Smartphone sales will surpass worldwide PC sales by the end of 2011, RBC says. Global mobile phone sales totalled 286.1 mln units in Q2 2009, a 6.1% decrease from Q2 2008, according to Gartner. However, smartphone sales surpassed 40 mln units, a 27% increase from Q2 2007, representing the fastest-growing segment of the mobile-devices market.
France PC Shipments in Q4 2008
| Company | 4Q08 Shipments |
4Q8 Market Share (%) |
4Q07 Shipments |
4Q07 Market Share (%) |
4Q08-4Q07 Growth (%) |
| Acer | 803 | 24.7 | 732 | 25.5 | 9.7 |
| Hewlett-Packard | 787 | 24.2 | 657 | 22.9 | 19.7 |
| Dell Inc. | 330 | 10.2 | 326 | 11.4 | 1.2 |
| ASUS | 264 | 8.1 | 97 | 3.4 | 172.4 |
| Toshiba | 183 | 5.6 | 159 | 5.5 | 15.1 |
| Others | 884 | 27.2 | 897 | 31.3 | -1.5 |
| Total | 3250 | 100.0 | 2868 | 100.0 | 13.3 |
| Source: Gartner | |||||
49 mln desktops to virtually hosted by 2013
The worldwide hosted virtual desktop (HVD) market will accelerate through 2013 to reach 49 mln units, up from more than 500,000 units in 2009, according to Gartner. Worldwide HVD revenue will grow from about $1.3 bln to $1.5 bln in 2009, which is less than 1% of the worldwide professional PC market, to $65.7 bln in 2013, which will be equal to more than 40% of the worldwide professional PC market. Gartner estimates that approximately 15% of current worldwide traditional professional desktop PCs will migrate to HVDs by 2014, equal to about 66 mln connected devices. US will reach double that of the worldwide average with over 18 mln connected devices. After an initial slow start, the HVD market will rally in 2010 and 2011.
UK PC Shipments in Q4 2008
| Company | 4Q08 Shipments |
4Q8 Market Share (%) |
4Q07 Shipments |
4Q07 Market Share (%) |
4Q08-4Q07 Growth (%) |
| Hewlett-Packard | 766 | 20.5 | 736 | 22.1 | 4.1 |
| Dell Inc. | 667 | 17.9 | 607 | 18.2 | 9.9 |
| Acer | 642 | 17.2 | 664 | 19.9 | -3.3 |
| Toshiba | 385 | 10.3 | 300 | 9.0 | 28.4 |
| ASUS | 227 | 6.1 | 35 | 1.0 | 552.4 |
| Others | 1,048 | 28.1 | 988 | 29.7 | -5.7 |
| Total | 3,735 | 100 | 3,329 | 100 | 12.2 |
| Source: Gartner | |||||
Germany PC Shipments for Q4 2008
| Company | 4Q08 Shipments |
4Q08 Market Share (%) |
4Q07 Shipments |
4Q07 Market Share (%) |
4Q08-4Q07 Growth (%) |
| Hewlett-Packard | 531 | 13.6 | 429 | 12.5 | 23.8 |
| Acer | 500 | 12.8 | 396 | 11.5 | 26.2 |
| FSC | 449 | 11.5 | 541 | 15.8 | -16.9 |
| Medion | 320 | 8.2 | 281 | 8.2 | 13.8 |
| Dell | 319 | 8.2 | 280 | 8.2 | 14.1 |
| Others | 1,779 | 45.7 | 1,506 | 43.8 | 18.1 |
| Total | 3,898 | 100.0 | 3,433 | 100.0 | 13.5 |
| Source: Gartner | |||||
US PC Shipments in Q4 2008
| Company | 4Q08 Shipments | 4Q08 Market Share (%) | 4Q07 Shipments | 4Q07 Market Share (%) | 4Q08-4Q07 Growth (%) |
