PC Shipments Post the Steepest Decline Ever

PC shipments dropped the most in history (or at least since 1994, when IDC began tracking PC shipments) in the first quarter of 2013, according to IDC. That will surprise virtually nobody, given the clear shift of consumer demand to tablets.

Worldwide PC shipments totaled 76.3 million units in the first quarter of 2013, down 14 percent compared to the same quarter in 2012 and worse than the forecast decline of 7.7 percent, according to IDC. 

The results also marked the fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year shipment declines.

"Fading Mini Notebook shipments have taken a big chunk out of the low-end market while tablets and smartphones continue to divert consumer spending," IDC says.

"At this point, unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market," said Bob O'Donnell, IDC Program Vice President, Clients and Displays. 

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