Hardware - Notebooks

This year's survey suggests some excitement in the notebook category as it has recorded a new entrant in the competition-Apple. And in doing so, it has dethroned two brands that had made the cut in last

year's survey.

This year, the respondents have mentioned the same brands as last year as currently owned, in the 100 to 499 employees segment. However, as compared to last year, HCL has moved on to the fifth spot, getting Acer to move up one spot to the fourth. IBM-Lenovo is sitting comfortably at its third spot as last year. Dell has many more respondents than last year, but poses no major threat to the ruling brand in this segment i.e. HP-Compaq.

In the 500+ employees segment, Apple has entered the club, overtaking HCL and moving Toshiba out of the club. HCL has slid down to the last spot in the club. IBM-Lenovo and HP-Compaq still maintain their positions at three and two respectively. And as last year, Dell is still the reigning brand in the 500+ employees segment.

In terms of brand loyalty, Dell and Acer seem to be favorites with only 3% and 6% of their existing users likely to shift out in the 100 to 499 employees segment. HP-Compaq enjoys 86% brand loyalty, but a good 10% of its existing users are likely to shift to other brands, and the remaining 6% are uncertain. Lenovo/IBM's brand loyalty is lower at 80%, and here again, 10% of its existing users are likely to shift to other brands and the balance 10% are uncertain. HCL needs to worry with only 53% brand loyalty.

In the 500+ employees segment too, HCL seems to be losing out on existing customers, with as much as 25% likely to move on to others brands; and many of those prefer HP-Compaq and Lenovo/IBM. HP-Compaq, Dell, and IBM-Lenovo emerge as the brands that users are definitely going to stick to with only 3%, 4% and 6% opting for a possible brand shift in the future. The new entrant Apple has recorded an 18% shift out, but the users are unsure of which brand to move on to.