| Dell Inc. | 4,465.8 | 28.6 | 5,344.6 | 30.8 | -16.4 |
| Hewlett-Packard | 4,288.3 | 27.5 | 4,439.5 | 25.6 | -3.4 |
| Acer | 2,373.9 | 15.2 | 1,527.3 | 8.8 | 55.4 |
| Apple | 1,255.0 | 8.0 | 1,159.3 | 6.7 | 8.3 |
| Toshiba | 1,007.7 | 6.5 | 900.0 | 5.2 | 12.0 |
| Others | 2,219.2 | 14.2 | 3,992.6 | 23.0 | -44.4 |
| Total | 15,609.8 | 100.0 | 17,363.3 | 100.0 | -10.1 |
| Source: Gartner | |||||
Worldwide PC Shipments in 2008
| Company | 2008 Shipments | 2008 Market Share (%) | 2007 Shipments | 2007 Market Share (%) | 2008-2007 Growth (%) |
| Hewlett-Packard | 55,686.8 | 18.4 | 49,428.3 | 18.1 | 12.7 |
| Dell Inc. | 43,144.4 | 14.3 | 38,703.0 | 14.2 | 11.5 |
| Acer | 33,497.4 | 11.1 | 26,484.5 | 9.7 | 26.5 |
| Lenovo | 21,869.1 | 7.2 | 20,114.6 | 7.4 | 8.7 |
| Toshiba | 13,499.6 | 4.5 | 10,955.2 | 4.0 | 23.2 |
| Others | 134,510.2 | 44.5 | 126,766.9 | 46.5 | 6.1 |
| Total | 302,207.5 | 100.0 | 272,452.5 | 100.0 | 10.9 |
| Source: Gartner | |||||
Western Europe PC Shipments in Q4 2008
| Company | 4Q08 Shipments |
4Q8 Market Share (%) |
4Q07 Shipments |
4Q07 Market Share (%) |
4Q08-4Q07 Growth (%) |
| Hewlett-Packard | 4,658 | 23.2 | 4,058 | 22.6 | 14.8 |
| Acer | 4,067 | 20.3 | 3,618 | 20.2 | 12.4 |
| Dell Inc. | 2,032 | 10.1 | 1,980 | 11.1 | 2.6 |
| ASUS | 1,490 | 7.4 | 513 | 2.9 | 190.4 |
| Toshiba | 1,277 | 6.4 | 995 | 5.6 | 28.3 |
| Others | 6,558 | 32.7 | 6,755 | 37.7 | 3.0 |
| Total | 20,083 | 100 | 17,920 | 100 | 12.1 |
| Source: Gartner | |||||
EMEA PC Shipments for Q4 2008
| Company | 4Q08 Shipments | 4Q08 Market Share (%) | 4Q07 Shipments | 4Q07 Market Share (%) | 4Q08-4Q07 Growth (%) |
| Hewlett-Packard | 6,459 | 21.2 | 5,742 | 19.8 | 12.5 |
| Acer | 4,998 | 16.4 | 4,682 | 16.1 | 6.8 |
| Dell Inc. | 2,762 | 9.1 | 2,748 | 9.5 | 0.5 |
| ASUS | 1,937 | 6.4 | 1,154 | 4.0 | 67.9 |
| Toshiba | 1,735 | 5.7 | 1,339 | 4.6 | 29.6 |
| Others | 12,539 | 41.2 | 13,349 | 46.0 | -6.1 |
| Total | 30,430 | 100.0 | 29,014 | 100.0 | 4.9 |
| Source: Gartner | |||||
PC sales to decline 11.9% in 2009
The PC industry will experience its sharpest unit decline in history, with PC shipments totaling 257 mln units in 2009, an 11.9% decline from 2008, according to Gartner. Previously, PC units experienced their worst decline in 2001 when unit shipments contracted 3.2%. Up to this point, emerging markets collectively recorded their lowest growth in 2002, 11.1%. Mature markets recorded their lowest growth in 2001, negative 7.9%. Both emerging and mature markets will handily surpass these previous lows in 2009, with emerging markets expected to post a decline of 10.4% and mature markets a decline of 13%.
