iPad removes netbook popularity

The new research, conducted by consumer electronics site Retrevo amid over 1,000 Americans, has shown the iPad popularity has been growing enormously eliminating netbooks’ one.

The research found iPad sales to significantly increase in comparison with netbooks sales. Obviously, Apple's iPad popularity is hurting netbook sales as the iPad offers many of the same advantages that netbooks offer over a traditional laptop, such as higher portability and longer battery life.

The Retrevo survey  also asked respondents whether they are planning on buying an iPad or a netbook: 78% said they would be choosing an iPad, while only 22% would choose a netbook.

Respondents were asked whether they held off on buying a netbook: 30% answered that they did, and consequently bought an iPad, while 40% did hold back but eventually bought a netbook instead. 30% of consumers responded they did not hold back and just bought a netbook.

However, regular laptops are still popular amid Americans, according to the research, especially the cheap lower-end models. 65% responded they would go for a laptop instead of a netbook when faced with the choice this year.

Those who preferred netbooks over laptops or iPads responded that the main feature that attracted them to a netbook was the smaller footprint of the machines (55%), while 20% considered price, and 19% considered battery life as the main trait.