Shipments of PCs are expected to fall by almost eight per cent this year, as users move towards tablets and smartphones.
That's according to research by analysts at IDC, who expect total combined worldwide shipments for desktop and portable PCs to be 322 million for 2013, 27 million below the 349 million shipments for 2012.
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"As the market develops, usage patterns and devices are evolving," said Loren Loverde, programme vice president for worldwide quarterly PC trackers at IDC.
"Many users are realising that everyday computing, such as accessing the web, connecting to social media, sending emails, as well as using a variety of apps, doesn't require a lot of computing power or local storage," he continued, adding that although PCs are still useful, they're needed less.
"These users have not necessarily given up on PCs as a platform for computing when a more robust environment is needed, but this takes a smaller share of computing time, and users are making do with older systems."
However, Computing's own research suggests that there is plenty of life left in the PC yet, and that desktops and laptops are still fundamental to the vast majority of users.
A survey of 187 IT professionals across all sectors and size bands asked what type of device they're most likely to select when refreshing their desktop estate, an event that occurs on average every three to four years, and which will be given increased impetus by Microsoft ending support for Windows XP next year.
Forty-two per cent of respondents answered that existing machines would be replaced with desktops. A further 26 per cent told Computing their next purchase would be a laptop. Combined with desktops, this suggests almost seven in 10 plan their next purchase to be a PC of some kind.
Just two per cent said their next purchase would be a tablet computer, contradicting many claims by analysts - including IDC - that tablets are beginning to become the primary device in the workplace.
