Peter Dinham
Sunday, 02 August 2009 14:57
Business IT -
Technology
Page 1 of 2
Consumer demand for mobile computers remains strong in the US despite the severe economic downturn, with notebooks making up three out of four computers shipped to the US market during the second quarter of this year.
While the economic problems did dampen down the
US PC market overall – including desktops and laptops - preliminary
data from IDC shows that the market in the quarter contracted by just
1.4% compared to an earlier projection of -3.1%.
According to IDC, of the four major PC markets assessed in the
preliminary results – consumer portables, consumer desktops, commercial
portables and commercial desktops – only consumer portables managed
positive growth while the others had moderate to severe contraction.
“What is even more indicative of unabated consumer attraction to mobile
computing is that the consumer notebook growth is estimated at a solid
63% year on year,” forecast IDC’s David Daoud, who said that “while the
commercial desktop and notebook shipments fell by 25% as a result of
substantially reduced IT budgets, and the consumer desktop market was
down by 9%, the consumer notebook market expanded to a new record of
more than 6.3 million units.”
According to Daoud, although the performance of the consumer laptop
market defies the economic realities facing the average consumer,
several factors are conspiring to keep that market in positive
territory.
“First is the fact that notebooks are must-have products that combine
entertainment, communications, and productivity features required by
consumers. As such, even with economic stress, consumers will continue
to invest in such tools to enhance their entertainment, educational,
and professional environments.
“The second factor stimulating demand is pricing. Notebook prices
continue to fall with high-performance units available at bargain
prices, often below $600. An environment of eroding prices has been
made possible by continued improvements in manufacturing capabilities,
a reduction in component prices, and tight competition among vendors.”
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