IDC Forecasts Healthy Worldwide Q1 2000 PC Demand with 20% Unit Growth over Q1 1999

Impact of Y2K Slowdown Dissipates FRAMINGHAM, Mass., March 7, 1999 - Unit volume in the worldwide PC market This quarter is expected to grow 20% year over year, according to forecast data released today by IDC. With the traditionally slower first quarter in full swing, PC shipments are expected to decline 9% from Q4 1999.

The ongoing pattern of strong global consumer demand continues, but will fall below the levels established during the seasonally high fourth quarter.

Commercial market slowness tied to Y2K concerns has largely faded, yielding flat sequential volume in a quarter in which demand typically drops from the prior quarter.

"With Y2K fears largely over and the introduction of Microsoft's Windows 2000, businesses will start picking up the pace of upgrades," said John Brown, research director of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. "IDC expects the commercial market to show more robust growth this year than last, starting with a pickup in demand this quarter." Asia/Pacific and Japan will lead the way in PC sales for the quarter with 32% growth each over Q1 1999. Both Asia/Pacific and Japan will continue to benefit from strong consumer demand as price points decline and interest in new desktop designs increase; consumer growth will top 68% and 45% in the regions, respectively.

In the United States, IDC expects Q1 growth to reach 20%, slightly benefiting from the easing of last quarter's tight supply of chips and memory, as held-over demand will be met. Western Europe Q1 year-over-year unit growth is pegged at 10.9%, with sequential volumes declining 22% as retail competition and Internet demand will drive consumer sales. Vendors IDC believes the key to vendor growth this quarter is related to strategic alignment with growing consumer and small business segments. In addition, positioning in the U.S. and Asia/Pacific markets will be especially important.

Finally, solid Internet strategies and the ability to deliver portable PCs In volume will also be keys to growth. Vendors that appear to have the "right stuff" for growth this quarter are Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, and Apple .

Shipments are branded factory shipments and exclude OEM sales for all vendors. Data for all vendors are reported for calendar periods.

Data for NEC/PBNEC includes shipments for Packard Bell, NEC, NEC Japan, NEC China, and ZDS.

Data for Compaq shipments include Digital Equipment shipments; Data for Acer includes Texas Instruments.

Data for Fujitsu Siemens shipments include Fujitsu and Siemens shipments. Source: IDC, 2000 Shipments are branded factory shipments and exclude OEM sales for all vendors. Data for all vendors are reported for calendar periods.

Data for NEC/PBNEC includes shipments for Packard Bell, NEC, NEC Japan, NEC China, and ZDS.

Data for Compaq shipments include Digital Equipment shipments; Data for Acer includes Texas Instruments.

Data for Fujitsu Siemens shipments include Fujitsu and Siemens shipments. Source: IDC, 2000 About IDC IDC delivers dependable, relevant, and high-impact data and insight on information technology to help organizations make sound business and technology decisions. IDC forecasts worldwide IT markets and technology trends and analyzes IT products and vendors, using a combination of rigorous primary research and in-depth competitive analysis. IDC is committed to providing global research with local content through more than 500 analysts in 43 countries worldwide.

IDC's customers comprise the world's leading IT suppliers, IT organizations, and the financial community. Additional information can be found at http://www.idc.com.

IDC is a division of International Data Group, the world's leading IT media, research, and exposition company.

All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. For more information, contact: John Brown 650-962-6478 jbrown@idc.com Patrick Gorman 508-935-4369 pgorman@idc.com

Опубликовано: 7 марта 2000 г.

Ключевые слова: нет

Извините, комментариев пока нет