Laptops continue to trample desktops

The rise to prominence of laptops over desktop PCs continues apace, with IDC today predicting sales of the latter will remain static, while businesses and consumers will drive laptop sales up by 15 per cent per year.

IDC's figures for Western Europe predict total PC shipments will increase by 7.9 per cent annually over the next five years - almost exactly halfway between the near-stagnant 1.2 per cent growth of desktops and the stellar 15 per cent predicted for laptops.

Eszter Morvay, research analyst at IDC, attributes this latest victory for laptops over desktops to the falling prices of laptops and "increasing product attractiveness and performance". Morvay said, as a result, the increases in laptop sales will continue "unabated".

The IDC report said consumers should expect to see continued competition between vendors looking to squeeze the pips of the desktop market and ensure their share of the laptop bonanza.

As such IDC predicts vendor revenues won't increase as sharply as unit shipments.