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 Back to 2006 Press Releases
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Gartner Says Worldwide PC Shipment Growth to Slow in 2006 |
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| PC Vendors Face Challenges with Stagnant Deskbased PC Sales |
STAMFORD, Conn., March 9, 2006 — Worldwide PC shipments are projected to total 234.5 million units in 2006, a 10.7 percent increase from 2005 shipments of 211.8 million units, according to a preliminary forecast by Gartner, Inc. However, the PC industry will experience slower growth in 2006 compared to 2005 when PC shipments increased 15.5 percent.
Gartner analysts said that while mobile PC growth remains strong, deskbased PC replacement activity has peaked and will shortly subside, slowing PC market growth in the process.
"We expect a steady decline in deskbased replacement activity over the next year," said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner's Client Platforms research. "The impact will be especially dramatic in mature markets where new deskbased penetration is also slowing and mobile-for-deskbased substitution is increasing."
Worldwide deskbased PC shipments are projected to grow 1.9 percent in 2006. However, there will be a sharp contrast between mature and emerging markets. Deskbased PC shipments to mature markets are forecast to decline 8.6 percent, while deskbased PC shipments to emerging markets are forecast to increase 19.5 percent in 2006.
"The next two years will produce a turning point for the PC industry," said George Shiffler, research director for Gartner's Client Platforms research. "Deskbased sales to mature markets such as the United States and Western Europe have been PC vendors’ mainstay up to this point. Vendors are likely to see a fundamental shift in the market as they come to grips with the steep decline in mature-market deskbased growth and are forced to seek growth in other market segments."
Gartner analysts said there is added uncertainty for the PC industry in 2006 that could stall PC sales further this year. "Microsoft has not announced a precise release date for its new operating system named Vista, and Intel is in the process of rolling out a number of technical innovations in the face of strong competition from AMD," Mr. Shiffler said. "End-user concerns about the availability and value of these new technologies could result in some buyers holding off PC purchases until later in 2006 or beyond."
Mobile PCs remain a bright spot for the industry. Worldwide mobile PC shipments are forecast to grow 31.4 percent in 2006 with shipments to mature markets expected to grow 22.1 percent and shipments to emerging markets expected to grow 38.7 percent.
Additional information is available in the Gartner report "1Q06 Update: Global PC Forecast Scenarios, 2006-2007". The report provides a preliminary assessment of the PC market with a breakout of deskbased and mobile PC shipments.
CONTACT:
Christy Pettey
Gartner
(408) 468-8312
christy.pettey@gartner.com
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About Gartner:
Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. Gartner serves 10,000 organizations, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the investment community. The Company consists of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 3,700 associates, including 1,200 research analysts and consultants in 75 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.
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