Desktop PC sales may be stagnant, but according to CNET's Joe Wilcox, the laptop sector is showing surprising resilience.

Perhaps my long-term thesis that PowerBooks are "the logical Mac" is beginning to occur to a larger proportion of the computing community.

Theoretically, I really don't really need a portable computer for the sort of work I do. However, having switched to a PowerBook as my number one workhorse machine back in 1996, I find it hard to imagine going back to using a desktop computer for every day work.

For one thing, having become accustomed to LCD displays, there's no way I want to go back to a flickery, staticky, CRT monitor. Of course, you can get LCD displays for desktop computers, but they are so expensive that they pretty much wipe out any cost advantage to using a desktop machine.

Secondly, while the portability of the PowerBook is not something I make use of a whole lot, it is mighty convenient from time the time. The compact dimensions of a PowerBook also do you allow a lot more flexibility in terms of workspace, and your laptop workstation doesn't dominate a room.

Reliability? As I note in this week's The Road Warrior on MacOpinion, in my experience, my PowerBooks have proved more rugged and dependable than my desktop Macs.

Finally, I just like the efficiency of computing with such a small unit. That is, I guess, partly a matter of personal taste, but the sales figures appears to indicate that it is a taste that is shared by more and more people.

Joe Wilcox notes that "after years of being stalled at about 20 percent of the overall PC market, notebooks are widening their share at the expense of desktop systems."

In fact, he relates, citing market analysts, portable PC sales are doing so well that some computer companies may shift their sales focus to notebooks away from desktop PCs.

In Q4 2000 worldwide, notebook shipments grew 21 percent year over year, compared with paltry desktop PC growth of 1.6 percent. Wilcox cites NPD Intelect data indicating that retail notebook sales grew 17 percent year-over-year in December, whilr desktop PC sales declined 5 percent.

Falling component prices, particularly for LCDs are expected to lead to lower notebook prices. The display typically accounts for up to 40 percent of a laptop's cost.

You can read Joe Wilcox's report here:
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-4634295.html

Charles W. Moore

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