14 DAY TRIAL // Even though we prefer not to assume that it's too likely for tablets to outstrip notebooks any time soon, shipment-wise, we suppose it's still perfectly possible, if not certain, that it will happen eventually.
DisplaySearch is giving its two cents on the issue. The analyst firm seems to be among those who believe in the rapid evolution of the relatively new segment.
According to its studies, mobile PC+tablets will hit 375 million units in 2012 and will jump to 809 million by 2017.
By category, notebook shipments will rise from 208 million to 393 million, while tablets will go from 121 million to 416 million during the same period.
Mature markets like Japan, Western Europe and North America are the places where tablets sell the best. They will account for 66% of the 2012 total (80 million) and 60% or more in 2017 (254 million, give or take).