SCOTTSDALE, AZ – The PC microprocessor market is heading for an inflection point in late 2008 or early 2009, when, for the first time, the number of microprocessors shipping for notebook PCs will exceed those shipping for desktop PCs, reports
In-Stat.
This is not to say that the desktop PC market is dead, however, the research firm says. In fact, the desktop PC market will continue to experience single-digit growth rates for several years, but have a short hiatus in 2008 and 2009 when the growth will be less than 1% because of US macroeconomic pressures and the subsequent global fallout.
“In the long-run, desktop PCs will see growth in developing economies because of the extreme price sensitivities and in commercial applications through the growth of smaller form factors,” says Jim McGregor, In-Stat principal analyst. “Richer content over the Internet and changing usage models will also drive overall market growth in the future.”
In-Stat finds that growth in developing economies will continue to drive growth in both mobile and desktop PCs in the future; UMDs will not impact mobile PCs or smartphones until after 2010; the already intensely competitive rivalry between Intel and AMD will become yet more intense and price competitive, as each side continues to try to gain an advantage over the other.