Gartner has lowered its laptop-sales forecast for this year and the next, predicting that the popularity of tablets and smartphones will slow laptop sales. Gartner expects worldwide laptop sales to increase 11% this year and and 14% next year, down from a previously forecast 16$ and 15%, respectively.
Samsung is out to boost its laptop sales by 80% this year, and key to that effort will be its supersvelte 9 Series notebook. Aimed directly at Apple's MacBook Air, the new machine is a move to refocus on high-end gear -- with a high-end price to match.
In a move to help it target tablet computers, cell-phone-chip designer Qualcomm has reportedly offered $3.5 billion to buy Atheros Communications, which has developed chips that connect wireless computers to the Internet.
A broad array of technology news helped define 2010, from the launch of Apple's iPad to the arrival of the app to a supernova of Internet stock gains. Here's a look back at those major stories -- and a glimpse of some highlights you can expect next year.
Mobile-computing device shipments will grow 19% annually over the next four years as more people buy tablet-type products like Apple's iPad, according to research firm In-Stat. The report released Wednesday indicates that notebook makers should do well in the recovery.
