It took some time for Google's Chromebook platform to find its footing in the market place, but now that it has, these cloud-based PCs are finally starting to hit their stride. In what turned out to be yet another solid quarter, Chromebook shipments jumped 67 percent sequentially, according to new data by ABI Research. At the current pace, Chromebook shipments will double in size compared to last year.

"Consumers are hungry for a product that is cost effective but also provides the versatility and functionality of a laptop," says Research Analyst Stephanie Van Vactor. "The growth of the Chromebook market demonstrates a niche that is gaining traction among consumers."


Indeed, Chromebooks are still a niche product. Compared to overall PC sales (as recently reported by International Data Corporation), Chromebooks only comprise about 1 percent of sales. However, that 1 percent slice comes from a very large pie and will only get bigger, assuming the Chromebook craze doesn't fizzle out the way the demand for netbooks did (remember netbooks, anyone?).

"Chromebooks may be a temporary fad similar to the netbook, but the form-factor design and low-cost price tag draws considerable interest that may be a longer term trend," adds Van Vactor. "Chromebooks may have more of a place in the market than originally anticipated, especially as more vendors jump on board and sales continue to grow."

Just as Acer was one of the top dogs in the netbook era, the Taiwanese company also leads Chromebooks sales, maintaining pole position ahead of Samsung, HP, and Dell.