Sept. 23: While the extraordinary success of Apple iPad has sparked a debate on netbook versus tablet computers, Indian hardware market seems to be betting big on the mini-notebooks. Almost all major hardware brands are busy unveiling their new range of netbooks into the Indian market this season unmindful of the raging global debate.
“Netbooks are a convenient option for the user on the go thanks to their smaller, lighter design. To the user’s advantage they have the benefit of a dedicated hardware keyboard which gives them the ability to enter text much faster,” says Mr. Alex Huang, country manager (system business), ASUS (India).
Their lack of the regular bells and whistles of a desktop computer is the key to their lower cost which in turn has led to increased sales in a cost-conscious market as India. They are often marketed as “companion devices” for digital content consumption and for running an application or two.
Says Mr Mahesh Bhalla, executive director and general manager (consumer), Dell India: “We see netbooks as an important niche category for those looking for these companion PCs on travel, holidays and the like even as we see a proliferation of devices in different screen sizes.”
Given the low PC penetration in India as compared to other markets, netbooks often become the entry points for many. The overall market size for netbook computers in India was at 2.3 million last year and is expected to grow to 3 million this year.
“Last year, netbooks accounted for over two lakh pieces in our total sales and this year, it will be in the range of 4-5 lakh pieces recording 100 per cent increase,” says Mr Ranjit Yadav, director (mobile and IT) Samsung India, which is set to unveil enhanced versions with touch screen and 3G-enabled facility shortly. If the success of iPads is more to do with their app (application) stores, the notebook makers are not far behind.
“The app store will be a destination for owners to find netbook-specific or netbook-optimised software that will play nicely on smaller screens and with the operating systems and processors a netbook might sport,” says Mr Huang.
According to a latest research report, netbook sales are expected to grow by 30 per cent this year globally and netbooks in India account
for about 12 per cent of overall notebook sales and the number is expected to be 15 per cent by fourth quarter of 2010.