Intel Sees Netbooks Sales Doubling in 2009
Intel’s smallest chip, the Atom, sits inside many netbooks. So when the chip giant reported first-quarter earnings Tuesday afternoon, it also offered some insight into the health of the netbook market. Intel executives said on a call with analysts that demand for netbooks was strong in the first three months of this year — but only strong enough to help reduce an inventory overhang that had built up in late 2008. Still, the company expects sales of netbooks to double in 2009, with Intel CEO Paul Otellini saying, “This is still one of the hot categories out there and one of the great technology stories.” As for ultra-thin, ultra-light notebooks higher up in the market, he said prices could decline this year to the point that they’re not longer just “executive jewelry.”
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Make way for Intel’s Atom to take over the world.
.” As for ultra-thin, ultra-light notebooks higher up in the market, he said prices could decline this year to the point that they’re not longer just “executive jewelry.” <– I’ll look forward to this.
Anyway with the mobile internet becoming increasingly popular, smaller, lighter notebooks will naturally be so too.
Netbooks I think will pass typical notebooks in the next year or two, as the economy continues to struggle (and struggle it will for awhile).
I call this the Atom bomb
As a company that works closely with all the wireless industry players, we’re also seeing netbooks surge in popularity with the growing demand for mobile broadband. Consumers are looking to access information anytime, anywhere. With a screen and keyboard larger than a mobile phone’s, the netbook makes it easy to access the Internet and stay productive without the bulk of a laptop. We expect netbooks sales will be a bright spot for the wireless industry, much like mobile phones have led the way over the past decade.
Marcelo Claure
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