NETbook Domination?
Since their introduction in late 2007, netbooks have captured 7% of the sales marketshare in 2008. This is expected to almost double in 2009. The economic downturn is pushing this trend even further. This is very rapid growth for any segment. Netbook sales have razor thin margins. If they cut into the laptop sales, it will hurt the computer companies big time – HP, Dell, etc. How will they respond?
If netbook penetration grows at this rate, they may (finally) be the force that moves software firmly into the cloud. With their low processing power and small hard drives, it is much easier to use online applications, such as Foto Flexer instead of Photoshop. It will likely also push web drive usage.
Hopefully Apple catches on. Steve Jobs said about notebooks: “We don’t know how to make a $500 laptop that is not garbage.” Processing and memory wise, the netbooks are comparable to the Macbook Air. Price-wise, they are 20% of Apple. Will the cool factor be enough to maintain their sales at THIS kind of price difference? I hope the Apple rumor about their tablet and their touchscreen netbook are both true!
