Ultrabooks will be 43 per cent of laptops by 2015

BEANCOUNTERS at IHS Isuppli have predicted a significant growth in Ultrabook laptops to compete against tablets.

The firm believes that Ultrabooks will account for 43 per cent of global netbook shipments by 2015. This represents a growth of 30 per cent compared to the 13 per cent market share predicted for next year.

"To compete with media tablets, notebook PCs must become sexier and more appealing to consumers," said Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst for 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."

Ultrabooks are out already with many more to come from manufaturers such as Asus, Toshiba and Acer. However, Asus has changed the name slightly to 'Zenbook'. The firm stood by the theory that tablets won't end the notebook but said they are contributing to slowing growth in the segment.

Tablets are still set to boom over the coming years with worldwide shipments set to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 42 per cent between 2011 and 2015. The notebook market has "entered a stage of maturity" according to IHS, with shipments increasing at a CAGR of 10 percent during the same period.

IHS said the Ultrabook push backed by Intel could revitalize the electronics supply chain and bring an end the current slowdown in the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing industries.

"With the introduction of the ultrabook, the computing industry is poised for yet another paradigm shift," said Len Jelinek, research director and analyst, semiconductor manufacturing at IHS. "The technology now exists that actually could bring about a convergence of major mobile devices. If an attractive price point can be achieved and the consumer deems this a must-have product, the entire semiconductor manufacturing supply chain could rapidly reorient itself to serve the fast-growing ultrabook market." µ