Experts have been a bit tough on the netbook market since iPad made its debut and Apple rivals announced their plans to challenge the iPad with their own tablets. The iPad was not expected to be a direct competitor to netbooks as it was expected to go for close to $1000. But the starting price of $499 has given people even more reasons to consider picking up an iPad over a netbook. The iPad is not going to be the only killer tablet on the market. Many other companies are expected to introduce their Android tablets to go against the iPad. That means the portable tablet market is expected to grow for years to come.

According to Forrester, tablets are expected to overtake netbooks in sales in just a matter of 2 years. It’s not as if Apple iPad is what people were asking for. But Apple is known for having some of the best marketing plans around. It’s as if the company is teaching people to fall in love with iPad:

Consumers didn’t ask for tablets. In fact, Forrester’s data shows that the top features consumers say they want in a PC are a complete mismatch with the features of the iPad. But Apple is successfully teaching consumers to want this new device.

Apple is a different animal for netbook makers to deal  with. If this was any other company, things wouldn’t be so bleak for netbooks. Apple specializes in disruptive gadgets. While netbooks are not going to die off completely, the ones we know today need to go through a major change to stay competitive. That’s very possible as long as manufacturers stop shooting themselves in the foot.

If history stands for anything, Apple may not even end up as the top tablet maker in a matter of few years. But it has done enough damage  to make netbook makers rethink their strategies.

Your thoughts: do netbooks have a chance?