Survey: Netbook Shoppers Flock to iPad

Apple's iPad continues to make an impact on the mobile computing industry, and Retrevo's Pulse Study seeks to make sense of it all. The latest research showed some interesting breakdowns in consumer purchases and preferences when it comes to the lightest, cheapest computers available compared to the ultra-portable iPad.

So is the iPad killing netbooks? Not exactly. Is the iPad making an impact on netbook sales in the US? Absolutely. The graphic above shows that over three-quarters of respondents who are torn between a netbook and iPad are leaning towards the iPad.

The iPad certainly rivals netbooks with its sleek form factor and long battery life, although the insulated apps/operating system, lack of ports and virtual keyboard may turn some buyers away. Survey takers were asked if they held off buying a netbook until the iPad was released. A full 30 percent of respondents held off and did end up buying an iPad.

40 percent waited but still went ahead and bought a netbook, while the remaining 30 percent could care less about the iPad. These are impressive numbers by any stretch, especially since most buyers went for the iPad without even seeing the device in person. Now that the iPad has been released and people have had a chance to try the device, it would seem the iPad's popularity is gaining.

Retrevo's results also point to netbooks under pressure from increasingly less expensive and more full-featured laptops. When choosing between a netbook and a laptop survey respondents went for the laptop 65 percent of the time. Netbooks will continue to decrease in price as well, but it's clear their position in the US market is changing quickly as the iPad surges ahead.

[Retrevo Blog]