PCs pass 1 billion in 2008; to double by 2014

William Atkins
Wednesday, 25 June 2008 02:53

Your IT - Home IT

According to analyst company Gartner, in 2008 the number of personal computers (PCs) in use around the world passed the one billion mark. They'll double even faster!

With the number of PCs growing internationally at an annual rate of nearly 12%, a representative with Gartner states that within eight years, by early 2014, the number will double to two billion.

In fact, Gartner expects the “worldwide installed base of PCs will reach 1.1 billion in 2008.” Such statistics relate to global PC numbers reaching 165 PCs per 1,000 population worldwide in 2008.

Gartner officials state that the company defines the “installed base” of PCs as the estimated number of PCs in use as opposed to the number shipped over a given a period.

The statistics stated by Gartner are included in its report “Forecast: PC Installed Base, Worldwide, 2004-2012.” (It is available only for purchase.)

The growth of personal computers--from the introduction of the PC (after the mid-1970s) to today, over thirty-five years later--has been focused primarily on industrial  (mature) nations in North America (United States and Canada), Western Europe (United Kingdom, France, Germany, etc.), and Japan.

Currently, Gartner states that 58% of the PCs are used in the mature markets of the United States, Europe, and Japan. However, these countries consist of only about 15% of the world’s population.

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