Notebook PC sales at record pace in June

InfoWorld has published an article that covers expanding notebook PC sales in June.  The major laptop manufacturers shipped 2.8 million units in June, a princely number.  The article states that the surge in sales is due to the large number of consumers waiting for the latest Intel mobile chips and that is probably accurate.  There’s another reason why so many consumers are picking up notebook computers instead of the desktop variety they have always purchased in the past- intimidation.  Why is that?  Most consumers are totally intimidated when purchasing a new computer, they are afraid they won’t get a good deal, or they won’t be able to set it all up when they get home.  Notebook computers go a long way to address that intimidation, you take them home and plug them into the wall.  If you have a wireless network in the house that’s it, you’re up and running with no sweating the details.

Case in point, last week we had some friends over for the holiday.  They had spent hours in Circuit City and Best Buy looking for a PC for their home.  Listening to them describe the experience it was obvious this was a harrowing thing for them.  They are both technically illiterate and described in agonizing detail the thought process they were going through and the BS the sales people kept laying on them.  They kept saying that they were afraid they wouldn’t be able to hook all the "parts" up if they bought the desktop PC the sales reps were pushing so hard.  In the end they bought a high-end HP laptop simply because it would do everything they needed and was plug and play simple.  They have a farm with cattle they visit every weekend and I pointed out they could take the laptop with them.  The incredulous look I got was explained- they don’t go to the country to get on a computer.  They just wanted a PC at home that they could plug in the wall and use.  Somehow I don’t think they are in the minority with that attitude.

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