Gartner raised its forecast for worldwide PC shipments this year due to higher-than-expected sales of mobile computers.

Gartner projected a 12.5% increase over 2007 shipments to 297 million units. In March, the analyst firm had forecast a 10.9% increase.

"Mobile PC shipments exceeded our expectations in the first quarter of 2008," Gartner analyst George Shiffler said in a statement. "Mobile PCs continue to have strong momentum and the global economic environment is proving to be less punishing than we expected."

Nevertheless, Shiffler said it was "premature" to say that PC shipments wouldn't be affected later in the year by a weaker global economy, especially if oil and food prices continue to soar.

Gartner's revised forecast followed by a day IDC's latest global projection, which pegs shipments for the year at 310 million units, a 15.2% increase over 2007. IDC expects shipment growth to remain in the double digits through 2010, falling to high single digits through 2012, when shipments are expected to reach more than 472 million units.

IDC also attributed unit growth to higher mobile PC sales, as many consumers move from desktops to notebooks. Because the latter generally cost more than desktops, worldwide revenue is expected to grow by 9.6% this year to more than $286 billion. IDC predicted shipment value to continue to increase by 5% to 6% annually from 2009 through 2012, when it will reach nearly $354 billion.

Gartner believes worldwide mobile PC shipments will grow by 30.1% this year. "Overall, mobile PCs continue to exhibit incredible momentum, especially in emerging markets, that show few signs of significantly waning anytime soon," Shiffler said.

By: DocMemory
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