The computer market is still very weak. Apparently it is even weaker than it was indicated earlier this year. IDC recently lowered its PC shipment forecast for the 2002, because the current demand from medium and large enterprises is lower than it was originally expected, moreover, consumer and small business market sectors also experience very inessential rise these days. Apart from this year’s forecast, International Data Corporation said that it has lowered their predictions regarding PC shipments in 2003, as I read over here.

According to IDC, total worldwide PC shipments are now expected to reach 135.5 million units in 2002, a 1.1% growth rate over 2001. In 2001, PC shipments were 134.1 million units, down 4.2% over 2000, when the demand was on its rise. IDC states that in 2003 the market will grow to 147 million units, up 8.8% compared to this year. Nevertheless, the original figure was 11.1%, thus, the Framingham-based research firm is sceptical about the next year due to certain reasons.

Presently, big corporations do not want to invest in PCs, firstly because they see no obvious advantages the new machines can offer them, secondly because the economical situation is far from being favourable, especially for the USA based companies because the US Dollar continues to fall. Spending among consumers has also slowed down and analyst do not expect it to recover this year.

I should stress that the market is very slow in the USA and Europe while the Asian sector, in contrast, expands greatly. As we may see from our issues, computer component vendors now pay their fixed attention on China and India.