世論 What Japan Thinks

In the US and the UK I get the distinct impression that the netbook market is in a rush for the bottom, but here in Japan, premium-priced mini-notebooks seem to be the norm according to this recent survey from Media Interactive reported on by japan.internet.com.

Demographics

Over the 16th and 17th of February 2010 1,000 internet users completed a survey, although the means of gathering this sample was not described. 53.1% of the sample were male, 0.8% in their teens, 13.8% in their twenties, 31.3% in their thirties, 28.3% in their forties, 17.9% in their fifties, and 7.9% in their sixties.

I’ve now had my MSI Wind for about four months; I picked it up for under 300 dollars in the US, and it works great as a second PC that I can use when my wife’s busy with the main computer, or for stuffing in my rucksack whenever I have a solo train ride with 20 minutes or more to kill.

Research results

First of all 200 people had a “mini note PC”, but the term was not defined. I would reckon it would definitely cover anything under A4 size, however. These 200 people were asked the following.

Q1: Did you buy your mini notebook as a second computer or as a main computer? (Sample size=200)

As a second computer	79.0%
As a main computer	19.0%
Other	2.0%

Q2: What make is your mini notebook? If more than one, answer for the one you use the most. (Sample size=200)

Sony	18.5%
Toshiba	15.0%
ASUS Eee PC	10.0%
Dell	10.0%
Fujitsu	7.5%
Lenovo	6.5%
NEC	6.5%
Ace	5.5%
Kojinsha	3.0%
HP	2.0%
MSI	1.5%
Mouse Computers	0.5%
Onkyo	0.5%
Epson	0.0%
Other	10.0%
Don’t know	3.0%

Q3: When did you buy your mini notebook? If more than one, answer for the one you use the most. (Sample size=200)

Before 2009	38.5%
January to March 2009	13.5%
April to June 2009	11.5%
July to September 2009	9.5%
October to December 2009	19.0%
January to February 2010	8.0%

Finally, the 800 people without a mini notebook were asked if they might buy one in the future. 6.4% said they plans to buy, 25.1% might buy if the price is right, and 19.9% might buy if the spec or functions are right, making a total of 51.4% interested.