Less growth for PC market in 2009, 2010

Research firm iSuppli cut its forecast for the PC market for 2009 and 2010, stating the financial crisis will have a bigger impact than previously expected. A quarter ago, iSupply anticipated a growth of 11.9 percent in 2009 and 9.4 percent in 2010. The latest outlook predicts a growth of only 4.3 percent next year, and 7.1 percent in the year thereafter.

iSupply expects desktop PC shipments will decline 5 percent next year, while notebooks should manage to grow by 15 percent, but most of the growth in notebooks will come from cheap models such as netbooks.

Last quarter, iSuppli expected the PC market to grow by 11.9% in 2009 and by 9.4% the year after. The firm now claims growth will only amount to 4.3% in 2009 and 7.1% in 2010. To put things in perspective, per-annum growth has hovered around 10% for the past five years—and 2008 should become the sixth, since iSuppli predicts 13% growth.

Desktop PCs may be the hardest hit next year: the firm forecasts a 5% drop in shipments. Notebooks should manage to grow by 15%, although much of that will reportedly originate from affordable netbooks rather than full-blown laptops. iSuppli explains, "Real issues—such as difficulties in paying staff, or making rising mortgage payments—[are] affecting businesses as well as consumers. . . . In light of such financial issues, the task of refreshing or acquiring new IT equipment has taken a back seat."