Research firm IDC says the performance of PC shipments for the first quarter of 2013 was the worst year-over-year in the nearly 20 year history of its tracking studies. According to IDC, worldwide numbers for the PC market declined nearly 14% compared to Q1 of 2012, with the U.S. market declining by nearly 13%.
IDC’s Study, via MacRumors:
Despite some mild improvement in the economic environment and some new PC models offering Windows 8, PC shipments were down significantly across all regions compared to a year ago. Fading Mini Notebook shipments have taken a big chunk out of the low-end market while tablets and smartphones continue to divert consumer spending. PC industry efforts to offer touch capabilities and ultraslim systems have been hampered by traditional barriers of price and component supply, as well as a weak reception for Windows 8. The PC industry is struggling to identify innovations that differentiate PCs from other products and inspire consumers to buy, and instead is meeting significant resistance to changes perceived as cumbersome or costly.
Apple performance wasn’t good, but it did outperform the market by showing only a 7.5% decline in U.S. shipments. Apple’s performance came as it increased its third-place share of the U.S. market from 9.4% to 10.0%, as leaders HP and Dell saw their numbers drop. A smaller decline from Toshiba, and strong growth from Lenovo saw those vendors close behind.
