The trend towards replacing desktop computers with notebooks has slowed, and global shipments of desktops are likely to grow 7-10% this year, as opposed to the previously estimated 3%, according to a manager at a major Taiwanese PC makers. Taiwan makers also lowered the growth projection for worldwide notebook shipments for 2004 to 20-25%, down from the previously forecast 25-30%, the manager added.
Citing data released by International Data Corporation (IDC), the manager pointed out that unit shipments of desktops in Europe surged 17.3% on year in the second quarter of this year. In the four previous quarters, year-on-year growth had been 1%, 7%, 8% and 8%. However, the 25.7% growth on-year for Europe notebook shipments in the second quarter was down from the 38%, 50%, 46% and 40% registered in the four quarters previously.