iPad taking a big chunk out of netbook sales

Within a month of its launch, the iPad has already outsold all the eBook readers before it. Within the first quarter of this year the sales of the Kindle and Nook combined was about 1.43 million units. In less than a month, the iPad by itself notched up 1.5 million units sold.

Now, recent numbers released by Morgan Stanley revealed that netbooks are taking the hit from iPad’s success as well.

Netbook sales have been on the up and up last year but has since saw a steady decline beginning October 2009. And after the iPad entered the market, the decline of netbook sales have been massive with just 5% growth in the month of April this year.

Could the decline in netbook sales be the direct result of the iPad? Well, Morgan Stanley presents a very compelling case with over 40% of Americans surveyed saying that they are planning purchase an iPad over a netbook or a notebook computer.

Could this spell the end of netbooks as we know it? Right now its difficult to say but the numbers are cenrtainly compelling. And with a number of device manufacturers now looking to produce tablet type devices just like the iPad, it could very well be the begining.

[source]