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Laptops Outsell Desktops

Posted by Zonk on from the on-the-move dept.

wintermute1974 writes "According to a new report by Current Analysis, laptops have overtaken sales of desktops for the first time in computing, ever. Figures are for the U.S. market, but presumably this is part of a world-wide trend." From the article: "Notebook prices fell 17 percent during the past year while desktop prices dipped only 4 percent. Some of the features common in most notebooks are longer-lasting batteries, CD burners and wireless capability."

4 of 414 comments (clear)

  1. This is in units sold by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    They overtook desktops in revenue in 2003.

    1. Re:This is in units sold by SacredNaCl · · Score: 4, Informative

      I have some 2004 numbers for the 4rd quarter.

      For instance ECS (awful boards) sold 1.26 million motherboards, 25,000 laptop boards. ASROCK/AsusTek 3.3 million boards, 200,000 notebooks. MSI 1.1 million boards. Gigabyte - 950,000 motherboards.

      The problem with just running with those is that companies like MSI also make boards for Emachines-Gateway/HP/many others. ECS used to do extensive work for IBM in the 90's (which explains some of those awful machines from then) -- Some major player must be using them, I can't imagine home sales of ECS boards are that high (though they are favored by bargain basement whitebox builders). Even Asus boards are showing up in HP's these days. So it's hard to seperate out the markets.

      If we could break these down by form factor it would be more enlightening. Most of the boards sold to OEMs are MATX. Most home builders aren't buying the MATX boards. I'm sure the motherboard companies have accurate numbers published somewhere, maybe in their financial statements of investment prospectus but I'm far too sleep deprived to go fishing.

      --
      Freedom is merely privilege extended unless enjoyed by one and all.
  2. In Australia by StArSkY · · Score: 4, Informative

    In Australia you can tax deduct 100% of the cost of a laptop in the first year. you can onlydeduct 33% of a desktop in the first year.

    As such there is a huge incentive to buy laptops rather than desktops.

    --
    lounge around on the blue couch
  3. Re:useable laptops? - thank Apple by skingers6894 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Check out these

    http://www.notesys.com/Copies/CNET%207Sep00%20IBM% 20Dell%20Wireless.htm

    Dell and IBM were duking it out for for honors of first Windows laptop with wireless a year after Apple had already offered it.

    I'm not sure whether Apple make their own firewire controllers but they DID invent the technology:

    http://news.com.com/2100-1040-271986.html?legacy=c net

    Finally it is clear to people who have been around for a while that Apple created the template from which almost all laptops are cut today. Check out this article that names the Powerbook 100 as the top gadget of all time.

    http://www.mobilemagazine.com/archives/2005/03/the _top_100_gad_1.html

    Admittedly blind fanboyism is not very informative but neither is denying credit where it is due.