PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, MAY 28, 2009 – Netbook* sales are helping to boost overall notebooks sales, and the traditional hi-tech cities on the coastlines of the U.S. are leading the charge. According to leading market research company The NPD Group’s store level data** major East and West coast markets have among the highest netbook unit share of total notebook sales from October 2008 - April 2009, and are all above the national average.
Overall Windows notebook sales have risen 15.7 percent for the seven months ending April 2009, according to NPD’s retail tracking service. Without netbooks, overall sales would have only increased by 3.6 percent.
| Over-Performing Markets Unit Share of Total Notebooks October 2008 – April 2009 | |
| Market | Netbook Unit Share of Total Notebooks |
| New York | 12.3% |
| San Francisco/San Jose | 11.4% |
| Miami | 11.3% |
| San Diego | 10.9% |
| Washington, D.C. | 10.9% |
| Los Angeles | 10.8% |
| Boston | 10.8% |
| National Average | 9.8% |
| Source: The NPD Group/Market Tracking Service | |
"It is apparent, by where the most robust early adoption has taken place that the netbook concept is resonating best in the traditional trendsetting coastal technology markets,” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD. “As the product moves into mainstream awareness, now that it has achieved mainstream availability, maintaining these markets as leading adopters will be crucial to keep the netbook from morphing away from its original concept. The early adopting markets embraced that the features and capabilities of a netbook were designed to be a portable companion PC, not a lower-priced notebook; as less technologically savvy areas come on board keeping their focus on technology and away from price will be critical.”
For more information about NPD’s store level data, contact Charles Camaroto at 866-444-1411 or e-mail contactnpd@npd.com.
*Netbooks are defined as notebooks with 10.2 inch or smaller screens.
**These results are based on NPD’s participating store level retailer panel (approximately 60 retailers, 17,000 stores across the US).
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