Bitter tablet: PC shipments slip globally for 5th quarter
12 July 2013 11:00 PM GMT
Worldwide personal computer (PC) shipments dropped for the fifth consecutive quarter to total 76 million units during April-June 2013, marking the longest duration of decline in the PC market's history, research firm Gartner said on Thursday. PC shipments declined by 10.9 per cent to 76 million units in second quarter of 2013 from 85.32 million units in the same period last year, preliminary data by Gartner said.
All regions showed a decline compared to year ago with Asia-Pacific market showing five consecutive quarters of the shipment decline. The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market registered two consecutive quarters of double-digit decline, it added.
'We are seeing the personal computer market reduction directly tied to the shrinking installed base of PCs, as inexpensive tablets displace the low-end machines used primarily for consumption in mature and developed markets,' Gartner principal analyst Mikako Kitagawa said.
In emerging markets, inexpensive tablets have become the first computing device for many people, who at best are deferring the purchase of a PC. 'This is also accounting for the collapse of the mini notebook market,' Kitagawa said.
All regions showed a decline compared to year ago with Asia-Pacific market showing five consecutive quarters of the shipment decline. The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market registered two consecutive quarters of double-digit decline, it added.
'We are seeing the personal computer market reduction directly tied to the shrinking installed base of PCs, as inexpensive tablets displace the low-end machines used primarily for consumption in mature and developed markets,' Gartner principal analyst Mikako Kitagawa said.
In emerging markets, inexpensive tablets have become the first computing device for many people, who at best are deferring the purchase of a PC. 'This is also accounting for the collapse of the mini notebook market,' Kitagawa said.
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