Study shows decline in PC sales is here to stay, and it’s your phone’s fault

By Joshua Pramis April 5, 2013

CB052643 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s bad news bears time if you’re a PC manufacturer. (Particularly if you don’t also produce tablets and/or mobile phones.) A new study released by information technology research firm Gartner predicts that the rise in sales of tablets and cell phones will directly, and negatively, affect the sales of PCs, which have already been steadily slowing down.

Global sales of devices, which is a combination of all three aforementioned types, are expected to reach 2.4 billion total units by the end of this year. But, analyzing trends, the company predicted that, by 2017, the number will shoot up to 2.9 billion dollars.

However, that increase has absolutely nothing to do with PC sales. Why? According to the study, affordable tablets, when contrasted to high prices of desktop and laptop computers, are becoming more and more enticing to consumers.

So just how bad are PC sales expected to be hit? By 2017, Gartner suggests that sales will decline by 7.6 percent.

Last year, tablet sales totaled around 116 million units; this year it’s expected to jump up to 197 million, a nearly 70 percent increase. According to Gartner Research Director Ranjit Atwal, the reason for the increase is largely due to decreasing prices, love of the cloud, and addiction to apps. On the other end of the spectrum, while PCs sold 341 million units last year, anticipated sales will drop to 315 million this year.

The study also took a look at the popularity of various operating systems across all platforms. By 2017, Android will be the clear winner, powering more than twice the number of units than the second place system, Windows. And just trailing behind, iOS/MacOS. (Of course, we can safely assume that, discounting PCs, iOS would be the runner-up, still behind Android.)

It’s a clear sign of the times. Not only are consumers looking for über affordability, but über portability. PC-only and PC-centric manufacturers are scrambling to tackle the already saturated tablet world, but it’s likely to be an uphill battle, as the early adopters tend to develop loyal users.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Spending a childhood engrossed in such technologically inspiring television shows like Voltron, Small Wonder, and Power…

Mobile

Your iPhone just got a new iOS update, and you should download it right now

iPhone 15 Pro display with iPhone 15 Pro Max in background.

Apple has just released a new security update, iOS 17.4.1. This comes a little over two weeks after iOS 17.4, which was a big update. iOS 17.4.1 doesn't add any new features, but it's still an important update you'll want to download as soon as you can.

With iOS 17.4.1, Apple states that the update “provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users.” Apple doesn’t mention any specifics of these bug fixes, but more details on what this security update addresses may be revealed at a later date.

Mobile

How to get new emojis on your iPhone or Android device

Emoji reactions on Google Messages running on OnePlus 11.

Text messaging has quickly become the default form of communication on smartphones. Sure, you can give your buddy a call to update them on your plans for the weekend, but it's not quite as quick and streamlined as a simple text. And combined with the ever-growing library of emojis available on iPhone and Android, it's easier than ever to ensure your tone and true meaning are received loud and clear by your recipient.

Mobile

The 10 best apps for a second phone number in 2024

OnePlus 5 soft gold with the phone app open.

Having a second phone number can be handy for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you want to separate your business and personal calls, or you want a junk second number that you can use to sign up for services so you can avoid giving out your personal number to so many places. That's particularly importance with the frequency of annoying spam calls and messages that can pile up when your phone number is made public. You might also want a second number to use in situations where you want to be able to contact people occasionally but you don't necessarily want them to be able to reach your personal device directly, like when internet dating or using an app like AirBnB. Whatever the reason, there are many situations where having a number that you can give out which you can make use of but isn't directly tied to your personal life like your main phone number is can be important for safety and security.

While you could get a second SIM card (or even an eSIM), an easier option for casual use is to use an app that lets you set up a second phone line. Whether you're after an Android app or an iPhone app, you'll find plenty of options to get a second phone line, including some which are free to use. We've hunted down some of the best options for apps that will give you a second phone number for whatever reason you need it, and we're sharing them with you below.
Vyke