51% Would Rather Have Laptop Instead of an iPad

The Apple iPad launches in the U.S. this Saturday. While the product will likely be a hit on the first day due to preorders that number in the hundreds of thousands, research firm NPD Group has taken a more analytical look thanks to a recent survey.

Some points from NPD's findings gleamed from the blog post:

·      Lots of people know about the iPad. 61 percent of 55–and-older consumers are aware of the product and more than 80 percent of consumers who know about the iPad owned another Apple branded product.

·      Most aware demographics: young people, $100k income earners, and current Apple product owners. More than one-third of those expressing interest in the iPad in both the 18-34 year old demographic and among Apple owners claimed they intended to purchase the device in the next six months. Among the high income earners intention to buy in the next six months was more than 50 percent.

·      18-34 year olds are approximately 50 percent more likely to own an iPod, an iPhone, or a Macbook.

·      Within the over $100k demographic there is almost 75 percent more likelihood to own an iPhone, or an iPod touch, and 50 percent more iPod ownership.

So the most enthusiastic of iPad consumers are those who are already owners of Apple products. That should be no surprise, but one other detail picked up by Electronista is that among 18-to-34 year olds, 51 percent would prefer a conventional notebook or netbook over the iPad; and 44 percent of existing Apple product owners would rather get a MacBook rather than an iPad.