Linux To Overtake Windows On Netbooks By 2013

In 2009 Linux will represent 32 per cent of global netbook sales, reveals the latest market data from ABI Research.

A new research projects that in 2009 Linux will represent 32 per cent of global netbook sales, far higher than the seven per cent figure claimed by Microsoft. The market data from ABI Research estimates that Linux will overtake Windows on netbooks by 2013, largely due to sales in less-developed countries, as per Desktoplinux.com.

ABI Research’s study entitled Netbooks, MIDs and Mobile CE Market Data says 35 million netbooks will be shipped by manufacturers in 2009. ASUS dominated the netbook category in 2007 when it debuted the Eee PC, and Acer made a big push in Q4 2008 to lead the second year.

“Seventy-four per cent of 2008 netbook shipments bore the brands of just three vendors — Acer, ASUS, and Samsung,” explained Jeff Orr, senior analyst, ABI. “However, the rapid growth of netbooks as a second computer in developed markets will be eclipsed in coming years by vendors targeting developing nations and first Internet PCs at home.”

ABI Research forecasts UMDs (ultra-mobile devices: the combination of netbooks, MIDs and UMPCs) to top 124 million systems shipped in 2011.

Orr believes laptop vendors may soon “reinvent the UMPC,” bringing down the low-end laptop price to $500 through ultra-low voltage machines. “That could affect some netbook sales in developed markets, especially the business users.”

As netbook markets thrive, the mobile consumer electronics category, which is expected to account for only about two million device shipments this year, is forecast to top 50 million in 2014. This market is currently led by connected personal navigation devices (PNDs) and eBook readers. Amazon’s Kindle has lots of competition coming from the Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony Daily Edition, iRex, Plastic Logic Que and others.