Global PC sales will slow in 2005 as customers wind down their replacement cycles but growth will still be close to double-digits over last year, Gartner said.
The research firm said 2005 should see a nine percent growth in the number of PCs shipped. That would be slightly lower than the 11.6 percent increase in 2004 over 2003.
Mobile PCs would continue to drive sales, said Gartner analyst George Shiffler.
Laptop sales, for instance, were expected to surge by 17.4 percent in 2005, while desktop sales would grow by 6.1 percent.
"Mobile PC unit growth should outpace desk-based growth considerably again," said Shiffler in a statement. "There are a number of reasons including rapidly falling system prices, enhanced wireless, and expanded multimedia functionality."
The fall-off this year, said Shiffler, is due to the slow-down of business replacement programs as companies upgraded hardware in 2004.
"Professional replacement activity peaked in 2004, and will decelerate sharply over 2005," Shiffler said.
"While home replacement will continue to provide some strength in 2005, it too seems likely to slow by year-end."
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