Gartner cuts 2011 PC forecast, as tablets surge

TALLINN, ESTONIA: Research firm Gartner lowered its view on global PC market growth for 2011, saying consumers in developed markets were choosing tablets like Apple's iPad over small laptops.

Gartner said on Wednesday it now expected the PC market to grow 9.3 percent this year, down from the 10.5 percent it previously forecast, due to economic uncertainties as well as a lack of compelling PC products.

"Mini-notebook shipments have noticeably contracted over the last several quarters, and this has substantially reduced overall mobile PC unit growth," said Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner.

"Media tablets, such as the iPad, have also impacted mobile growth," Atwal said.

Top vendors of mini-notebooks, like Acer Inc and Asustek, have suffered in recent quarters from the shift.