PC shipments to grow 4.4 p.c. in 2012

MUMBAI, INDIA: Worldwide PC shipments are on pace to hit 368 million units in 2012, a 4.4 per cent increase from 2011, according to the latest forecast by Gartner, Inc.

PC shipments are forecast to see higher growth by the end of 2013, when shipments are expected to reach more than 400 million units.

“PC shipments will remain weak in 2012, as the PC market plays catch up in bringing a new level of innovation that consumers want to see in devices they purchase,” said Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner. “The real question is whether Windows 8 and ultrabooks will create the compelling offering that gets the earlier adopter of devices excited about PCs again.”

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In addition, while the economic environment and supply issues played a key part in the weaker PC market, it was a lesser concern to PC vendors compared to the far greater issue of changing consumer dynamics.

Gartner analysts said that 2011 redefined the landscape of the device market. “The use of applications such as e-mail, social networking and Internet access, that were traditionally the domain of the PC, are now being used across media tablets and smartphones, making these devices in some cases more valued and attractive propositions,” added Atwal.

In his view, consumers will look at a task that they have to perform, and they will determine which device will allow them to perform such a task in the most effective, fun and convenient way. “The device has to meet the user needs not the other way round.”

Gartner expects ultrabooks will garner greater attention in the latter half of 2012, as the industry looks for this platform to reinvigorate the mobile PC form factor. “However, PCs will face more competition as we see new media tablets based on operating systems from Android and Microsoft, as well the new iPad,” Atwal continued.

According to the Gartner research director, the shift to the personal cloud will also accelerate as consumers are increasingly adopting cloud-based services as part of their digital ecosystem.

“The evolution of the personal cloud will challenge vendors across all mobile devices markets and add to the hurdles for PC vendors to overcome to revive the PCs and differentiate them from tablets. The creation of content capabilities of PCs may not be enough to counteract the better content consumption capabilities of media tablets,” he said.