater China" region will see the biggest jump, 260 percent, from 1.1 million units to 3.9 million units year-on-year. Following with very strong growth as well is the North American market, spiking from 3.7 million units to 8.8 million units, a 137 percent jump. Seeing the most shipments and fourth largest growth is the EMEA (European/Middle East/Asian) markets, jumping from 7.3 million to 13.3 million units, an 81 percent jump.
DisplaySearch says the strong volume growth in North America can be attributed to the subsidy programs being currently run by cell phone carriers, with some offering the netbooks for as low as 99 cents with contract.
"While these devices have certainly created a new market, our research indicates that they are predominantly used as secondary PCs by consumers, and are not replacing notebooks," Jacobs added.