No Growth in Sight for Global PC Market

According to a new forecast by market research group IDC, the global PC market looks set to stop the bleeding and gradually stabilize over the next few years. Global PC shipments are expected to drop 5 percent this year to 261 million units, which would mark a significant improvement over last year’s 10 percent drop.

However, there are no signs of growth for the struggling industry, as tablets, phablets and hybrid devices continue to compete with PCs. According to IDC, future PC shipments will be increasingly dependent on replacement buys, which are often postponed due to a lack of perceived or actual innovation within the industry. Compared to 10-15 years ago, the longevity of PCs has increased significantly as their performance has outgrown the average consumer’s needs.