PC sales suffering - Report

According to data published by research firm Gartner this week, worldwide PC shipments dropped 10.9 percent during the quarter to 76 million units.

This marks the fifth consecutive quarter of diminished shipments, the firm points out, making it the "longest duration of decline in the PC market's history."

Every region analyzed showed year-over-year declines, with the overall shrink attributed to the rise of less expensive computing options, like tablets.

"We are seeing the PC market reduction directly tied to the shrinking installed base of PCs, as inexpensive tablets displace the low-end machines used primarily for consumption in mature and developed markets," said Gartner principal analyst Mikako Kitagawa in a statement.

"In emerging markets, inexpensive tablets have become the first computing device for many people, who at best are deferring the purchase of a PC," he continued. "This is also accounting for the collapse of the mini notebook market."

Data from the International Data Corporation (IDC), also published this week, matches up with Gartner's, saying global PC shipments fell to 75.6 million in the second quarter. The firm attributes the results to "economic pressures" and increased competition.

"The numbers reflect a market that is still struggling with the transition to touch-based systems running Windows 8 as well as justifying ultrabook prices in the face of economic pressures and competition from tablets and other devices," the IDC said.