Worldwide mobile PC shipments are expected to reach 155.6 mln units, a 9% increase from 2008. Desk-based PC shipments are forecast to total 101.4 mln units, a 31.9% decline from 2008. Mobile PC growth will be substantially boosted by continued growth in mini-notebook shipments; excluding mini-notebooks, other mobile PC shipments will grow just 2.7% in 2009. Worldwide mini-notebook shipments are forecast to total 21 mln units in 2009, up from 2008 shipments of 11.7 mln units. Mini-notebooks will cushion the overall PC market slowdown, but they remain too few to prevent the market’s steep decline. Mini-notebooks are forecast to represent just 8% of PC shipments in 2009.
Only 11% would use netbook as primary PC
Only 11% would use a netbook as their primary computer, while a massive 79% view netbooks as a secondary device to be used in addition to a laptop or desktop computer, ABI Research says. The firm forecasts worldwide shipments of nearly 35 million in 2009, rising to an estimated 139 million in 2013.
9.9 mln netbooks shipped in 2008
In 2008, computer makers shipped 9.9 mln netbooks, making it one of the hottest consumer electronic products of 2008. According to IDC, 6.7 mln units went to nations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; 1.4 mln to Asia and the Pacific; and 950,000 to the USA.
Global PC sales down 0.4% in Q4 2008
Global PC shipments dropped 0.4% in Q4 2008, according to IDC. Gartner reported Q4 2008 shipments world-wide rising 1.1%. US PC sales fell 3.5%, according to IDC. Gartner said US shipments dropped 10.1%.
Notebook shipments up 40% in Q3 2008
Notebook PC shipments rose almost 40% in Q3 2008 compared to Q3 2007 to reach 38.6 mln units. Desktop PC shipments declined by 1.3% for the same period to 38.5 mln units. Worldwide PC unit shipments rose 15.4% on Q3 2007, with 79 mln units shipped. Overall Q3 PC shipments exceeded iSuppli’s prior expectations of 12% YTY growth for Q3 2008.
Top PC game titles in the US in 2008
| Rank | Game Title | Publisher | AU% | Avg Minutes Played Per Week |
| 1 | World of Warcraft | Blizzard Entertainment | 0.723 | 671 |
| 2 | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | Activision | 0.163 | 403 |
| 3 | Halo: Combat Evolved | Microsoft Game Studios | 0.092 | 295 |
| 4 | Sims, The | Electronic Arts Inc. | 0.09 | 213 |
| 5 | Sims 2, The | Electronic Arts Inc. | 0.086 | 291 |
| 6 | RuneScape | Jagex Ltd. | 0.084 | 451 |
| 7 | Diablo II | Blizzard Entertainment | 0.065 | 313 |
| 8 | Team Fortress 2 | Valve | 0.063 | 371 |
| 9 | Counter-Strike | Sierra Studios | 0.062 | 282 |
| 10 | Counter-Strike: Source | Valve | 0.061 | 426 |
| Source: Nielsen | ||||
44% of PCs retired in 2007 re-entered the market
Though approximately 197 mln PCs were retired in 2007, just 44% of those entering the secondary market will be reused, according to Gartner.
76% of Internet users watched video on their PCs
Consumers desire, and are comfortable with, wired and wireless access to content, IBM found. 76% of consumers surveyed have already watched video on their PC, up 27% from 2007. 32% indicated they have viewed video on a portable device or mobile phone, up 45% from 2007. Interest in mobile video content has more than doubled since 2007 to 55%. For both PC and mobile video, over 70% of respondents prefer advertising-supported models as opposed to consumer-paid models, representing a huge growth opportunity for the industry. Preference for ad-supported models ranged from 62% to over 80% by country, with Japan having the highest preference for ad-supported on both devices.
49% of Americans say technology increased their level of stress
Half of wired workers note various negative impacts of communications technology on their work life: 46% say ICTs increase demands that they work more hours; 49% say ICTs increase the level of stress in their job; 49% say ICTs make it harder for them to disconnect from their work when they are at home and on the weekends, according to Pew Internet Project.
Singapore PC market grew 26%
Singapore PC market still posted a 26% YOY growth, slightly beating forecasts, as vendors slashed prices severely in order to meet targets. Hong Kong PC market continues to move along and beat the forecast by 5%, thanks to the demand for mini-notebooks as well as the fulfillment of the University Notebook Ownership Programs that pushed the market to a 30% sequential growth, according to IDC.
