Are Tablets Overtaking Laptops?

Apple’s laptop market is being affected by iPad sales. In the final quarter of 2010 Apple sold 7.3 million iPads which is two and a half times the number of Apple laptops sold in the same quarter.

Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer has taken the reigns in Steve Job’s temporary absence. Cook didn’t admit that this cannibalisation had affected Mac laptop sales and cited the fact that Apple’s desktop and notebook sales combined to post a 23 per cent year-over-year growth rate.

He said: “Was there any cannibalisation by iPad? Honestly I don’t know for sure. There may be some cannibalisation. There is a long anticipated future for laptops; they still have an integral role to play in the market.”

The popularity of the tablet market has affected laptop sales for most of the leading manufacturers. This is the first case in which laptop sales have decreased year over year. Statistics show that there is a still a negative 4 per cent growth rate for the first week of September.

Acer officials released a statement denying the remarks of one of its salespersons who reportedly said its netbooks would be phased out by tablets. Acer officials have neglected any notion to phase out the Acer laptops. Moreover, the officials said that tablets “based on Intel’s Sandy Bridge is not yet foreseen.”

With a new emphasis on apps created by iPhone and Android smartphones, tablets are becoming more attractive that the heavier software running on laptops.

Laptop sales could eventually be affected by the rise of 3D technology. As frontrunners in the 3D market, it may not be too long until we see 3D Sony laptops. Toshiba and other manufacturers could be years behind Sony offering autostereoscopic (non-glasses) in the living room and the office. Toshiba laptops with 3D technology may be some time away.