Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system is widely expected to
boost worldwide personal computer sales after its official release
next week, but researchers say the upturn has already
begun.
Computer chip maker Intel this week reported
better than expected financial results for the last quarter off
the back of increased PC sales.
Research firm IDC puts the worldwide increase at 2.5% for the
past three months, in contrast with steady declines in the previous
nine months.
The growth is being driven by sales of relatively inexpensive
netbooks, which almost doubled in sales from the second quarter of
this year, according to the
Financial Times.
IDC says netbook sales have been further accelerated by
suppliers like Hewlett-Packard and Acer teaming up with telcos to
distribute subsidised machines to customers signing up to data
plans.
IDC expects netbooks to keep growing rapidly for the rest of
2009, but then slow in 2010 as the market picks up and more buyers
are likely to opt for the full notebook experience.
But IDC predicts Windows 7 will drive revenues for many IT
companies, not just PC makers and chipmakers.
The release of the new Microsoft operating system will have a
positive effect for hardware, software, IT services and
distribution firms, said an
IDC report released in July.
In turn, this will help economies to climb out of the current
economic crisis, with more than 177 million copies of Windows 7
expected to be shipped by the end of 2010.
Worldwide, 350,000 companies selling products and services
related to Windows 7 are expected to generate more than $320bn in
revenue in the first year.