Potential impact still unclear

Apple's iPad may be having a significant impact on the netbook market, according to a Retrevo study. The company recently surveyed people who were considering buying an iPad or netbook. Nearly a third of respondents claimed to have bought an iPad after holding off on a netbook purchase after Apple's tablet was announced in January.

The survey also suggests that 40 percent waited for the iPad to come out but eventually purchased a netbook, while 30 percent claimed the tablet did not delay them from buying a netbook.

Retrevo also researched current trends now that the iPad has been on the market for a short time. Of customers looking to buy an iPad or netbook, 78 percent of the respondents are "leaning toward" an iPad. Aside from the iPad numbers, 65 percent chose a full-size notebook over a netbook.

Separate reports suggest that Apple is already producing between 1 and 1.5 million iPads every month, with the potential to ramp up manufacturing to reach 2.5 million units if necessary. Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty recently corroborated the Retrevo study's conclusions, claiming that the iPad has already caused the netbook market to collapse. Other research groups, such as iSuppli, expect the netbook market to grow despite the accelerating pace of iPad sales.

Editor's note: Although the Retrevo survey gathered information from over 1,000 Internet users in the US market, the study does not necessarily reflect the wider market. Current studies lack complete sales numbers from the second quarter of the year.

by MacNN Staff