Asus Reduces Netbook Shipments; Blames iPad

Eee PCs aren't as hot these days, and Asus thinks it's because of the Apple iPad.

Asus, the pioneers of the netbook, are dialing back shipments due to weakening demand.

Although the third quarter is typically a high point for the company, Asus has adjusted its netbook shipment down to 1.4 million units, a fall compared to 1.5 million and 1.6 million from the previous quarters.

Asus CEO Jerry Shen blames the decreased demand on the Apple iPad, which he thinks is cannibalizing the sales of netbooks.

We think that another possible explanation is that the netbook craze may be dying down a bit due to heavily discounted notebooks and the stagnation of netbook hardware.

On the bright side, Asus will be seeing gains in both its laptop and motherboard shipments for the third quarter.

(Source: DigiTimes.)

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Top Comments

12

thesupermedium , August 19, 2010 10:54 PM

Make Ion and Dual core netbooks less than $400 and you can expect to get sales. Otherwise, don't blame the iPad for you still making that GMA950 crap that's in my HP mini from 2 years ago.
11

xyzionz , August 19, 2010 10:28 PM

Come up with EeePad to grab their shares! I'll buy one
11

irh_1974 , August 19, 2010 10:15 PM

Alternatively, people could simply be waiting for Asus to release a tablet themselves.

Other Comments

11

irh_1974 , August 19, 2010 10:15 PM

Alternatively, people could simply be waiting for Asus to release a tablet themselves.
0

awood28211 , August 19, 2010 10:17 PM

I want a netbook... for 1 thing only. Delorme Street Atlas. Far cheaper than a comparable GPS system added in-dash and with a lot more function. Even if I could put Delorme's products on an iPad, it would be entirely awkward situating it in a car. The netbook fits between my seats and I can angle the screen toward me if I have to look at it... but... now my Evo does the same thing and it fits on a "shelf" by my stereo near my line of sight. So I guess I'll skip the netbook for now.. and the iPad foreverrrrrr
11

xyzionz , August 19, 2010 10:28 PM

Come up with EeePad to grab their shares! I'll buy one
0

pizzacheeks , August 19, 2010 10:34 PM

Ipad a waste of your money. Therefore Jobs must be hypnotize people to buy his icrap.
7

tapnick , August 19, 2010 10:40 PM

I bought a netbook, havnt used it in at least 6 months. I cant speak for everybody but I'm waiting for a win 7 tablet. Although I will probably use it for a while then it will take its rightful spot next to the non used netbook. With smartphones these days i really have no need for these device besides just having one to play with.
-4

Godfail , August 19, 2010 10:52 PM

pizzacheeksIpad a waste of your money. Therefore Jobs must be hypnotize people to buy his icrap.

Exactly how is something people use a waste of money? I could understand if it sat there, useless, but it's not the case.
12

thesupermedium , August 19, 2010 10:54 PM

Make Ion and Dual core netbooks less than $400 and you can expect to get sales. Otherwise, don't blame the iPad for you still making that GMA950 crap that's in my HP mini from 2 years ago.
0

smeker , August 19, 2010 10:57 PM

It was expected... Beside all the nerdy comments about how iPads will fail, they've sold like cupcakes. Yes they do only few things but the things they do those things quite well, and people love them...
0

Parsian , August 19, 2010 10:57 PM

still, as a student who carries loads of books, netbook > notebook and iCrap is worthless to even consider

but it would be awesome to get a tablet netbook with physical keyboard and the screen to write on with stylus...
-2

DjEaZy , August 19, 2010 10:59 PM

... Jobs waz right then at the iPad presentation...
0

jimmysmitty , August 19, 2010 11:06 PM

thesupermediumMake Ion and Dual core netbooks less than $400 and you can expect to get sales. Otherwise, don't blame the iPad for you still making that GMA950 crap that's in my HP mini from 2 years ago.

They are already in the maiking. Intels next step of Atom will have dual cores and a integrated IGP capable of playing Doom 3. Not impressive compared to discrete but impressive jump.

It will also be able to run full 1080P.

