Back to school season is already upon us, and Retrevo conducted a survey to see what kind of laptops students are planning to buy. 34 percent said netbooks, with 49 percent opting for “full-sized” PC laptops. Apple, which has historically done pretty well for itself with students isn’t as popular a choice this year, with 58% of student shopers saying they plan to spend $750 or less on a laptop. The only way you’ll be able to pick up a Macbook for that price is if you find a used or maybe a refurbished model.
Of course, the study could be skewed. The questions were asked to a sample of visitors to Retrevo’s consumer electronics marketplace, but maybe Mac users are less likely to visit. It’s not exactly a random sample of all students interested in purchasing laptops.
via Biz Journals
34% netbooks, 49% “full-sized” PC laptops, 17% what? Ultraportables?
Also, Apple doesn’t have to be on *everyone’s* shopping list. If 58% are shopping under $750, then it stands to reason that 42% are shopping *over* that price, which is far more than Apple’s current market share.
Also, I don’t get where the linked article gets its claim that the still-unannounced iTablet is going to magically compete with netbooks for students. Who in their right mind is going to write a 7-page history paper on an onscreen keyboard?
I think they’re using “PC laptops” to differentiate from Apple laptops. Which implies 34% netbooks, 49% larger PCs, and the rest Apple. But I didn’t know that for certain, so I didn’t go any further than the article I was citing.
Which would make even more sense in the context of saying that it poses a problem from Apple.
Interesting.