Global PC shipments will hit an estimated total of 51.9 million in Q4 2004, a 10.1 per cent increase from the same period last year. Strong sales to business are offsetting weak consumer demand to produce a positive outlook for the market, according to analysts Gartner. It reckons increased competition from digital entertainment products is hitting sales into the home.
"Aside from mobility, there is conspicuous lack of "must have" new features for home PC users, and this is noticeably impacting home sales, especially replacements purchases," said George Shiffler, principal analyst for Gartner"s client platforms research. Gartner reckons more and more homes are splashing out on flat panel TVs and similar gizmos rather than PCs.