Portable media players are clearly at risk, except very small mp3 players.
E-readers will be at risk, because as tablet prices drop, the price differential will compress. Nobody buys monochrome PC type displays any longer regardless of price. New types of tablet displays and low cost will render e-readers mostly obsolete.
Netbook stats do not surprise me. The trend is towards greater portability, but if you prefer/need a physical keyboard, tablets generally will not do. Therefore, netbooks or very small form factor notebooks (11 inches) will be popular. Historically, compact/light notebooks have commanded a large price premium that most buyers were unwilling to pay. With that no longer the case, a large percentage of notebook buyers will opt for smaller and cheaper notebooks/netbooks.
Laptops/desktops: A lot of users simple do not need everything these offer. Significant declines will happen.
Portable gaming: Production volumes of smart phones and small tablets as well as frequent performance increases, PLUS the large number of game developers selling their games at a very affordable price level, will make it VERY difficult for Sony and Nintendo to compete. Kids will have smart phones that also act as excellent media players as well as portable gaming devices. I would not want to be a Nintendo share holder at this point in time. They may end up becoming a SW company only.
Nielsen is confirming what many tech watchers already knew: Apple’s iPad and Android tablets are eating into PC and laptop usage. However, other devices are likely to take sales hits too.
According to Nielsen, Apple continues to rule the tablet roost. No surprises there. The most notable item in Nielsen’s blog post is the devices that are being used less frequently because of tablets.
This chart tells the tale:
If 20 percent or more of Nielsen respondents say they are using a device less because of a tablet that’s a dangerous zone. Using that assumption the following devices are likely to see sales declines going forward:
Portable gaming consoles: Do you buy that new Nintendo 3DS or go up in price and buy an iPad? The tablet impact on gaming consoles is unclear. Twenty two percent of respondents use their portable gaming consoles less, but 26 percent use it more.
- Portable media players: Apple is already seeing this with its iPod units.
- E-readers: Chances are low prices will mitigate e-reader cannibalization.
- Netbooks: I was surprised only 23 percent of folks say they are using a netbook less.
- Laptops: 30 percent are using laptops less because they have a tablet.
- Desktops: 32 percent are spending less time on desktops because of a tablet. Tablets and laptops are a double whammy on desktop sales.
Aside from netbooks—where 5 percent of people dumped the device for a tablet—very few see tablets as a replacement.
Also: Nielsen: Tablets pushing owners to spend quality time with smartphone
