PC shipments to grow 20 per cent in 2010: Gartner

Worldwide shipments of personal computers are projected to grow by 20 per cent in 2010, mainly driven by mobile PC's, both in mature and emerging markets, according to the latest preliminary forecast by research firm Gartner, Inc.

Gartner expects 366.1 million units to be shipped in 2010, a 19.7 per cent increase from 305.8 million units shipped in 2009.

Worldwide PC spendingis forecast to reach $245 billion in 2010, up 12.2 per cent from 2009.

This forecast is more optimistic than Gartner's December 2009 forecast, which anticipated 13.3 per cent growth in PC shipments in 2010 and 1.9 per cent growth in spending.

Gartner anticipates all regional markets will return to growth and exhibit more normal seasonality in 2010. The market will remain robust with unit growth continuing to increase strongly over the next few years as home PC demand accelerates and professional replacements rise in the recovery from the global recession.

"The PC industry will be overwhelmingly driven by mobile PCs, thanks to strong home growth in both emerging and mature markets," said George Shiffler, research director at Gartner. "Mini-notebooks are again forecast to boost mobile PC growth in 2010, but their contribution is expected to decline noticeably afterward, as they face growing competition from new ultra-low-voltage (ULV) ultra-portables and next-generation tablets. Desk-based PC shipment growth will be minimal and limited to emerging markets."