Shipments of mini-notebooks in Asia Pacific will reach four million units in 2009, growing by a robust 82 per cent over 2008, according to Gartner, Inc. Growth will stabilise at 20 per cent or more in 2010 and 2011, when mini-notebooks will account for more than 14 per cent of all mobile PCs shipped.

“The mini-notebook is a great tool for casual and entry-level computing, especially among younger users who are obsessed with social networking sites such as Facebook," said Lillian Tay, principal research analyst at Gartner. “The falling cost of mobile broadband as well as continued rollout of third generation (3G) services and coverage in countries such as China will encourage more desk-based PC users to switch to mobile replacements, as well as stimulating purchases of mini-notebooks as second PCs.”

Gartner expects significant growth in shipments to the more mature IT markets such as Australia, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore and to major cites in emerging countries such as China, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.

In Australia, shipment of mini-notebooks is expected to grow 40.8 per cent this year. They will account for 13.7 per cent of all mobile PC shipments in 2009, with the government’s student PC program providing a major boost, and will take a 11.8 per cent share by 2011.

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