NOT LONG ago, owning a laptop was a privilege of hotshot executives and IT professionals. However, in the past year, the notebook market more than doubled in Indore on the back of demand from all consumer segments, particularly the youth. A new trend has now emerged with the City’s leading showrooms selling twice as many laptops than desktop PCs.
E-mall showroom director Rakesh Agrawal attributes the rise in laptop sales to portability factor. “It is the age of mobility and people like to surf the Net and access mail on the move”, he told Hindustan Times. “The laptops are more attractive, hi-tech and sturdy as compared to the desktops, and with WiFi facilities becoming more common it’s far more easier to surf the Net while on the move than few years ago”.
Laptops have also become more affordable in recent times. A business notebook, which cost around Rs 75,000 a year and a half ago, now costs around Rs 50,000, while an entry-level notebook costs less than Rs 30,000. Agrawal, however, believes that more than affordability it is the utility that has fuelled the demand in recent times. The demand for laptops could be gauged from the sales ratio of e-mall, which is three to one in favour of laptops.
Companies are also equipping their workforce, be it the sales team or administrative staff, with these gadgets to improve productivity levels. Apart from the executives in private sector, the notebooks are also in demand among the entrepreneurs and senior government officials.
{{/usCountry}}Companies are also equipping their workforce, be it the sales team or administrative staff, with these gadgets to improve productivity levels. Apart from the executives in private sector, the notebooks are also in demand among the entrepreneurs and senior government officials.
{{/usCountry}}Proprietor of another computer hardware showroom, who did not want to be named, said the youth particularly the college students are increasingly buying laptops. “Most of the college students now are technology conscious and a need for anytime anywhere access to information is making them opt for notebooks”, he said adding that the showroom sells twice as many laptops than desktops.
Another important trend that is emerging from this shift is that while the multinational brands are experiencing burgeoning sales, Indian brands have been the laggards.
“HP and Lenovo are our most popular brands”, says Agrawal adding that the difference between them and Indian brands is that of superior technology.
The laptop market is poised for an accelerated growth this year also. Dealers believe that the demand for high-end models will shoot up when IT Park comes up in Indore.