The PC industry will experience its sharpest ever decline in PC
shipments during 2009, says Gartner.
The analyst says PC shipments totalling 257m in 2009 will
represent an 11.9% decline from 2008. Previously, PC units
experienced their worst decline in 2001, when unit shipments
contracted 3.2%.
The worsening situation means firms should be in the driving
seat when it comes to negotiating PC refreshes with their
suppliers.
"The PC industry is facing extraordinary conditions as the
global economy continues to weaken, users stretch PC lifetimes, and
PC suppliers grow increasingly cautious," said
Gartner analyst George
Shiffler.
Whilst netbook growth is helping to absorb some of the pain for
PC makers, it will not be enough to stem the overall market fall,
said Gartner.
