Editing Laptop (section)

==Sales==
===Manufacturers===
{{major laptop brands}}
{{Main|List of laptop brands and manufacturers}}There are many laptop brands and manufacturers. Several major brands that offer notebooks in various classes are listed in the adjacent box. The major brands usually offer good service and support, including well-executed documentation and driver downloads that remain available for many years after a particular laptop model is no longer produced. Capitalizing on service, support, and brand image, laptops from major brands are more expensive than laptops from smaller brands and [[Original design manufacturer|ODMs]]. Some brands specialize in a particular class of laptops, such as gaming laptops ([[Alienware]]), high-performance laptops ([[HP Envy]]), netbooks ([[EeePC]]) and laptops for children ([[OLPC]]).

Many brands, including the major ones, do not design and do not manufacture their laptops. Instead, a small number of Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) design new models of laptops, and the brands choose the models to be included in their lineup. In 2006, 7 major ODMs manufactured 7 of every 10 laptops in the world, with the largest one ([[Quanta Computer]]) having 30% of the world market share.<ref>{{cite web |title=Identical Laptops, Different Prices: Don't Be Fooled by Branding |url-access=registration |publisher=Info-Tech Research Group |date=10 October 2006 |url=http://www.infotech.com/research/identical-laptops-different-prices-dont-be-fooled-by-branding |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> Therefore, identical models are available both from a major label and from a low-profile ODM in-house brand.

==== Historic market share ====
{{Further|Market share of personal computer vendors}}

As of 1989 [[Zenith Data Systems]], [[Toshiba]], [[Compaq]], and [[Grid Systems]] were the leading vendors of a market that ''[[InfoWorld]]'' described as "small but vital".<ref name="pane19890828">{{Cite magazine |last=Pane |first=Patricia J. |date=1989-08-28 |title=IBM Tries End Run on Laptop Market |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=szAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=true |access-date=2025-04-25 |magazine=InfoWorld |pages=1, 93 |volume=11 |issue=35}}</ref> As of 1992–1993, Toshiba ranked as the global leading vendor in the notebook computer market. In the United States meanwhile, [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] led the market followed by Compaq.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/23/business/notebooks-may-hold-key-to-ibm-s-revival.html | title=Notebooks May Hold Key to I.B.M.'s Revival | work=The New York Times | date=23 June 1993 | last1=Lohr | first1=Steve }}</ref> In the year 1993, global revenue for the laptop market was led by Compaq, followed by Toshiba, Apple, [[NEC]] and [[IBM]], altogether accounting for over 53% of global revenue.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/12/business/compaq-tops-in-laptops.html | title=Compaq Tops in Laptops | work=The New York Times | date=12 May 1994 }}</ref>

In the United States, the top three vendors for notebooks in market share as of 1996 were: Toshiba, followed by Compaq, and followed by IBM.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/17/business/at-96-pc-expo-laptops-reserve-center-stage.html | title=At '96 PC Expo, Laptops Reserve Center Stage | work=The New York Times | date=17 June 1996 | last1=Lohr | first1=Steve }}</ref>

As of 1999, Toshiba ranked first in worldwide laptop sales followed by IBM, Compaq, and Dell.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/1999/08/16/story5.html | title=Dell to produce laptops at home | author=Tom Fowler | date=August 15, 1999 |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> Toshiba led the market with a share of 18.6%.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB929572639137623392 | title=Dell Embraces Brand-New Push: Cheaper Laptops Built to Order | work=Wall Street Journal | date=17 June 1999 }}</ref>

In the first quarter of 2002 in the United States market, Dell controlled 25.2% in the notebook space, well ahead of Toshiba (13.6%) and Compaq (11.7%), the latter of which had been acquired by [[Hewlett-Packard]] (HP). At fourth and fifth place were [[Vaio|Sony]] and IBM.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin-ectnews |date=2002-06-03 |title=Toshiba Topples Dell in Global Notebook Battle |url=https://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/toshiba-topples-dell-in-global-notebook-battle-18046.html |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=E-Commerce Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In [[Europe, the Middle East and Africa]] (EMEA) territories, [[Acer Inc.|Acer]] was the largest vendor of laptops, in 2004–2005, having overtaken HP and IBM there.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/23/business/worldbusiness/new-laptops-made-to-be-manhandled.html | title=New laptops, made to be manhandled | work=The New York Times | date=23 March 2005 | last1=O'Brien | first1=Kevin J. }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Acer reshuffles execs amid growth |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/acer-reshuffles-execs-amid-growth/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref>

