Ultrabook Sales In U.S. Don’t Suck, Report Reveals Increased Numbers

The Apple iPad may be all the rage at this particular moment in time but that doesn’t mean manufacturers aren’t capable of selling a ton of Ultrabooks. The ultra thin notebooks managed to capture 11 percent of all $700+ Windows notebook sales in the U.S. for the first five months of 2012 according to market research company The NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service.

The overall Windows-based market for notebook PCs sell by 17 percent during the same five month period while the $700+ market fell by just 3 percent thanks in large part because of Ultrabook sales. In the meantime the $900+ Ultrabook market increased by 39 percent versus the previous year.

According to Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at The NPD Group:

“Ultrabooks have helped establish a market for more premium-priced Windows notebooks at retail. The share of sales that the $700+ notebook segment represents jumped from about 12 percent in 2011 to nearly 14 percent in 2012 as a result of the solid market acceptance Ultrabooks have gained. Consumers continue to respond positively to finally being offered stylish, thinner, and more premium device offerings than ever before within the Windows ecosystem.”

The average selling price for a Ultrabook is still high at $927 however the units are getting cheaper with some devices dipping below $900 in May. In comparison the average Windows-based laptop is just $510.

Baker completes his analysis by noting:

“As we head into the crucial back-to-school selling season, lower-cost Ultrabooks, some as low as $699, will be the hot form factor. As we look towards the fourth quarter, the expected launch of Windows 8, a wide variety of Ultrabooks with touch screens, and convertible form factors should continue to make this class of product top of mind with the consumer as well as provide a much-needed revenue boost to the entire PC ecosystem.”

Are you surprised by the surge in Ultrabook sales over the last five months.