PC Market Returns to Double-Digit Growth on Strong Results in Europe and Asia/Pacific (Excluding Japan), According to IDC.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Worldwide PC shipments grew by 10.9 in the first quarter of 2007 (1Q07), according to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. Year-on-year growth improved from the fourth quarter in all regions with Europe and Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) showing the biggest improvements versus forecasts. Japan recovered from a double-digit decline in the fourth quarter, but was the only region with declining volume as the United States moved back into growth mode. Portable PC adoption remained the primary driver with a strong Consumer component.

Worldwide PC shipment growth of 10.9 was up from the single-digit growth experienced over the previous three quarters and was ahead of forecast growth of 8.5. The rise in growth primarily reflects the strength of Portable and Consumer demand, rather than stronger commercial growth. The availability of Vista probably moved some volume from 4Q06 to 1Q07, although IDC believes that peak growth in 2004 and 2005 had more to do with slower growth at the end of 2006 than users waiting for the new operating system - particularly as vendors such as HP, Acer, Toshiba, and Apple saw strong retail and Portable PC growth through the end of the year.

"The strong first quarter is a good indicator of the health of the industry," said Loren Loverde, director of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. "The United States and Japan didn't grow much in the first quarter, but solid gains elsewhere and a boost from Vista brought us back…