PC shipments to fall by 10.1% in 2013 and an additional 3.8% in 2014 - IDC report

IDC predicts in its latest report on the PC industry that shipments will fall by 10.1% in 2013 and will decline an additional 3.8% in 2014 before numbers show positive growth long-term.

Total PC shipments will hit 300 million units in 2013, just a bit above what was shipped in 2008.

"Perhaps the chief concern for future PC demand is a lack of reasons to replace an older system," said Jay Chou, senior research analyst. "While IDC research finds that the PC still remains the primary computing device – for example, PCs are used more hours per day than tablets or phones – PC usage is nonetheless declining each year as more devices become available. And despite industry efforts, PC usage has not moved significantly beyond consumption and productivity tasks to differentiate PCs from other devices.

"As a result, PC lifespans continue to increase, thereby limiting market growth."

IDC feels 2-in-1 devices which function has both tablets and notebooks will help drive growth, and the firm sees Windows-based tablets shipping 29.3 million units in 2017 up from 7.5 million in 2013.

Thanks, Daily Tech.