Worldwide PC shipments are on track to grow 12.3% in
2007 and 11% in 2008 despite concerns about the global economy,
said analyst Gartner.
"We expect growth to run a bit stronger during the rest of 2007
as mobile PCs maintain their momentum and strong emerging-market
growth supports desk-based PCs," said George Shiffler, an analyst
at Gartner.
"However, we think the climate of uncertainty created by recent
events in global financial markets casts some downside risk on our
forecast," he said.
"The market will slow a bit, relative to our previous forecast,
early next year as desk-based PC growth suffers payback for the
strong growth it posted in the first half of 2007," said
Shiffler.
"But the market should come back in line with our previous
expectations later in the year as desk-based PCs experience
stronger growth with the onset of a new replacement cycle."
Although the wobbles in the financial markets may or not
escalate, they should not have too much effect on the overall PC
market, said the analyst, but it warned PC suppliers to keep a
closer watch on their supply chains to make sure maximum
flexibility was built into them to address any changing demand.