InfoWorld’s Chad Dickerson explains why laptop sales are surging: “In most companies comprised mainly of ‘knowledge workers,’ a desktop is really just a laptop waiting to happen. Almost everyone needs to work at home occasionally and almost everyone has to work while traveling at some point, so anyone with a desktop ends up requesting a ‘temporary’ laptop eventually (often followed closely by a request from that employee’s manager to keep the laptop because the employee is working on a ‘special project’ of some sort). In looking at InfoWorld’s desktop needs for the current fiscal year, I’m planning to replace any retiring desktops with laptops. It’s time to remove the desktop shackles!”
Falling prices and WiFi are two enablers of the shift to laptops.
The Register throws some more light.