iPad cuts Best Buy's traditional notebook PC sales in half
updated 12:55 pm EDT, Thu September 16, 2010
iPad gutting notebook sales at Best Buy
The iPad has slashed Best Buy's sales of conventional notebook computers in half, Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn revealed in an interview this week [sub. required]. Estimates at the big-box retail chain have seen Apple's tablet drop notebook PC sales by "as much as 50 [percent]" since it started shipping to some Best Buy stores in April, the executive told the WSJ. In spite of shrinking the PC market, the iPad helped Best Buy grow its revenue for its just-ended quarter and even gave a lift to the portable computing category's results.
The company hasn't said how many iPads have moved through its stores, but it was confident enough in their sales to expand sales to all its stores by September 26.
Analysts go so far as to suspect that the iPad may have even contributed to a "low-double digit" drop in TV sales numbers and average selling prices compared to a year ago. While a saturated TV market has played a part as many now are replacing old sets rather than new, others don't see 3D or Internet access as essential reasons to upgrade their TVs; they may buy an iPad because it's genuinely different, iSuppli's Riddhi Patel said.
The iPad is already known to have had an effect on netbooks. Although cheaper and capable of running a full desktop OS, the slate has contributed to declines in netbook sales for the first time in almost three years. ASUS, largely considered the founder of the netbook category, has scaled back its Eee PC shipments despite the summer normally being its best period. Samsung's Galaxy Tab may also be a safeguard agsint the iPad taking PC sales away.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
so...
Has he done the actual analysis/survey of iPad buyers to know that they aren't buying notebooks from his stores? Are the iPads being sold from his stores that are affecting these sales? Is he sure this isn't just that people are saturated with computers and don't need to update as often?
And is he sure it isn't because people finally realized that shopping at Best Buy requires massive detoxification afterwards and isn't worth the hassles?