IDC raises PC shipment forecast for 2004
Silicon Strategies
06/09/2004, 2:20 PM ET
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--International Data Corp. (IDC) Wednesday (June 9) raised its forecast for PC shipments in 2004.
Worldwide PC shipments are projected to grow by 13.5 percent in 2004 over 2005, boosting market size to over 175 million units, according to IDC. In total, PC market is expected to hit $194.5 billion in 2004, up 9.2 percent over 2003, according to the firm.
Higher growth expectations for 2004 have had relatively little impact on growth rates for 2005. PC shipments are expected to grow by nearly 11 percent in 2005 and roughly 8 percent from 2006 to 2008.
Growth in shipment value is expected to hover in the 3-to-5 percent range during the remainder of the forecast.
In March, IDC said worldwide PC shipments were projected to grow by just over 11 percent in 2004 and 2005 before slowing to roughly 8 percent through 2008.
"While there is little doubt that wireless capabilities, falling prices, and the growing need for mobility have increased demand for notebooks, many buyers remain price sensitive and continue to evaluate the benefits of mobile computing," said Loren Loverde, director of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, in a statement. "Portable PCs continue to grow much faster than desktops, but recent results demonstrate the continuing competitiveness of desktop systems." |
