iPad, tablets to slow down PC sales

The growth in mobile PC (personal computer) sales is expected to slow down as consumers are switching to iPad and other media tablets to access the Internet, according to a report released by Gartner Inc on Thursday.

Gartner analysts said that consumer mobile PCs have been the dynamic growth engine of the PC market over the past five years, averaging annual rates of growth approaching 40 per cent.

For much of this period, mobile PCs remained the consumers' platform of choice for bringing Internet into their lives.

However, due to the spread of low-cost embedded Wi-Fi modules, Internet access is now available through a multitude of mobile devices that allow consumers to engage in virtually all their favourite online activities without the need of a mobile PC, the report states.

Gartner Inc has lowered its PC unit forecast for 2011 and 2012, based on expectations of weaker demand for mobile consumer PCs. Worldwide PC shipments are forecast to reach 387.8 million units in 2011, a 10.5 per cent increase from 2010, according to Gartner's preliminary forecast. This is down from Gartner's previous projection of 15.9 per cent growth this year.

Gartner expects worldwide PC shipments to total 440.6 million units in 2012, a 13.6 per cent increase from 2011. This is down from Gartner's previous outlook of 14.8 per cent growth for 2012.

" We expect growing consumer enthusiasm for mobile PC alternatives, such as the iPad and other media tablets, to dramatically slow home mobile PC sales, especially in mature markets," said George Shiffler, research director at Gartner.

Gartner now expects home mobile PCs to average less than 10 per cent annual growth in mature markets from 2011 through 2015. The professional market is expected to continue to exhibit doubledigit growth in 2011 and 2012, as aging PCs are replaced across all regions of the world.

" However, even in the professional market, media tablets are being considered as PC substitutes, likely at least delaying some PC replacements," said Raphael Vasquez, senior research analyst at Gartner.

The dramatic rise in the popularity of alternative devices and the limitations of the PC are two of many dynamics that played a significant role in Gartner's revised outlook for the PC industry.

Courtesy: Mail Today