Tablets boost personal computing market

Tablet shipments are forecast to dominate growth across the entire personal computing market with a 39% rise in 2014 to 281m units, followed by a 16% increase in 2015 to 327m. Internet/cloud-computing (thin client) unit sales are also forecast to grow, rising 22% this year to around 6m units. This is followed by a 56% increase to nearly 10m in 2015.

From 2012 to 2017, total personal computing system sales are projected to rise by a CAGR of 9.4%, reaching 731m units in the final year. In this period, standard PC (desktops and notebooks) sales are expected to decline by a CAGR of -2.7%. Tablets and Internet/cloud-computing platforms are not only making up for declines in PC unit sales but also maintaining historical growth patterns in personal computing systems during changing economic cycles.

Despite valid concerns about tablet unit sales slowing due to the emergence of large-screen smartphones and owners waiting longer to replace their tablets, IC Insights expects tablet shipments to increase by a CAGR of 28.8% between 2012 and 2017.

In terms of revenue, total personal computing systems sales are expected to grow 5.0% in 2014 to $295bn. Between 2012 and 2017, this market is forecast to rise by a CAGR of 3.4% with worldwide revenues reaching $327bn.