Apple iPad Grabs Market Share

Apple's iPad boosted overall mobile PC shipment figures during 2Q 2010, according to a Sept. 30 report from DisplaySearch, an arm of research firm NPD Group. Following shipments of 3.3 million iPads, the world's most popular tablet stole shares from the netbook segment, but lifted overall revenue figures with its relatively high average selling price (ASP).

Overall, the portable PC market experienced strong year-on-year growth, rising 32 percent to 50.4 million units in 2Q 2010 compared with 2Q 2009. Buyers wanting a thin, lightweight device turned to the iPad, while those wanting greater functionality chose larger notebooks, DisplaySearch reports. The price gap between 11.6-inch and 15.6-inch notebooks fell to less than $60. For the purposes of this report, DisplaySearch classifies portable PCs in the following categories:

• mini notebook/tablet PCs (including iPad)
• ultraportable PCs (10.4- to 12.5 inches)
• portable PCs (13.0- to 16.4 inches)
• desktop replacement (17 inches or larger)

Shipments in the mini-notebook/tablet category were down 4 percent in 2Q 2010 compared with 1Q 2010. However, iPad drove a 29 percent increase in shipments in this category when 2Q 2010 is compared with 2Q 2009. If iPad sales figures are subtracted from the 2Q 2010 mini-note total, then shipments in this category exhibit a 14 percent decline compared with 1Q 2010 and a 13 percent decline compared with 2Q 2009.

For more, read the eWeek article Apple iPad Stealing Netbook Market Share.