AUSTIN, TX — Despite what is looking to be a rather dismal year for the PC industry as a whole, mini-note PCs, or netbooks, are forecasted to grow at more than 65% year-over-year in 2009, while the traditional notebook PC market is forecast to grow 3%, according to DisplaySearch.
 
The research firm says buyers are adjusting their discretionary spending and purchasing mini-notes as lower-priced alternatives to notebook PCs. Some of the growth in the mini-note PC market is a function of cannibalization of entry-level notebook PCs, but the factors which helped propel the mini-note market initially — low ASPs and basic functionality — remain the key forces propelling growth.
 
DisplaySearch expects consumers will return to typical buying habits after the economy crisis is over, preferring more full-featured and higher-priced notebook PCs.
 
DisplaySearch expects that growth of 66% in 2009 will push the mini-note PC market to over 27 million units, while notebook PC shipments will nudge up to 133 million units.

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