Gartner: Ultrabooks to Take Off in 2013, Sort of
There is a clear interest in ultra-compact notebooks and their level of success these days.
Market researchers such as IDC and Gartner have expressed, at the very least, doubt that the new notebook class is shipping in significant numbers, while Intel yesterday said that it is happy with the innovation level and that shipment goals have been achieved.
IDC already retracted its 500,000 shipment estimate for Ultrabooks and said that its view on the market is too limited to come up with a reasonable estimate. Gartner also released some additional information via Cnet, but has been very careful not to be too specific. One can only imagine that Intel was unhappy about the PC shipment reports that triggered a wave of articles carrying the sentiment that Ultrabooks are failing. Intel's earnings call yesterday was a good example of how Ultrabook sales are a matter of perception, even if we learned that CEO Paul Otellini was not confident enough to mention any detailed shipment estimates.
Gartner told Cnet that the Ultrabook is far away from reaching its 40 percent market share in 2012. For now, the market research firm believes that Ultrabook and MacBook Air shipments will have a 5 percent market share of total notebook shipments this year, which puts them into the range of about 11 million units. However, Gartner also said that the "Macbook Air is a "big" portion of that 5 percent". Another blurry statement, but it surely reaffirms that there is little confidence that Ultrabooks will be taking over the market, even with the arrival of Windows 8 in mind.
Gartner thinks that the ultracompact notebook market will climb to about 17 million units, which is a decent increase, but not even close to the 90 - 100 million Intel will need to substantiate its original 40 percent market share claim.
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Douglas Perry was a freelance writer for Tom's Hardware covering semiconductors, storage technology, quantum computing, and processor power delivery. He has authored several books and is currently an editor for The Oregonian/OregonLive.
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back_by_demand I want a Surface Pro, many other will join me, that classifies as an ultrabook for me, and a tablet at the same timeReply -
Onus The title and the article say two very different things. I prefer the pessimistic view of the article; hopefully the meaningless "ultrabook" buzzword can die a flaming death.Reply -
DjEaZy ... i love my acer 18.4 laptop with windows 7... but in the future... i rather buy a MacBook Air, than a ultrabook with windows 8...Reply -
molo9000 back_by_demandI want a Surface Pro, many other will join me, that classifies as an ultrabook for me, and a tablet at the same timeReply
Because having desktop software on a 10" touchscreen is such a great idea....oh wait.
Expensive, heavy, low battery life.... it's an abomination. -
killerclick back_by_demandI want a Surface Pro, many other will join me, that classifies as an ultrabook for me, and a tablet at the same timeReply
Considering how previous laptop/tablet combinations failed commercially (Tablet PC, Transformer), which tablets sold well (iPad, Kindle Fire and now Nexus 7), and the abysmal sales numbers for Ultrabooks, I somehow don't see Surface Pro being successful.
It's easy for many people now to say they want a Surface Pro, but when it goes on sale six months from now, it might be harder to decide to drop around $1000 on it, especially if there are new and better things available. People who like Windows 8 and Metro will probably get the Surface, but seeing how most people buy laptops around $600, I somehow don't see the numbers Microsoft needs for Surface to be a success.
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back_by_demand molo9000Because having desktop software on a 10" touchscreen is such a great idea....oh wait.Expensive, heavy, low battery life.... it's an abomination.Whatever dude, feel free to not buy one, but don't be such a poisonous tw@t to the people who are looking forward to itReply
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Desktop software has been on 10" netbooks for years and we never had this level of hatred, the fact it can do the job of a laptop and a tablet is totally beyond some people - you stick with your even heavier laptop, i'm sure it will suit you well -
math1337 I have better things to spend my money on, like a $500 15.6'' fat laptop with better specs. MBA sells well because it's the cheapest mac. Ultrabooks don't sell well because they're on the expensive side of PCs.Reply -
marclee37 price is the main concern. with under US$330, i can have a decent 10", 2gb ram, n2800, 1.3kg netbook. with under US$450, i can have more powerful 11", 4gb ram, e450, 1.5kg netbook. these are good enough for my general use. don't need anything much pricier or heavier.Reply
what is the price and spec for a general "ultrabook", why it is named ultrabook? to me it is just notebook, netbook is also notebook. -
back_by_demand marclee37why it is named ultrabook?They had to call it something, essentially another formfactor where the SSD,RAM and other parts are all built in instead of modular, allows a much thinner and lighter machine.Reply
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No one had a problem with Netbook as a term and everyone knows the difference between one of those and a normal Notebook
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Why is it so difficult for people to grasp, maybe they should just not used the word "ultra" because unless it has the same power as an Alienware gaming machine people just don't think "ultra" means anything -
del35 No ultrabook for me. Thanks but no thanks. I want power substance and expandability. Have I ruled out icrap in the previous sentance?Reply