It is hard to envision even a small rebound in the personal computer market given that consumer spending appears as weak as its been in decades.
However, forecasters at IDC say the worst of the global PC decline might be behind us and that optimism is building about growth toward the end of the year.
IDC sees a 3.2 percent decline in the PC market this year, but 7.4 percent growth in 2010.
IDC now expects PC shipments to fall just 3.2 percent in 2009. They were down 6.8 percent in the first quarter.
This would be a welcome improvement.
“New product introductions coming this fall, including low-cost, thin-and-light consumer portables, low-cost Intel Atom-based all-in-ones, and, of course, Windows 7, should provide a spark that helps to push market towards positive shipment growth over the next 12 months,” said Vice President Bob O’Donnell.
Yet don’t look for fireworks. Rehabilitation will be slow. IDC sees a 7.4 percent rise in the market next year with only 0.8 percent growth in the U.S. followed by a more respectable 13.6 percent increase in 2011.
