World PC sales set for massive decline

The world PC market is set for its sharpest unit decline in history this year, with the current financial uncertainty encouraging customers to hold on to PCs for longer, according to Gartner Inc.

The research firm said PC shipments will hit 257 million units this year, an 11.9% drop from 2008. The drop will be nearly four times that experienced in 2001, when PC shipments fell by 3.2%.

“The PC industry is facing extraordinary conditions as the global economy continues to weaken, users stretch PC lifetimes and PC suppliers grow increasingly cautious,” said George Shiffler, research director at Gartner.

Gartner said the fall in shipments would affect both mature and emerging PC markets. Emerging markets collectively recorded their lowest growth in 2002 — 11.1% — while mature markets recorded their lowest growth in 2001, at minus 7.9%. The research firm said that this year emerging markets will post a decline of 10.4%, with PC shipments in mature markets declining by 13%.

Mini laptops and netbooks represent the only bright spot for suppliers. While desktop PC shipments are predicted to drop by 31.9% to 101.4 million, mobile PCs will grow by 9%, hitting 155.6 million shipments, Gartner said.

“The mini-notebook market is dividing as vendors offer more systems with 9 in. to 10 in. screens in addition to those with 7 in. to 8 in. screens,” said Angela McIntyre, a research director at Gartner. “For the most part, users are moving toward systems with larger screens and greater capabilities; systems with 8.9 in. screens were the standard in the second half of 2008.

“Naturally, systems with larger screens and greater capabilities cost more, but prices in general continue to fall. Mature markets continue to be the primary consumers of mini-notebooks, but as prices continue to fall, they are likely to attract increasing numbers of emerging-market buyers,” she said.