Sales of Tablet PCs accounted for just under one percent of all mobiles sales in Europe since they were launched in the last quarter of 2002.
In Europe, 20,000 Tablet PCs based on a pen-enabled version of Windows XP were sold in that period, compared with almost three million notebook PCs, according to research firm IDC.
IDC argued that sales of the new format had got off to a slow start, with most IT buyers showing no sign of investing in the much-hyped technology - although some vendors disputed this interpretation. "It is not surprising that businesses have not immediately adopted Tablet PCs, with IT decision makers needing to see greater stability on the platform as well as a convincing return on investment argument before deciding to implement them," said Andy Brown, IDC research manager for mobile computing.
IDC's Business User Spending survey of buyers' intentions for 2003 found 60 percent of IT directors in businesses of all sizes were not interested in buying Tablet PCs, and a quarter were not aware of what is on offer.
Simon Ognall, managing director of reseller Teksys, said high prices as well as performance issues were deterring buyers. "Tablet PCs are too expensive in a price-sensitive market with the average system costing about £2,000," he said. "Customers are also waiting for the second generation of products with faster processors and better battery lives."
However, the sales figures are slightly ahead of predictions by analyst firm Gartner. It forecast that 425,000 Tablet PCs would be sold worldwide in the first year after their launch, accounting for 1.2 percent of all notebook sales. Gartner also predicts that 35 percent of notebooks will have screen digitisers by 2007.
Many vendors have been upbeat about sales of the new format. Fujitsu Siemens, which accounts for more than half the UK market for pen-based tablets, according to IDC, said it was surprised by the strength of demand.
It added that Unilever, Gillette and Samsonite were among the major firms already using Tablet PCs.
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