Once thats out we will see a flood of non Apple based touch pads that will probably be better and Netbooks that are worth their price.
3

jsc , August 19, 2010 11:06 PM

I have a Samsung netbook. It's perfect for what I bought it for - internet during vacations and an e-book reader. It came with Win7 Starter. Pressing Control-Alt-Left Arrow rotates the screen 90 degrees. You can then hold it like a book with your thumb on the Page-Up and Page-Dn keys.

OTOH, netbooks have been overhyped. And that's what I think the market is responding to.
7

jecastej , August 19, 2010 11:09 PM

I don't know why readers here are in constant denial. CEOs provide an explanation (MS, - ASUS at this time), which doesn't need to be the only one, I agree, but here there is always "other" counter intuitive explanations on the readers side. Those, beside any Apple product is "succeeding" at something.

I don't have an iPad and I don't know if I ever will. And as far as netbooks I hope the best for this little brothers but I think I better expend the money on something that I can use or I really enjoy. I bet netbooks will suffer even more when more tablet options become available as at least these tablets may be better or more enjoyable at some uses. Anyway, not to offend any netbook user who feel they are best at something they do.
-1

Travis Beane , August 19, 2010 11:18 PM

9" netbook with 1366x768 resolution, 1.6GHz ULV C2D (screw the atom), ATi 4200 integrated graphics (a 40nm 5200 would also be nice), 4GB RAM, 320GB 1.8" HDD or 80GB Intel x18-m (gen 2), 5MP webcam, double mic (one at the front, and one at the back, for better noise cancellation), 3G antenna ($10 for them to make, $150 for us to buy retail. I don't care if the network thinks it's just a unlocked phone, with a data plan only), Win7 home, DVI/HDMI out. Asus made. No HP/Acer.
$500.
If offered, any other takers?

I've considered a netbook for a while. While the Intel CULV chips are sick, the Atom is downright shameful.
5

VidGameKing , August 19, 2010 11:26 PM

I bought two Acer Aspire One netbooks one for me and on for my wife. I ended up selling mine because I didn't have an ultra-portable use for the thing and I have spare laptops that I don't mind lugging places just to ensure I have mobile performance. She loves her AAO! she has a big main laptop (Core i3 et al) that sits on the desk and the netbook goes with her to school, to bed, on the couch where ever! I imagine the iPad would compete nicely with the netbook but the cost is prohibative. On the other hand we love our iPhone 4 and 3Gs!
-1

milktea , August 19, 2010 11:28 PM

I was considering an EeeBox for my HTPC setup. But the one with USB3 support was a bit too expensive. So I'm holding off until all their machines come with USB3 as standard.
2

dark_lord69 , August 20, 2010 12:07 AM

Travis Beane9" netbook with 1366x768 resolution, 1.6GHz ULV C2D (screw the atom), ATi 4200 integrated graphics (a 40nm 5200 would also be nice), 4GB RAM, 320GB 1.8" HDD or 80GB Intel x18-m (gen 2), 5MP webcam, double mic (one at the front, and one at the back, for better noise cancellation), 3G antenna ($10 for them to make, $150 for us to buy retail. I don't care if the network thinks it's just a unlocked phone, with a data plan only), Win7 home, DVI/HDMI out. Asus made. No HP/Acer.$500.If offered, any other takers? I've considered a netbook for a while. While the Intel CULV chips are sick, the Atom is downright shameful.

For $500... no.
That $500 would be better put to use on a full size laptop with much more power.
0

irh_1974 , August 20, 2010 12:22 AM

I could care less what OS it has, it's what the OS allows you to do that is important.
Printing is a major must and the last time I checked most printers companies only have drivers for Windows, OSX and Linux.
Not iOS.
Not Android.
No OSX tablet likely so I guess Linux and Windows are the only ones left.
Generally you can install Linux on any Windows based machine, so whoever gets a Windows based tablet out will give access to users of both OS's.

C'mon hardware vendors! What're you waiting for?
-2

jacobdrj , August 20, 2010 12:59 AM

ASUS needs to improve their tablet line. They need active and passive digitizers... And they need to market to art/architecture/engineering students...
0

Travis Beane , August 20, 2010 1:25 AM

dark_lord69For $500... no.That $500 would be better put to use on a full size laptop with much more power.

Sometimes, I want small.
If I want big, I always got my desktop and 23".
I could even throw a 9" thin laptop in some cargo pants.

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