Tablets seen to cannibalize netbook market

The worldwide computer market, except for tablet computers, will grow to 350.2 million units in 2011, according to DRAMexchange, a market research subsidiary of Trendforce Corp. This corresponds to 11.8 percent growth for the year.

According to DRAMexchange, more than 7.5 million iPads have shipped since its launch in April 2010. The tablet PC market will more than double to reach 51.3 million units in 2011, cannibalizing the netbook computer market. Meanwhile Notebook unit growth will continue at a stronger rate than desktop computer shipments, DRAMexchange said.

The desktop computer market will increase 6.1 percent in 2011 to 127 million units, while the notebook (netbook included) market will increase to 15.4 percent to 222.7 million units. At the same time, the netbook market is set to decline 2 percent to 32.6 million units in 2011.

- Peter Clarke
EE Times