GTDC: PC Refresh Cycle Continues, Despite Tablet Growth
In the U.S., notebook sales increased 31 percent last year through distributors compared to 2009, while desktop sales grew 53 percent, according to the GTDC's new PC Market Index.
Unit sales of notebooks increased 40 percent but were offset by a 6-percent decline in the average selling price. Desktops saw a 3-percent increase in the average selling price, according to the GTDC.
"Desktops were sluggish for a while but they are definitely rebounding. Notebooks didn't decline much during the [economic] downturn, around 12 percent, but desktops were down almost 20 percent," Curran said. "[New] desktops have faster processors more memory. It's a refresh cycle so companies are adding stronger, better units."
The GTDC doesn't have stable data yet regarding the sale of tablet PCs, Curran said. Anecdotally, he expects them to be a big hit with mobile workers but he doesn't expect tablet PCs to cannibalize notebook sales in business environments.
"I've been taking a lot of planes lately and everybody I see using a tablet I ask them, 'Have you replaced their notebook?' The answer is always, 'No.' They use the tablet for consumption and their notebook is used for creation. If you have to do a spreadsheet or a memo or a presentation they do it on a notebook but they consume that data or presentation on a tablet," Curran said.
In other categories, Curran said the sales of large displays and telecommunications equipment have rebounded dramatically after the recession.
"Telecom sales were down 22 percent in the downturn, now they're up 54 percent. That is driven by the increase in mobility and smartphones. The pipes continually are being refreshed and strengthened to support the mobile products that are out there," he said.