Dive Brief:
- Compared to the prior year, global personal computer shipments dropped 10.6% in the quarter ending in December, according to research firm IDC.
- IDC said the last quarter is the largest decline since they began tracking PC shipments.
- With mobile phone and tablet use on the rise, and a growing lifecycle for personal computers, some PC makers are shifting their focus to try and remain profitable.
Dive Insight:
PC sales are not showing any sign of improvement. In October, research firm Gartner said worldwide shipments of personal computers fell 7.7% to 73.7 million units in the third quarter.
A stronger dollar made PCs more expensive, while the launch of Windows 10 may have encouraged some people to upgrade PCs rather than replace them altogether, potentially contributing to the slowdown according to Gartner.
As hardware sales continue to decline, some traditional PC makers and chip makers have begun shifting their focus to newer technology areas. For example, Intel recently made a number of investments and acquisitions in newer technology areas such as drones and AI.
