Global PC sales set to drop in 2012: survey | Bangkok Post: tech

Global sales of personal computers are set to show a decline for the first time in 11 years, a new forecast showed Wednesday.

A technician checks notebook at a computer shop in Taipei in 2010. Global sales of personal computers are set to show a decline for the first time in 11 years, a new forecast showed Wednesday.

A survey by IHS iSuppli said the total PC market in 2012 is expected to contract by 1.2 percent to 348.7 million units, down from 352.8 million in 2011.

That would be the first drop since 2001, but sales have been sluggish for the past two years.

"There was great hope through the first half that 2012 would prove to be a rebound year for the PC market," said Craig Stice, an IHS analyst.

"Now three-quarters through the year, the usual boost from the back-to-school season appears to be a bust, and both AMD's and Intel's third-quarter outlooks appear to be flat to down."

IHS said a strong rebound could still occur in 2013, with more adoption of Windows 8 computers and newer, thinner notebook computers gaining tracking.

"Whether a newly configured PC space could then stand up to the powerful smartphone and tablet markets, however, remains to be seen," IHS said.

Analysts say PCs have taken a back seat to tablets and smartphones in recent months.

IHS said last month that global sales of tablet computers are expected to surge to 126.6 million in 2012, driven by the iPad and rivals.

Some analysts say tablet sales will overtake that of PCs by 2016, or possibly earlier.

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