The global personal-computer market will experience the worst ever slump this year – said the Stamford, Connecticut based research firm Gartner Inc. in its report. Gartner reported that the current year will witness the sharpest ever PC shipment decline because of the deteriorating global economy.

George Shiffler, research director at Gartner, said, "The PC industry is facing extraordinary conditions as the global economy continues to weaken, users stretch PC lifetimes and PC suppliers grow increasingly cautious.”

According to Gartner, the desktop PC shipments will record 257 million units this year, an 11.9% drop from 2008. The drop in the current year will be nearly four times more than that of 2001, when PC shipments declined by 3.2%.

Gartner’s report articulated that both mature and emerging PC markets will be affected by the decline in shipments. Earlier, the lowest growth was registered by the mature markets in 2001, at minus 7.9%, and the lowest growth was recorded by emerging markets in 2002 – decline of 11.1%. However, in the current year, emerging markets will witness a decline of 10.4% in PC shipments, while the mature markets will see 13% decline.

In a published statement, Gartner said, "The impact of reduced replacements will be especially acute in mature markets, where replacements are estimated to account for around 80 percent of shipments.”

Gartner’s report, however, stated that the shipments of mini laptops and netbooks will surge in the current year. While desktop PC shipments will drop by 31.9% to 101.4 million, the shipments of mobile PCs (mini laptops and netbooks) will surge by 9% to 155.6 million.

Angela McIntyre, a research director at Gartner, said, "The mini-notebook market is dividing as vendors offer more systems with 9 in. to 10 in. screens in addition to those with 7 in. to 8 in. screens. For the most part, users are moving toward systems with larger screens and greater capabilities; systems with 8.9 in. screens were the standard in the second half of 2008.”

She said, "Naturally, systems with larger screens and greater capabilities cost more, but prices in general continue to fall. Mature markets continue to be the primary consumers of mini-notebooks, but as prices continue to fall, they are likely to attract increasing numbers of emerging-market buyers."