Americans who own desktops/laptops/PDAs by their job function
| Work environment | Desktop | Laptop | Blackberry or other PDA |
|
| Work longer hours |
Over 50 hours a week | 79% | 67% | 32% |
| 41-50 hours | 79 | 57 | 20 | |
| 40 hours | 75 | 45 | 15 | |
| Less than 40 hours | 76 | 40 | 17 | |
| Work from home | Frequently | 78 | 61 | 27 |
| Sometimes | 83 | 64 | 29 | |
| Never | 74 | 40 | 13 | |
| Supervise others | Yes | 82 | 57 | 25 |
| No | 73 | 45 | 15 | |
| Work with teams | 5 or more teams | 79 | 68 | 30 |
| 2-4 teams | 82 | 59 | 25 | |
| None | 71 | 35 | 17 | |
| Source: Pew Internet Project | ||||
People who still own PDAs in 2008
30% of people in these professions own PDAs, more than twice as many as the national average of 13%. 66% of professionals, managers and executives own laptops, significantly more than employed Americans in any other field of work. The semi-skilled workers can be found on the other side of the gadget ownership spectrum. They are significantly less likely than professionals, clerical workers and managers to own any of the gadgets (13% do not own any type of computer or gadget, including cell phones). Additionally, only 7% of semi-skilled workers own PDAs, compared with 19% of employed Americans who own PDAs. Only 76% of Americans working in semi-skilled trades own cell phones, while 89% of all employed Americans own cell phones, according to Pew Internet Project.
| Profession | Cell phone | Desktop | Laptop | Blackberry or other PDA |
| Professional (lawyer, doctor, teacher, accountant) | 94% | 89% | 68% | 30% |
| Clerical, office, sales | 90 | 87 | 46 | 21 |
| Manager, executive, business owner | 93 | 78 | 62 | 30 |
| Service work (waiter, hairstylist, policeman, janitor, nurses’ aide) |
88 | 69 | 36 | 10 |
| Skilled trades (electrician, plumber, carpenter) | 86 | 72 | 47 | 10 |
| Semi-skilled (assembly line worker, truck driver, bus driver) |
76 | 56 | 29 | 7 |
| Other | 88 | 71 | 50 | 22 |
| Source: Pew Internet Project | ||||
39% of Americans have laptops in 2008
Laptop ownership has increased to 39% from 30% in 2006, while at the same time ownership of desktop computers has decreased slightly, from 68% in 2006 to 65% in the current survey. Half of those who are currently working own a laptop, up from 38% in 2006, according to Pew Internet Project.
Vietnam PC market grew 5% YTY in Q2 2008
The Vietnam client PC market grew 5.0% YOY to 337,000 units in Q2 2008. However, total shipments in Q2 2008 fell 5.6% from Q1 2008 due to the sluggish economy, the unstable exchange rate, and the decision of government and enterprises to cut back on investments in IT products. In 2Q08, the consumer segment grew 15.6% YOY, in part due to the growth of consumer notebooks at 116.1% YOY. Notebooks occupied 25.8% of total PCs shipped to consumers but only 24.0% of PCs were shipped to commercial buyers. Total notebooks grew 57.0% YOY but desktops fell 5.3% YOY, according to IDC.
Asian PC market grew 12% YTY in Q3 2008
Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) client PC market still grew 9% sequentially and 12% YOY in Q3 2008 to reach a record 20.2 mln units. ASUS in particular capitalized on the momentum with 67% sequential growth, displacing mainland Chinese vendor Founder to take fifth place in total client PCs for the region in Q3 2008. The overall PC market, however, still came in 2% short of IDC’s forecasts for the region, according to IDC.
Virtual economies employ 400,000 people in 2008
In 2008 the virtual game economy employs 400,000 people who earn an average of $145 per month, creating a global market worth about $500 mln, according to Professor Richard Heeks from the University of Manchester. 80% of virtual game workers are based in China.