IDC slashes global PC market forecast for 2016

Weak currency and free Windows 10 upgrade offer partly to blame, analyst said

Global PC shipments are set to decline by 7.3 per cent annually this year, according to IDC, which said the figure is two points below its earlier projections because conditions have been "weaker than expected".

There will be progressively smaller declines in shipments in the worldwide market next year, followed by a return to stability in 2018, said IDC.

In Q1, global PC shipments fell 12.5 per cent annually, below initial forecasts of an 11.3 per cent slump over the same period. Weak currencies, depressed commodity prices and political uncertainty were partly to blame, IDC said.

But Westcoast's managing director Alex Tatham warned that measuring the market on shipments alone is not always a full representation of the market.

"The number of units might be down, and that is all very well, but the revenue might be up if they're buying higher-spec machines," he told CRN. "I believe that is true. Everyone goes 'oo-er it's awful'. You've got to be careful of lies, damned lies, and statistics. I'd generally say that the revenue on PCs will still grow this year.

"[Q1] wasn't as bad as everyone makes out in the UK. I would generally say that desktops are worse than laptops, if I am using two very broad categories there. Laptops are flat and desktops are down. But there are niche products where there is plenty of other opportunity, as well as new form factors and a whole bunch of new stuff. I am not nearly as pessimistic as IDC is."