|
|
|
Notebooks Up Again: IDC |
|
|
|
Written by Adam Gosling
|
|
Wednesday, 21 March 2007 |
The latest worldwide PC market figures are in from IDC and it looks
like another good year for mobilised computing. Shipments of PCs were
only up 7.3 per cent from a year ago to 64.7 million units in the
fourth quarter of 2006. Although the desktop market grew less than 2
per cent, 'portable' sales went through the roof.
The overall results were slightly lower than prior quarters with growth
down from more than 15 growth in 2004 and 2005. Fourth quarter
growth was also a few points behind expectations as slow commercial
buying -
particularly of Desktops in more mature regions - constrained the
market, said the researcher.
Annually, PC shipments reached 227.7 million units with
growth of 9.5% and shipment value of US$231.9 billion with growth of 6.1%.
Desktop volume of 138.3 million units was up less than 2% over 2005, while
Portable shipments of 82.4 million were up 26.3%.
Looking ahead IDC said that Desktop volume will
grow only by low single-digit rates returning a compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8% from 2006 to 2011.
Meanwhile, portable PC shipments will
maintain a CAGR of 16.1% over the same period. As a result, Portable PCs will represent
more than 50% of all Client PCs worldwide in 2011 with a CAGR for Client PC
shipments of 9.1%.
The role of emerging markets is also growing. Asia/Pacific
(excluding Japan) and Rest of World (including Latin America, Canada, Central
and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) represented more than 50% of
Desktop PC shipments in 2006 and will represent more than 50% of all worldwide
PC shipments in 2011.
"Slower growth in Desktops and in relatively mature
regions changes the market dynamics a bit," said Loren Loverde, director of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC
Tracker.
"A strong Portable offering is becoming more important, and while
local players have a larger share of international markets, the shift to
Portables will favor the largest players. Portables are picking up some of the
slack from Desktops and will benefit from improved security, power management,
and new designs supported by Vista.
While more replacements and Vista adoption may provide a brief respite
for Desktops in 2008, essentially all Desktop growth will occur in emerging
regions."
"In the United States, portable PC shipments will
maintain double-digit growth through 2010, but this shift to mobility will not
be enough to offset reduced demand for desktops," said Doug Bell, analyst in IDC's Personal Computing program.
"The outlook is valid for both consumer and commercial segments,
creating mid-single digit growth for the entire market, peaking in 2008.
However, the release of Vista and a desktop refresh will create some growth
opportunity in late 2007 and early 2008, before resuming a declining growth
trend in the out-years."
U.S. and Worldwide PC Shipments and
Growth, 2005-2009
Region
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007*
|
2008*
|
2009*
|
USA Units (M)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumer
|
23.6
|
24.8
|
27.0
|
29.7
|
31.
|
Commercial
|
40.3
|
40.7
|
42.5
|
44.7
|
47.0
|
Total
|
63.9
|
65.5
|
69.5
|
74.4
|
78.2
|
Worldwide Units (M)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumer
|
78.5
|
89.2
|
100.9
|
113.1
|
123.0
|
Commercial
|
129.3
|
138.5
|
152.0
|
168.3
|
182.3
|
Total
|
207.9
|
227.7
|
252.9
|
281.3
|
305.3
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
USA Growth (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumer
|
|
5.1%
|
8.9%
|
9.9%
|
5.1%
|
Commercia
|
|
1.0%
|
4.4%
|
5.2%
|
5.2%
|
Total
|
|
2.5%
|
6.1%
|
7.0%
|
5.2%
|
Worldwide Growth (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumer
|
|
13.5%
|
13.1%
|
12.1%
|
8.7%
|
Commercial
|
|
7.1%
|
9.7%
|
10.7%
|
8.4%
|
Total
|
|
9.5%
|
11.1%
|
11.3%
|
8.5%
|
*Forecast data
Shipments are in millions of units.
PCs include Desktop, Notebook, Ultra Portable, and x86
Server and do not include handhelds.
Source: IDC
Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, March 2007
Related news items Newer news items
Older news items |
|
|
