Apple iPad to Kill Your Netbook

The Apple iPad hasn’t even fallen into users hands yet and analysts are already reading the signs as dark. The later report from AU Optronics suggests that because the iPad has roughly the same price point as a high-end netbook that it could well kill the market. Find out how the Apple iPad could kill your netbook after the jump…

Netbooks sold in excess of 30 million units in 2009 but with the launch of the Apple iPad at $499, Paul Peng, executive VP of AU Optronics’ who produce many of the panels found in netbooks and tablets, reckons the new iPad could well sell 10 million units this year, with each sale impacting on netbook sales.

The Apple iPad is a 9.7-inch tablet with LED touchscreen that has been designed with web access on the more expensive models and a battery life in the region of 10 hours when simply being used as an e-reader. If you want to use it to seriously write emails and use it as a work machine you’ll need to add an external keyboard. With this in mind, we think there is life – longer battery life and longer usability – from the netbook.

The launch of the Apple iPad may well have a knock-on effect with those manufacturers looking to launch touchscreen netbooks, largely because this will force the price of netbooks closer to that of the iPad. However, for the average netbook, pricing will stay larger more economical.

Now, current tablets sales are around the three million mark and even with Apple’s juggernaut marketing machine behind it, 10 million looks a little ambitious. Add to this the fact that manufacturers are claiming shortages in component supply for this year and we think the netbook still has plenty of life in it.

What do you think, would you rather have an Apple iPad as your second machine or will you be sticking with your netbook? Let is know what you think in the Comments below.

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Via: digitimes