U.S Notebook Sales OutstripDesktops
Did you know that sales of laptops accounted for over fifty percent of retail PC sales in 2005? The internet echoes with the cacophony of a thousand desktop fanboys screaming - WHY?!!! - Improved wi-fi connectivity, cutting edge processors, and cheaper deals say analysts.
For thefirst time in American history, notebooks sold better thandesktops in the U.S. retail sector in 2005. Indeed, according toa CNET.com story, laptop computer sales accounted for 50.9 percent of all PC sales, while those bigclunky desktops made up only 49.1 percent of sales. Incomparison, looking only back to 2004, desktops then made up 57percent of all sales. Do the math, folks-that's nearly an 8 pointdrop in one year.
Analystswho get paid well to contemplate such trends have said thatlaptops may be getting the upper hand because they're getting cheaper. Nowadays, quality notebooks can run as low as $1,000,bargain-basement models as little as $499.
It also helps that wireless Internet connections have spreadacross the United States as fast as a forwarded e-mail joke.Since 2003, Wi-Fi hastaken off both in technology, hot-spot locations, and demand fromeveryday users. Most notebooks now come with mobile Internetcapabilities, and some even now feature cellular integration.
A large reason for this Wi-Fi craze is Intel, the microprocessormaker who unveiled its Centrino mobile chip in 2003. Now with itsnew dual-core chip system, Napa, appearing in the latest laptops, Intel has carried the mobilebanner even further-and looks to take that banner all the way tothe bank as more and more laptops are sold.
Advanced Micro Devices, Intel's rival, is set to also reap therewards of the laptop sales surge, and already saw better salesin the fourth quarter of 2005. Computer manufacturers likeToshiba, who specialize in laptops, are also seeing blackthanks to consumer's mobile tastes.
We should control our excitement for laptops a little bit,though, because these latest figures only represent "retail"sales. No sales to businesses or direct-from-manufacturer sales(such as from Dell) are included. But never fear-laptops aresurging overall in sales too. Analysts are predicting thatnotebooks will lap desktop sales, en toto, by 2007, a year aheadof schedule according to their past predictions.
