IDC cuts PC sales forecast for 2011
updated 09:55 am EDT, Mon June 6, 2011
Turnaround expected in 2012
Research firm IDC has revised its PC sales forecast for 2011, reducing the expected yearly growth from 7.1 percent down to just 4.2 percent. The significant cut was blamed on market saturation in Western Europe, North America and Japan, as the surge in netbook and notebook sales has lost its momentum from a peak in 2008 and 2009.
IDC analyst Loren Loverde also credits the rising popularity of tablets and smartphones as a factor contributing to the decline in traditional PC sales since the third quarter of 2010. Lackluster performance continued into the first quarter of the year, which showed a 1.1-percent slide from the same quarter last year.
"The PC market has definitely hit a slow patch," Loverde admitted.
Despite the troubles in 2011, the analysts suggest innovations in the PC market and price reductions will bring a significant turnaround in 2012. Industry growth is expected to increase to 10-11 percent from 2012 through 2015. [via The Register]
