Notebook sales reportedly pass desktop sales ahead of predictions

By on Dec 25, 2008 at 11:07 AM
News December 25, 2008

Market research firm iSuppli has just released data that points to a pretty major coup for portable computing. The firm is now reporting that laptop sales in Q3 2008 rose an astonishing 40 percent year-to-year, to 38.6 million units. Desktop sales on the other hand, fell to 38.5 million according to the firm’s numbers – a 1.3 percent drop off from Q3 2007. Analysts had predicted for quite some time that the changeover would take place in 2011 but it makes plenty of sense that 2008 was the year. Netbooks continue to have a huge impact on the consumer market, essentially offering users a notebook PC for the price of a desktop PC. As far as the enterprise market is concerned, notebook sales continue to grow because, well, businesses never want their employees to stop working. In terms of the split, HP is still leading the pack with 18.8 percent of the notebook market, followed by Dell (13.9 percent) and Acer (12.2 percent). Lenovo and Toshiba close out the top five with 7.5 and 4.6 percent respectively. Interestingly, Apple lost some of its notebook market share according to iSuppli’s data, slipping to 3.2 percent. iSuppli’s Peter Lin is quoted as saying, “When its competitors grow faster, it will lose market share. So I think the main reason [for the lost ground] is Apple has not provided a netbook yet.” While Apple’s refreshed MacBook line will have undoubtedly helped the company regain ground in Q4 2008, it looks like Cupertino might want to take another look at netbooks if it wants to become a major player in the laptop game.

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13 Comments

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  • JerryA

    I’ve always stuck with desktops because I can build one for a fraction of the cost of a similarly specced laptop but a lightweight laptop is nice to extend me from the house. I was using a used tablet I got from ebay for $350 but I broke it. Now using a free Lenovo I got from the Xohm testing program. If not for the freebie I probably wouldn’t have a notebook.

  • Perspective

    Apple isn’t going to build a “netbook” just to build market share. This is because even with a relatively small portion of the notebook market, Apple takes a disproportionately large portion of the market’s revenue. This is due in part to its high ASP relative to other players, and the fact that unlike HP and Dell, Apple doesn’t pay Microsoft for each computer sold. “Another look at netbooks”? Please.

  • JakeyBoy

    Tried netbooks, too slow for my liking. Maybe when they get something faster than 1.6ghz.

  • mingkee

    netbook is not cheaper than lowest laptop
    it minus:
    DVD player/recorder, you can buy it for $50
    screen, uses 1024×600 screen, that lowers the cost
    2 RAM slots, it has an embedded plus a slot, you may lose dual channel capability, which can double the RAM traffic
    netbook is good for daily web, email, streaming, or quickie word processing or spreadsheets

  • Rj04

    Just wanted to say Happy Holidays to the staff at BGR! Thanks for all the good work!

  • http://www.monsterandfriends.com drunknbass

    @minkeee my msi wind is oced to 2.1(dualcore atom) and runs leopard flawlessly! î„…
    Attached Image: http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5373/bgruploadri4.jpg

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) in: Lake Forest CA, 92630

  • StevenGlansburg

    Just got a Macbook pro under the tree… my handmade (sort of) desktop doesn’t seem so special now… I agree with 100% of that article

  • Rudiger

    I’ve seen this report every six months for the past 3 years…

    How many times can notebook sales surpass desktop sales?

  • JD

    Zach, it isn’t SALES (“sell through”) that were being reported here, but SHIPMENTS (“sell in”). What the manufacturers sell in to the channel does not equate to what consumers actually buy. What you’re seeing here might be more hope than reality. Manufacturers shipped a load of product (laptops being possibly the hotter property than desktops) into retailers in anticipation of Q4 sales. Let’s see what people actually buy.

    For instance: looks like tech sales fell at brick and mortar but increased online, but sales were strong for both laptops and desktops.

    http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_081219.html

  • http://www.blueunplugged.com/c.aspx?c=40661 Lindsay

    If we see the current ration of netbooks then netbooks continue to have a huge impact on the consumer market and it is cheaper also.

  • jonnybruha

    I can tell you that when I used to work at CC (now closed), we sold laptops 3 to 1 to desktops. I still use a desktop, but I also built mine and my past 5 desktops. If I were to buy any complete computer, it would probably be a smaller laptop or a notebook.

  • Mr. Hi-Definition

    I don’t know why anyone would be surprised of this. Notebooks are a better buy now a days.

  • Galvatron

    but apple ones arn’t their too pricy for most consumers whick is whay their market share is the bottom of the barel. honesly if I’m gonna blow atla 23-4k ill buy a phantom-X or 440 fromm eurocom or one of those nice toshiba gaming notebooks

    acers stil com with atheros wifi adapers at a low price so you canstill wardrive/chalk and crack WEP and WPA

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