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Chromebook shipments jump by 67 per cent

by Mark Tyson on 23 October 2014, 14:35

Tags: Chrome OS

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In its recently published market analysis ABI Research says that Chromebook shipments have enjoyed strong growth recently, climbing 67 per cent quarter-on-quarter. Furthermore it expects the Google Chrome OS packing portables to double their market size year on year. However, according to The Guardian, and based upon more detailed ABI Research publications, Chromebook sales account for only around one per cent of all PC sales.

Google doesn't release figures for its Chromebook sales or usage but often spins positive headlines about uptake rates and large governmental and corporate adoption of these computers. This makes it all the more interesting to see these independent adoption figures.

Total shipments of Chromebooks this year is expected to hit 4.1 million according to ABI. Last year shipments were around half that figure. Meanwhile the PC market as a whole will decline slightly from 316 million last year to a figure around the 300 million mark by this year end. While its growth rate is impressive, the penetration since the first Chromebooks arrived in 2011, isn't as deep as the Google PR machine would suggest.

Acer is the top Chromebook vendor

Despite holding just a single percentage point of the market so far, most major PC systems makers seem to have been keen to develop and produce at least one Chromebook to fish for sales. Acer, Samsung and HP held a combined 74 per cent of the market share for Chromebooks in latest figures with Acer in the lead, holding 37 per cent, says ABI.

Rather than end consumers pushing Chromebook adoption ABI thinks it's mainly down to 'vertical markets' such as educational establishments and businesses buying large volumes of these devices.

ABI's analysts think that Chromebooks are more than just a temporary 'netbook' like fad and are helped along by the low prices and keenness of vendors to jump aboard and make appealing new devices.

Chromebooks are at an interesting point in their history/development and in the next few months we should see if the rising trend follows through or a spoke gets put in the wheel – like the growing availability of price comparable Windows 8.1 with Bing notebooks.



HEXUS Forums :: 7 Comments

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I am still amazed to see any growth in the market - I guess Google must be doing a great marketing job on these in other countries (You see very little chromebook advertising in the UK).

I am curious what is driving the purchase - I would expect that its much like netbooks..laptop form factor at below laptop prices, regardless of the fact that they won't do what most people expect or want (just like with netbooks :) ), but I wonder if there is more to it.
Spud1
I am still amazed to see any growth in the market - I guess Google must be doing a great marketing job on these in other countries (You see very little chromebook advertising in the UK).

I am curious what is driving the purchase - I would expect that its much like netbooks..laptop form factor at below laptop prices, regardless of the fact that they won't do what most people expect or want (just like with netbooks :) ), but I wonder if there is more to it.

Pretty much how I feel. I would blindly assume that the laptop doesn't do quite as much as most people getting one would expect (and with that it would be returned). Maybe I'm not giving people in general enough credit though?

I'm still kind of intrigued by them and have considered getting my daughter one, but again, I just don't feel confident it will do all that is required.
Who doesn't want to buy an incredibly limited bit of equipment, that reports everything you are doing back to Google?
I got my chromebook because it offered word processing, Web browsing and a 6 hour battery life for 200 pounds. Not to mention how thin and light it is. Great piece of kit, especially for elder people; they don't need to worry about anti virus!
MrRockliffe
I got my chromebook because it offered word processing, Web browsing and a 6 hour battery life for 200 pounds. Not to mention how thin and light it is. Great piece of kit, especially for elder people; they don't need to worry about anti virus!

I agree - my 75 yr old mum loves hers as its nice and simple. Mind you, she likes her kindle and IPad too!