PC industry faces worst year since dot-com bust
Published: 15 Jul 2009 16:01 BST
At the end of this year, the number of PCs shipped will be lower than the previous year, iSuppli has predicted.
A report released on Tuesday by market-research firm iSuppli is projecting that 287.3 million PCs will be shipped in 2009, a four percent decrease from the 299.2 million shipped around the world in 2008.
If the fall in shipments does happen, it would be the first time that has happened since the technology industry downturn of 2001, according to iSuppli.
In addition, iSuppli had predicted 0.7 percent growth for the year, meaning that the industry is now on track to do worse than previously thought.
PC makers have been able to ship more units each year for the past eight straight years. "Even in weak years, PC unit shipments typically rise by single-digit percentages," iSuppli analyst Matthew Wilkins said in a statement.
One possible factor is the decline of the desktop computer. Shipments of desktops are expected to fall 18.1 percent this year, as notebook PCs become ever-more popular. Notebooks are on track to grow almost 12 percent this year, meaning they will outpace desktop shipments for the first time.
PC manufacturers have looked for ways in the past couple of years to reinvigorate desktop sales. Many have been pushing all-in-one desktop computers, some with touchscreen interfaces. iSuppli's numbers indicate that mainstream consumers have yet to respond by buying more.
Another factor in the sagging PC industry is the severe dropoff in IT spending by large corporate customers. However, Dell said on Monday that demand is stabilising for its computers, servers and services.
Credit: Report: 2009 to be PC industry's worst year since dot-com implosion from CNET News
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