Netbook shipments to double in 2009; notebook shipments flatten

As an indication as to how fast the netbook segment is growing, research firm DisplaySearch is reporting that netbook shipments are expected to double year-on-year to 33 million units in 2009. This appears to be at the expense of notebooks (classified as those with display sizes larger than 12.1-inches) whose shipments are expected to flatten for the first time. Netbooks will account for 20 percent of the total worldwide notebook market by the end of the year.

The strong take-up of netbooks is dominated from the EMEA region (although I guess Europe is the main driver), with 45 percent of all netbooks shipped in this region during 2008. This amount is expected to drop marginally to 40 percent this year, but still shows how big a market EMEA is for netbook vendors.

The flat notebook growth has been attributed to the rise in netbooks but also due to a dramatic decline in demand from business customers. However, on a happier note, the launch of Windows 7 along with more buoyant markets could lead to a recovery in notebook shipments, although this is unlikely to happen before 2010.