Laptop computer makers in and outside Korea are releasing a variety of smarter and slimmer laptops, including a less-than-1-kilogram 15-inch model and a 2-in-1 model which can be transformed into a tablet.
According to market research firm IDC on January 17, domestic personal computer shipments totaled 990,000 units in the third quarter of last year, down 4.6 percent from a year ago. This was the first time for domestic quarterly personal computer shipments to fall below the 1-million level since the second quarter of 2005.
During the same period, the number of ultrabooks was 232,000, with its share in the domestic laptop market rising up to more than 50 percent. The ultrabook refers to a notebook computer which is slimmer and lighter compared to ordinary laptops, while its performance is strong enough to compete with the latter. The ultrabook, in general, features a thickness of less than 21 mm, boasting superior portability.
As ultrabooks gain rising popularity, the competition for ultra-light weight is expected to get more heated in the market.
