Worldwide PC shipments dropped 6.4% from a year ago to 89.8 million units, according to new data from International Data Corp. That was below the research firm's previous estimate of a 4.4% decline. For the full year, PC shipments were down 3.2% from 2011.
"Although the quarter marked the beginning of a new stage in the PC industry with the launch of Windows 8, its impact did not quickly change recently sluggish PC demand, and the PC market continued to take a back seat to competing devices and sustained economic woes," IDC said in a statement. "As a result, the fourth quarter of 2012 marked the first time in more than five years that the PC market has seen a year-on-year decline during the holiday season."
IDC notes that among other factors, "consumers as well as PC vendors and distribution channels continued to be diverted from PC sales by ongoing demand for tablets and smartphones." Another issue: "questions about the use of touch on Windows PCs vs. tablets slowed commercial spending on PCs."
In the U.S. market, unit sales were down 4.5% in the quarter and 7% for the year.
Here's a look at Q4 worldwide PC unit sales by vendor:
In the U.S market, Hewlett-Packard gained share versus a year ago:
