According to a leading market intelligence firm, IHS formally known as iSuppli predicted that the mobile PC market is embracing the new ultrabook platform in a big way, and is expected to rise to account for more than 40 percent of all notebooks by 2015.
Ultrabooks will represent 43 percent of global notebook PC shipments in 2015, up from 2 percent in 2011 and 13 percent in 2012. Following their first year of shipments in 2011, Ultrabook penetration of the notebook market will increase rapidly, rising to 28 percent in 2013 and to 38 percent in 2014.
“To compete with media tablets, notebook PCs must become sexier and more appealing to consumers,” said Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst, compute platforms at IHS. “With media tablets having already reversed the expansion of the previously fast-growing netbook platform, PC makers now are keenly aware that the notebook must evolve to maintain market growth and relevance. Enter the ultrabook, which borrows some of the form-factor and user-interface advantages of the media tablet to enhance the allure of the venerable notebook.”
Intel backed ultrabook will use second-generation Core microprocessors, along with Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 operating system. The first batch of Intel-style Ultrabooks are expected to be out in market by end of this year, and some PC original equipment manufacturers—including Acer and Asustek—already are selling the products.
Intel had recently at Intel Developer Forum (IDF) previewed the next generation of ultrabooks set for release in 2012 that will be based on the company’s third-generation Core microprocessor line, codenamed Ivy Bridge.
