Tablet Market Cuts Into PC Shipment Forecasts
The tablet market is HOT. If the fact that kids want an iPad more than anything else isn't evidence enough, Gartner is cutting its forecasts for global computer shipments in 2010 and 2011 due to the increased interest in tablets from consumers.
Previously, Gartner expected PC shipments to rise to 17.9 percent this year. In 2011, the research firm projected an increase of 18.1 percent. Now, Gartner is projecting a growth of 14.3 percent this year to 352 million units and an increase of 15.9 percent in 2011.
"These results reflect marked reductions in expected near-term unit growth based on expectations of weaker consumer demand, due in no small part to growing user interest in media tablets such as the iPad," Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner, said in a statement.
"Media tablets are expected to displace around 10 percent of PC units by 2014," he added.
Gartner expects worldwide tablet sales to reach 19.5 million units this year, 54.8 million units in 2011, and greater than 208 million units in 2014.
