It is not particularly new information to say that the way people use the Internet has changed a great deal in recent years. The Internet isn't just for people to jump on with a computer anymore. Video game consoles, phones, and even TVs make good use of the internet for everything from checking email, to streaming video, to getting into a multiplayer game. An IHS iSuppli Consumer Platforms Report indicates that combined shipments of all of these Internet enabled devices are likely to exceed PC shipments in 2013. If this happens as predicted, it would mark the first time such a thing has happened.
The IHS iSuppli press release predicts that shipments of these Internet enabled consumer devices will grow to 503.6 million units in 2013, a leap of 161 million from what was reported in 2010. The release says that PC sales will grow from 222.3 million in 2010 to only 253.3 million in 2013.
Jordan Selburn, principal analyst for consumer platforms at IHS says,
“The Internet now is revolutionizing the consumer electronics business by delivering a range of products that can bring web-based content to homes. Increasingly, each Internet-enabled consumer electronics device is vying to become the center of what is known as the digital living room, aggregating content throughout the home and serving up movies, television programs, videos and music. In the future, consumers will be more likely to access the Internet through their televisions than via their PCs.”
IHS makes an interesting distinction between tablets and PCs, fitting tablets in as Internet enabled consumer devices instead of a standard PC. The company indicates that the growth in Internet enabled devices is largely due to booming tablet sales, mostly phenomenal sales of the iPad over other tablets.
Topping the list of Internet enabled devices in 2010 were game consoles and televisions, which isn't particularly suprising for that year. IHS figures that 2011 will see tablets rise to the top of that list and has also determined that net enabled Blu-ray players and set top boxes will make a big splash in the future. The company doesn't detail what they consider a set top box but if it includes things like Roku, Apple TV, the Boxee Box, and others, then it makes a great deal of sense that a large amount of growth would be seen in that category.
Overall these numbers and projections aren't particularly surprising. PCs are great for accessing the web, doing work, and playing games, but tablets seem to be the new hot solution for all of those desires. Tablets also bring portability, media support, and an interesting user interface that is very attractive to tech lovers as well as non tech lovers alike.
Do you have a set top box, tablet, or net enabled TV? Let us know how you feel about those devices in the comments and tell us what you think of the IHS report.