In the year 2005 according to [[IDC (consulting group)|IDC]], Dell was the top global vendor of notebooks with a market share of 17.29%, followed by: HP (15.7%), Toshiba (10.96%), Acer (10.15%) and [[Lenovo]] (8.23%); Lenovo had acquired IBM that same year. The remaining of the top ten was made up of [[Fujitsu Siemens Computers|Fujitsu Siemens]], Sony, [[NEC]], Apple and [[Asus]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-02-07 |title=IDC 2005 top 10 global notebook computer vendors; Apple #9 with 2.171 million units shipped |url=https://macdailynews.com/2006/02/07/idc_2005_top_10_global_notebook_computer_vendors_apple_9_with_2171_million/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=MacDailyNews |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the first quarter of 2010, the largest vendor of portable computers, including [[netbooks]], was either HP or Acer, depending on data source. Both had shipped approximately 9 million units each. Dell, Toshiba, Asus and Lenovo followed, each with approximate sales of 5 to 6 million each. Apple, [[Samsung Electronics|Samsung]] and Sony sold under 2 million each.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schofield |first=Jack |date=2010-04-27 |title=The top notebook suppliers and the future of netbooks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2010/apr/27/notebooks-netbooks-suppliers-intel-atom |access-date=2024-11-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

As of the third quarter of 2020, [[HP Inc.|HP]] was cited as the leading vendor for notebook computers closely followed by Lenovo, both with a share of 23.6% each. They were followed by Dell (13.7%), Apple (9.7%) and Acer (7.9%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple fourth largest seller of laptops |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/675655/apple-fourth-largest-seller-of-laptops.html |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Macworld |language=en}}</ref>

=== Adoption by users ===
Battery-powered portable computers had just 2% worldwide market share in 1986.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lap-top computers gain stature as power grows |work=Daily News of Los Angeles (CA) |date=12 April 1987 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF513A9C40DA46F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=1 November 2008 }}</ref> However, laptops have become increasingly popular, both for business and personal use.<ref name="Computer Economics, Inc">{{cite web |title=The Falling Costs of Mobile Computing |work=Falling Costs of Mobile Computing Drive Corporate Adoption |publisher=Computer Economics, Inc. |date=December 2005 |url=http://www.computereconomics.com/article.cfm?id=1084 |access-date=1 November 2008 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224213138/https://www.computereconomics.com/article.cfm?id=1084 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The third quarter of 2008 was the first time when worldwide notebook PC shipments exceeded [[Desktop computer|desktops]], with 38.6&nbsp;million units versus 38.5&nbsp;million units.<ref name="Computer Economics, Inc"/><ref name="is2009-01-13">[http://www.isuppli.com/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=19823 Notebook PC Shipments Exceed Desktops for First Time in Q3], isuppli.com, accessed at 13 January 2009</ref><ref name="NYT09">{{cite news |title=The PC Doesn't Have to Be an Anchor |work=The New York Times |author=Randall Stross |date=18 April 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/business/19digi.html?_r=1&ref=technology |access-date=20 April 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/17/intel_laptop_desktop_crossover/ |title=Intel: laptop/desktop crossover coming sooner than expected |work=The Register, UK |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007091449/http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/17/intel_laptop_desktop_crossover/ |archive-date=7 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2023, it was estimated that 166 million laptops were sold,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Huang |first1=Sanesha |title=Global Notebook Market Demand to Grow by 3.6% in 2024, with AI Innovation Applications Key to Future Growth, Says TrendForce |url=https://www.trendforce.com/presscenter/news/20240229-11997.html |website=TrendForce |access-date=23 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref> and in the first quarter of 2024, around 64% of personal computers sold were laptops or detachable tablets.<ref>{{cite web |title=IDC - Personal Computing Devices Market Insights |url=https://www.idc.com/promo/pcdforecast |website=IDC |access-date=23 November 2024 |date=26 September 2024}}</ref> Due to the advent of tablets and affordable laptops, many computer users now have laptops due to the convenience offered by the device.

=== Price ===
Before 2008, laptops were very expensive. In May 2005, the average notebook sold for {{US$|long=no|1131}} while desktops sold for an average of {{US$|long=no|696}}.<ref>Michael Singer. [http://news.cnet.com/PC+milestone--notebooks+outsell+desktops/2100-1047_3-5731417.html "PC milestone—notebooks outsell desktops"]. 2005.</ref> Around 2008, however, prices of laptops decreased substantially due to low-cost [[netbook]]s, drawing an average {{US$|689}} at U.S. retail stores in August 2008. Starting with the 2010s, laptops have decreased substantially in price at the low end due to inexpensive and low power [[ARM architecture family|Arm processor]]s, less demanding operating systems such as [[ChromeOS]], and [[system on a chip|SoC's]]. {{As of|2023}}, a new laptop can be obtained for {{US$|long=no|299}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hanson |first=Matt |date=13 July 2022 |title=The best laptop 2023: top portable picks for all budgets |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/laptops/best-laptops-1304361 |access-date=20 September 2023 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}</ref>