Global PC shipments to rise 11% in 2008
By Jim Carbone -- Purchasing, 9/24/2007 3:42:00 PM
Worldwide PC shipments are on track to grow 12.3% in 2007 and another 11% in 2008, according to market researcher Gartner Inc.
"We expect growth to run a bit stronger during the rest of 2007 as mobile PCs maintain their momentum and strong emerging-market growth supports desk-based PCs," says George Shiffler, research director for Gartner's Client Platforms Markets Group. "However, we think the climate of uncertainty created by recent events in global financial markets casts some downside risk on our forecast."
He says the market will slow a bit early next year, but then pick up in the second half. Mobile PCs remain the PC market's principal growth driver, due to falling average selling prices, enhanced performance and the continuing spread of wireless access, all of which have improved the value proposition of mobile PCs relative to that of desk-based PCs.
Emerging markets are supporting overall growth, accounting for 70% of the growth from the first half of 2006 through the first half of 2007 even though this segment accounted for just 42% of shipments in the first half of 2007. Gartner analysts expect mature markets to average just 7% unit growth this year and next. In contrast, emerging markets will average 18.6% unit growth during this time.
Gartner is based in Stamford. Conn.
Also see:
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