Worldwide PC shipments will grow in the fourth quarter despite the effects of the Taiwan earthquake on chip supply and the slowdown in corporate purchases due to year 2000 concerns, according to new research by International Data (IDC).
PC shipments are expected to be 17% higher in the fourth quarter this year than they were in the same quarter of last year, IDC predicted. Seasonal demand also means that PC shipments will rise 15.8% from the third quarter to the fourth, IDC said in a statement.
The growth will come in spite of the earthquake in Taiwan, which has reduced the supply of graphic chips, chipsets and memory and put some constraint on PC supply, IDC said.
Consumer growth, the Internet, ever-cheaper PCs and a rebound in the Asian PC market led to a growth rate of almost 23% in 1998/1999, IDC said.
In the US, PC shipments will grow 12.9% and for the total year, shipments will grow 23.5% above 1998 levels. Growth in 2000 is projected to reach 19.5%, IDC said. In Europe shipments will grow 14.1% in the fourth quarter year on year and 55% in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter.
Dell Computer Corp., Gateway Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Apple Computer Inc. are all expected to show growth for the fourth quarter, predicted IDC.
International Data Corp. is owned by International Data Group, the parent company of IDG News Service.