50 million netbooks will be sold in 2012

Netbook sales continue to grow impressively, but analysts recommend companies should be careful when pursuing this trend.

According to research firm Gartner, netbooks will reach sales of about 5.2 million units globally this year, and increase to 8 million in 2009. However, by 2012 that number could reach 50 million.

Although netbooks will not affect full-function laptop sales immediately, Gartner claims netbooks can start to "eat" low-cost, fully functional laptops in two years. However, research firm also said that although the sub-laptop market seems attractive, manufacturers should be careful when pursuing it.

' For mini notebooks to be successful for consumers, they need to be positioned differently than standard notebooks. PC makers need to decide if the current consumption channels are appropriate, and may have to look for new channels, like telecommunications carriers , 'said Annette Jump, research director at Gartner.

Although there are many netbooks designed to be used in education, about 70% of the low-cost laptop market is targeted at consumers. ' Potential users of netbooks may be the first buyers who are looking for a cheap laptop, or maybe users are familiar with laptops, they want to buy a second or third laptop ', Jump note.