Market outlook
IDC expects sustained buoyancy in the EMEA mini-notebook market in the coming quarters, and robust double-digit growth in 2009. Strong vendor push will undoubtedly remain one of the key market drivers. Most vendors are working on expanding their product portfolios with increased distinction between entry-level, mainstream, and even higher-end models. Mini-notebooks will also continue to evolve both from a technology and design standpoint. The shift towards 10in. will continue and is expected to dominate the market in 2009, and we will see the first convertible models with touchscreens appear later this year.
Market dynamics will remain driven by consumer demand, but improving specifications, larger screens, and integrated 3G will make mini-notebooks more appealing to businesses as well. The education sector will be another growth opportunity in the long term. There are already several projects running in the U.K. and Russia, for example, and demand is expected to rise in an effort to promote one-to-one computing across the region.
IT and telco convergence will gain further momentum in 2009. Most vendors have already set up partnerships with key pan-European operators, and will continue to expand this year, targeting second- and third-tier operators in each country. The market will also see a shift from USB to integrated 3G, supported by the plethora of new models coming out with this functionality.
IDC believes the mini-notebook market will be a key growth opportunity in EMEA in 2009 amid the ongoing global economic recession, and will contribute to the sustained expansion of the EMEA portable PC market. However, mini-notebooks will continue to shake the industry from both a go-to-market and a pricing perspective. Mini-notebooks have proven that miniaturization does not have to cost a fortune, and will force vendors to rethink their ultraportable offerings and pricing. New initiatives from AMD, Intel, and Microsoft will also help the industry to reinvent ultraportables in a more affordable packaging.
The mini-notebook market is analyzed as part of IDC's EMEA Quarterly PC Tracker program and a special report is also available. For more information on IDC's EMEA Quarterly PC Tracker or other IDC personal computing research services, please contact Associate Vice President Karine Paoli (tel.: +44 [0] 20 8987 7218, email: kpaoli@idc.com). Alternatively, contact your local IDC office or visit www.idc.com.
