By Katie Hoffmann
May 20 (Bloomberg) — The popularity of Apple Inc.’s iPad will spur a sixfold increase in industrywide shipments of tablet computers by 2014, research firm IDC said.
Shipments worldwide will rise to 46 million from 7.6 million this year, Framingham, Massachusetts-based IDC said today in a statement. It expects 398 million portable personal computers to ship in 2014.
Apple, which introduced the iPad last month, sold 1 million of the touch-screen tablets in 28 days. As demand outpaced supply in the U.S., Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs delayed overseas shipments about a month. Computer makers, including Hewlett-Packard Co., have discussed plans to begin producing tablets.
Demand for the computers, which will primarily be marketed as entertainment devices, is going to be driven by the number of third-party applications available on the tablets, IDC said.
Consumer demand for the iPad is stronger than previously expected, according to a separate report today by ChangeWave Research in Rockville, Maryland. A May survey showed that consumers who are “very likely” to buy the device rose to 7 percent from 4 percent in a February survey, while those who are “somewhat likely” increased to 13 percent from 9 percent.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, fell $10.58, or 4.3 percent, to $237.76 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares have risen 13 percent this year.
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This is GREAT news for iPad owners and College Textbook publishers. The iPad is just the start to a new computing revolution with Tablet PC’s becoming more and more popular and accepted. The industry will have to cater to the individuals that are spending their discretionary income on these devices. College students are the prime user for this market segment as they are required to spend big dollars on textbooks but should be able to find a lower cost per book by buying an iPad and getting the digital versions. This will also help through studying for graduate school placement exams as I’m sure you will find all the exam prep courses supplying their courses with iPad Prep Apps.
