2013 set to be the PC market’s worst year
2013 is set to be the PC market’s worst year on record, finds new data from the IDC, with PC shipments expected to fall by 10.1%.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, this is the most severe yearly contraction on record.
“Interest in PCs has remained limited, leading to little indication of positive growth beyond replacement of existing systems,” the reseach company noted.
“Total shipments are expected to decline by an additional -3.8% in 2014 before turning slightly positive in the longer term.”
According to the IDC, at these rates, total PC shipments will remain just above 300 million during the forecast period – barely ahead of 2008 volumes, with even in emerging markets – a primary growth engine of the PC market – projected to decline in 2014.
PC Shipments and % growth in Emerging Markets
| Form Factor |
2012 | % | 2013 | % | 2017 | % |
| Desktop PC | 94.8 | -3.9% | 85.3 | -10.0% | 78.2 | -1.2% |
| Portable PC | 110.4 | 0.5% | 96.8 | -12.3% | 106.0 | 4.8% |
| Total PC | 205.2 | -1.6% | 182.1 | -11.3% | 184.3 | 2.2% |
PC Shipments and % growth in Mature Markets
| Form Factor |
2012 | % | 2013 | % | 2017 | % |
| Desktop PC | 53.5 | -4.7% | 50.3 | -6.0% | 42.7 | -3.9% |
| Portable PC | 90.6 | -8.5% | 81.8 | -9.8% | 78.1 | -1.3% |
| Total PC | 144.1 | -7.2% | 132.0 | -8.4% | 120.8 | -2.2% |
PC Shipments and % growth Worldwide
| Form Factor |
2012 | % | 2013 | % | 2017 | % |
| Desktop PC | 148.3 | -4.2% | 135.6 | -8.6% | 121.0 | -2.2% |
| Portable PC | 201.1 | -3.8% | 178.6 | -11.2% | 184.1 | 2.1% |
| Total PC | 349.4 | -4.0% | 314.2 | -10.1% | 305.1 | 0.4% |
“Perhaps the chief concern for future PC demand is a lack of reasons to replace an older system,” said Jay Chou, Senior Research Analyst, Worldwide Quarterly PC Trackers at IDC.
“While IDC research finds that the PC still remains the primary computing device – for example, PCs are used more hours per day than tablets or phones – PC usage is nonetheless declining each year as more devices become available.”
“And despite industry efforts, PC usage has not moved significantly beyond consumption and productivity tasks to differentiate PCs from other devices. As a result, PC lifespans continue to increase, thereby limiting market growth,” he said.
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