IDC: PC market slows, expected to pick up in 2012

As the market for tablets appears to be on the rise for the foreseeable future, worldwide PC shipments are expected to increase only 4.2 percent in 2011, according to a recent IDC report.

This latest figure is a decrease from the forecast of 7.1 percent back in February. Several factors are driving the forecast down. According to IDC, competing products, such as netbooks and tablets, as well as economic factors.

IDC expects the market to continue growing in 2012 as new operating systems, designs, services and more appealing prices entice consumers to purchase PCs.

"Consumers are recognizing the value of owning and using multiple intelligent devices and because they already own PCs, they're now adding smartphones, media tablets and eReaders to their device collections," said Bob O'Donnell, vice president of clients and displays for IDC. "And this has shifted the technology share of wallet onto other connected devices."

For companies looking to improve productivity, tablets continue to be adopted at an astonishing rate. According to Gartner, worldwide IT spending is expected to reach $3.6 trillion in 2011, increasing 5.6 percent from 2010, due in part to the adoption of tablets across the enterprise.