Skip to main content

Best Buy CEO claims iPad has killed 50 percent of laptop sales

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The iPad is a success. Sure, we have known that for a while — ever since the doors opened the first morning that it was released and people were ripping other people’s fingers off to get a hold of one — but the iPad now appears to be such a success that it is making people turn away from more conventional forms of technology in favor of Apple’s tablet.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Best Buy CEO Brian Dun claimed that the iPad has cannibalized sales from PC based laptops by as much as 50 percent.

“People are willing to disproportionately spend for these devices because they are becoming so important to their lives,” Dun said. “We are really positioning the company to be the place where people can come and see the best of the connected world.”

As the holiday season approaches, Best Buy will continue to heavily stock the iPad, as well as other mobile gadgets, including a wide selection of smartphones and the Amazon Kindle. Best Buy also has plans to create an area in most of its stores to set up demos for the Microsoft Kinect and the Sony Move, as well as other video game accessories, further putting an emphasis on gadgets rather than larger ticket items such as 3D TVs, which have seen a large decline in sales from last year.

“It’s a very different environment now,” Stephen Baker, the chief electronics analyst for NPD said. “The real cool stuff now will be the tablets, e-readers and probably the higher-end digital cameras.”

Editors' Recommendations

Ryan Fleming
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
Best Apple deals: Save on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook
Apple MacBook Air M1 open, on a table.

Apple has been a big player in the tech space for a long time, and it has pioneered some of the technology we use today, such as best wireless earbuds and the best smartwatches. If that wasn't enough, it even makes some of the best best laptops and best tablets on the market, so pretty much whatever tech you're looking for, Apple has an excellent version of it. Not only that, but Apple's ecosystem is also easily one of the best available, with only Samsung really competing in that space, and if you're already in the Apple ecosystem, then it makes sense to continue buying stuff from Apple.

Of course, Apple tech can be quite pricey, which is why we've gone out and searched through various big retailers to find you some of the best deals we can find. That includes everything from the MacBook deals, AirPods deals, Apple TV deals and Apple Watch deals to the AirTag, so hopefully, you can find the perfect deal that fits your needs and budget.
Apple AirTag (4-Pack) -- $80, was $99

Read more
Apple made an outrageous change to its new iPads
An official photo of the 2024 iPad Air.

After a year-long drought of iPads, Apple finally revealed the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models during its Let Loose event on May 7. This was a unique announcement because it broke some old traditions; the iPad Air now comes in two sizes: an 11-inch and 13-inch, just like the iPad Pro. But these new iPads are also breaking another longtime tradition: They won’t come with iconic Apple stickers. Gasp.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple Store teams received a memo where Apple explained that the iconic Apple stickers won’t be included inside the boxes of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. The reasoning? As part of Apple’s environmental goals, it is trying to ensure that its packaging is completely free of plastic.

Read more
There’s something Apple isn’t telling you about the new iPad Pro
A render of the front and back of the 2024 iPad Pro.

Earlier this year, I bought a new MacBook Air. It was the entry-level 13-inch trim with an eight-core graphics engine. If my budget allowed, I would’ve loved to go with the higher-end M3 version with a 10-core GPU inside.

Spending a few hundred dollars for the higher RAM and storage configuration automatically gets you the more powerful M3 variant. Conversely, you can’t just pay more for an M3 version with a beefier GPU. If you want the best performance possible, you have to pay for the higher storage/RAM models. It’s an infuriating and darn expensive situation, but that’s how Apple rolls.

Read more