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1 billion PCs by end of 2008

updated 04:55 pm EDT, Mon June 11, 2007

1 Billion PCs in 2008

The number of computers on Earth is set to blossom, according to a new study by Forrester. The company notes that a full billion PCs will have been produced by the end of 2008, representing roughly 27 years of the devices. The seemingly long time to reach the figure was due to its limitation primarily to wealthier nations that could afford the systems, the research notes. However, the figure may reach two billion as soon as 2015 -- just seven years after it reaches the initial landmark, Forrester observes. The sudden explosion is largely attributed to projects such as One Laptop Per Child and the ASUS Eee PC, both of which are designed for developing-world countries where average incomes are far lower. Major PC companies would ignore this at their own peril, the company says.

"The industry can probably survive selling incrementally better hardware and software to the people who already have technology in their lives," says research VP Simon Yates. "But the vast majority of growth in the PC and related industries will come from emerging markets."

Builders such as Apple, Dell, and other firms would also have to change their assumptions about how computers are sold, focusing on computers that last longer before becoming obsolete and designing systems which don't have the benefit of experimental launches in small areas. In some cases rivals may have to band together to produce enough PCs to cover a heavily populated area such as China or India.

If the above occurs, PC sales should multiply five times even as prices are cut to within a fifth of what the most developed countries see, Forrester notes.

By Electronista Staff
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  1. cgmpowers

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2003


    1 Billion?!?

    Am I the only one whose a little surprised that the 1 billion mark hasn't been made already?!?


  1. fishtech

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2006


    A Forrester Report.

    Remember this company's report around February that iTunes was failing miserably based on their analysis of 200 credit card statements?


  1. Jonathan-Tanya

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2004



    quote: in some cases rivals may have to band together to produce enough PC's.

    Uhm ya, thats right capitalism only works on the first billion PC's...but if you are talking real numbers like 2 billion pc's, obviiously we will need to revert to collectivism.

    Someone has bitten into a load of c***. The marketplace is full of rivals, but the marketplace, is the 'banding together' a whole, it works..nothing new needs to happen.

    This does go back to the rather ugly side of this OLTP project. Caution needs to be in order, not to make otherwise developing countries, dependent on goodwill.

  1. IvoryTower

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2006


    RE: 1 Billion?!?

    Yeah, was thinking the same thing. Heck I've owned 20+ various computers in the past 7 years. Granted, some were bought 2nd hand and others were built from parts. So, I guess only about 5 of those actually count toward the total (LOL), but hey, I'm doing my part!

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