Online consumers prefer smaller and lighter laptops

NEW DELHI, INDIA: PriceGrabber.com, a part of Experian, explores portable-style laptop trends through its latest Consumer Behavior Report. Results are based on a survey of 1,868 online consumers conducted in late February 2008. PriceGrabber.com defines portable-style laptops as weighing less than six pounds and having a screen size of less than 15 inches measured diagonally. Of the 72 percent of respondents who indicated owning or using a laptop, 58 percent own or use a portable-style laptop.

Lugging Around Laptops



Consumers who have different laptops for work/school and personal use carry the burden of traveling with multiple laptops. Of those surveyed, 38 percent need two or more laptops. The demand for portable-style laptops has increased over the past year as more consumers find it a nuisance to carry around the standard-size laptop, let alone two. Forty-four percent of online consumers say they would travel more often with a laptop if it were smaller and lighter.

High-priced Portable-style Laptops Draw Niche Market

Forty-six percent of consumers stated that performance is the most important feature to consider when purchasing a portable-style laptop. Unfortunately, as performance increases and the size of the laptop decreases, it comes with a price that not everyone is willing to spend. Of the nine percent of respondents who anticipate spending more than $2,000 for a portable-style laptop, 62 percent said they value performance as the most important feature, while 11 percent value battery life and nine percent value weight.

A Little Something for Everyone…Else

Survey results indicate that the majority of online consumers are split between low-end (under $1,000) and midrange-priced ($1,000–$2,000) portable-style laptops. Of the top 20 most popular laptops on PriceGrabber.com, 12 are portable-style laptops with an average price point of $979. On the site, shoppers can search by screen size to find the laptop that fits them best.

When it’s time to upgrade, regardless of size or price, PriceGrabber.com encourages consumers to be ecofriendly and recycle old laptops.  Last year, PriceGrabber.com launched ShopGreen, a comprehensive guide to more than 20,000 ecofriendly products. The March Consumer Behavior Report continues to highlight PriceGrabber.com’s commitment to green shopping by including suggestions from Olivia Zaleski, environmental consultant and blogger for PriceGrabber.com’s BlogGreen, Treehugger.com and Huffington Post.