Google must be happy this morning given a new research report predicts 28 percent growth ahead for its Chromebook in the next five years.
ABI Research reports 2.1 million shipments for 2013, with nearly 90 percent landing in North America, at an average price of $338.
"This truly budget-driven device is a disruptive force to the portable PC market," states analyst Stephanie Van Vactor, in a release.
"The ASP and shipment growth of Chromebooks shows the market responding to products for the budget conscious; a reaction from a slowly reviving economy along with interest from the education business vertical," notes the release.
The positive news comes as PC makers are finding it hard to boost sales and best each other with new platforms, design advancements and features. ABI Research notes the broader portable PC market is continuing its struggle to regain market growth.
"The ultraportable segment, which is powered by the Windows 8 operating system and includes the versatile 2-in-1 configurations, saw minimal growth during 4Q 2013 even with the holiday season," states the release. The report reveals a decline in ultraportables in 2013 by 7.4 percent year-over-year and doesn't see any big changes ahead.
A recent news report, citing data from research firm Gartner, states Microsoft-based tablets and low-priced devices sold just over 4 million units in 2013.
Cost, connectivity, and greater reliance on cloud services will be the driving forces in growth for ultraportable PCs, states the report.
"Chromebooks have the potential to change the market and consumers are still undecided but nonetheless intrigued. There are many events that can shift the market in 2014, including the EOL of Windows XP, the adoption of Chromebooks, and a stronger focus on web and cloud services," says senior practice director Jeff Orr.
"How consumers and business audiences respond to these changes will impact the trajectory of the market," noted Orr.
As TechTimes reported last week Google recently released a predictive digital assistant called Google Now for desktops and laptops when using Chrome. The feature makes it easier for users to also see the contextual notifications from their Windows and Mac OS X desktop or laptop.
