Unreleased Apple tablet nonetheless strangling laptop sales
Friday, January 22, 2010
The many rumors surrounding the impending release of Apple's tablet PC have been the primary drivers of slumping laptop PC sales, as consumers wait to see whether the much-discussed hybrid device will fit their needs.
Marketing researcher ChangeWave recently released the results of a survey in which they asked about the buying behavior of more than 3,300 prospective electronics consumers. Almost 20 percent of respondents said that they would be either "somewhat" or "very" likely to buy the device after it is released.
UK-based tech news site IT Pro Portal reported that the study demonstrated a marked decrease in the number of people looking to buy other types of PCs, since numerous potential buyers are waiting for the release of Apple's tablet.
Experts have warned that, in the enterprise market at least, Apple's tablet might not be the game-changer that it is expected to be, as the device is not expected to feature a physical keyboard and looks to be primarily designed for media and web use. However, the speculation and hype should make for at least an initial honeymoon for the device, analysts say.
Written by Mark Hobbs