Following a number of Microsoft attack ads against Google Chromebooks, a report found that Google Chromebooks would take a 21% share of U.S. commercial notebook sales in 2013. Maybe Microsoft did have reason to be afraid of the inexpensive laptops powered by Chrome OS. Further evidence that this is indeed the case came to light this week via a The Wall Street Journal report that highlighted new data provided by Futuresource Consulting. The report found that Chromebooks have grabbed a very similar portion of the U.S. K-12 educational market for mobile computers.
Futuresource found that Chromebooks saw their market share explode from 1% in 2012 to 19% in 2013. At the same time, Apple’s share remained steady at 47%. The same cannot be said for Microsoft. While year-long data was not released, Microsoft Windows’ share dropped from 47.%% in Q3 2012 to 28% the same quarter last year.
The Wall Street Journal adds that a similar report by IDC found that a similar trend is occuring in U.S. colleges and universities.
According to IDC, the U.S. K-12 education market accounted for only 7% of the overall U.S. market for desktops, laptops and tablets in 2013. But combined with the U.S. commercial notebook market, it’s clear that the Google Chromebook is making inroads quickly. Now if we could only get numbers that show how it’s faring in the consumer space.
Futuresource Consulting‘s data includes both tablets and notebook PCs but excludes desktop computers.
Source : The Wall Street Journal