Today market analysis firm ABI Research issued a report forecasting that worldwide shipments of netbooks will reach nearly 35 million this year. And this is no one hit wonder in ABI's view. The company projects netbook shipments will keep on trucking to an estimated 139 million in 2013, more than tripling within four years.

ABI ties the rise of the netbook to a "confluence of social and technological factors" that has created a kind of "perfect storm" leading to the sales boom estimate for the next few years.

"PDA’s began our reliance on instant accessible data while traveling. When PDA functionality converged with cellular voice, smartphones became the new darling of mobile professional technology that many expected to evolve into the hub for all data and communication needs for traveling professionals," said ABI director Kevin Burden in a statement.

"Today, with a better understanding for what a smartphone is, is not, and may never be, along with a reality check on the usefulness of UMPCs, the market remains open for new device types."

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