The world loves mini-laptops

Although many industries will be significantly affected by the global economic downturn, it seems mini-laptop computers – cut down, basic versions of laptops that often do not even have hard drives – are safe for the time being.

Although many industries will be significantly affected by the global economic downturn, it seems mini-laptop computers – cut down, basic versions of laptops that often do not even have hard drives – are safe for the time being.

Marketing forecast group DisplaySearch predicts the notebook PC market will remain strong throughout 2009. But mini-notebooks are set to take over the market, with the researchers predicting sales will grow at a rate of around 23%.

The group also predicts more than 14 million mini-laptop sales by the end of 2008, up from only one million last year.

“Almost all of the tier-one PC brands have entered, or plan to enter, the mini-note market,” John Jacobs, director of notebook market research for DisplaySearch, tells Electronista.

“We expect the mini-note market to settle at approximately 16% share of the notebook PC market by 2011.”

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