Don't worry about the recession. Worldwide PC shipments will grow by 12.8 percent in 2008 to hit 302 million units, says IDC. And growth is set to continue in double digits in 2009, though the figure will drop to 11 percent, the research firm says.
After that, growth will be in the "high single-digit" range, with annual shipments reaching 426 million units by 2012. Yes, unit prices are likely to fall but that will be offset by the swing to portable PCs, which generally carry higher prices than desktops.
IDC forecasts total value of PC shipments to grow 7.4 percent in 2008 to nearly US$280 billion and this should keep growing at 4 percent a year through 2012, reaching nearly $330 billion in 2012.
