Despite turbulent economic conditions, mobile computing continues to see surging demand resulting from more advanced designs, new form factors and pent-up business demand, according to research by IT market analysis firm In-Stat. The report projected mobile computing devices, including tablets, mini-notes (netbooks and smartbooks) and notebook PCs would grow at a 19.1 percent CAGR (compound annual growth rate) through 2014 and account for more than 400 million units.
Research by In-Stat, documented in the company’s “3Q10 Computing Forecasts: Desktops, Notebooks, Netbooks, and MIDs/Tablets” report, projected tablets would record the highest CAGR of 123.6 percent through 2014. Notebook shipments would reach 291 million units in 2014 and account for 52 percent of the computing market, according to their research. In-Stat predicted Asia Pacific would lead all regions in growth, surpassing 36 percent of the total market in 2014.
Other recent reports from research firms such as IDC and UBS Investment Research note that tablet devices could be the wild card in worldwide computing sales, as devices such as Apple’s iPad tablet and recently announced competing devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Toshiba Folio 100 tablets bite into the market share of notebooks and netbooks. A UBS research note projected Apple could sell 28 million iPads in 2011, which would in turn affect sales of lower-end PCs.
For more, read the eWeek article Notebook Sales to Reach 291 Million by 2014.