PCs, tablets continue to duke it out

A recent Washington Times report highlighted the current world of the old guard--PCs--versus the latest wonder--tablets. The report cites three different forecasts regarding PC sales dwindling due to the popularity of tablet computers.

Overall, PC shipments during the first quarter of the year declined 1.1 percent overall and 4.4 percent among consumers. Analysis firm IDC lowered its expectations from a 7.1 percent increase for PCs to 4.2 percent.

Investment company J.P. Morgan Chase has lowered its estimated PC shipments by 15 million units to 360.75 million, an increase of 2.8 percent for the year, opposed to the 7 percent prediction made earlier in the year. Research firm Gartner also expects PC shipments to slow to 385 million units shipped, an increase of 9.3 percent, down from the 10.5 percent prediction from earlier in the year.

"While some think tablets will ultimately replace PCs, others say there are subtle differences that make them complementary and not substitutes," wrote the Washington Times' Tim Devaney. "Tablets are more portable than PCs. They also have longer battery life and have an instant-on feature that is faster than waiting for a PC to boot up."

Despite lowered expectations for the 2011 PC market, the it is expected to rebound in 2012. According to IDC, new operating systems, designs, services and lowered prices will help the PC market increase further.