In the dog-eat-dog world of computer sales, there’s no evidence that tablets are causing cannibalization in the Canadian PC market, NPD Group researchers say.
Although tablet sales are goinggangbusters, people are not completelyabandoning their PCs in favour of tablets, according to an NPD studyreleasedMonday. Instead, they are buying other PCs like netbooks and notebooks.
“Canadians remain reliant on more traditional computers, as evidencedby their tendency to replace existing PCs with newer products in thiscategory,” NPD said in a news release on the report.
“Tablets are currently not being purchased at the expense of personalcomputers so there is little evidence suggesting cannibalization of thePC market at this time,” added Darrel Ryce, director of NPD’stechnology and entertainment group.
Notebook sales in Canada rose 12per cent in 2011 from 2010, helpingCanada’s overall PC sales increase by two per cent in 2011.
“Notebooks were the saving grace of the PC market,” NPD said.
Netbooks in trouble
Netbooksand notebooks were combined as one “notebook” category in the study.When netbooks were specifically singledout, however, there was “arapid decline” in their sales last year, NPD added, so traditionalnotebooks appear to be more popular with buyers than their lighter,thinner counterparts.
NPD cautions PC makers, however, that as tablets further penetrate themarket, PCs must keep up with increased consumer demand for portabilityand functionality.
“In order to achieve long term success, PC manufacturers should focuson creating products that address those needs not typically satisfiedby tablets,” Ryce said.
The NPD survey included 2,639 buyers in total.