According to the latest survey by the computer industry's apex association, MAIT, PC sales in October-December 2003 crossed 8 lakh units - an 87 per cent year-on-growth in the same quarter last year - and a sequential growth of 31 per cent over the previous quarter (July - September, 2003).

Highlights of the Q3 survey:

• Assembled PCs, small regional and unbranded systems accounted for 55 per cent of the sales, Indian brands for 15 per cent and MNC brands for the remaining 30 per cent.
• While the four metros still account for the bulk of PC consumption, the trend of smaller towns registering higher growth continued during the third quarter.
• Replacement demand for PCs has also contributed to enhanced growth.
• Notebooks sales witnessed a 105 per cent growth over the previous quarter scaling 29,000 units.
• Server sales crossed 16,600 units registering a growth of 85 per cent over the previous quarter.
• Laser printers witnessed a growth of 83 per cent, followed by inkjets at 57 per cent and 7 per cent for dot matrix printers. Sales of UPS grew by 56 per cent.