PC shipments up 24.7%, laptops up 74% in Central and Eastern Europe

Portables again dominated the PC markets in terms of growth in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East and Africa (CEMA) in Q3 2004. According to IDC Q3 PC Tracker, while total volume growth was a healthy 24.7% YTY, shipments of portables swelled sharply by nearly 74% YTY. In contrast, the desktop market expanded by 17.8% in volume YTY and the x86 server market by 19.6% YTY.

Portables are increasingly the machine of choice among both businesses and home users. This is especially true in Eastern Europe, where many organizations have begun implementing office and worker mobility. The popularity of the generally more expansive portables lifted 3Q value growth to 31.6% YTY. Nevertheless, desktops again dominated the market in Q3 2004, accounting for more than 80% of shipment volume and 63% of value, both down a couple points QTQ. While x86 servers represented only 2.3% of market volume, they accounted for 9.5% of value.

When broken down by region, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) was more dynamic than the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Portables were again the hottest form factor, with shipments surging by more than 79% year on year in CEE, over 10 points ahead of portable growth in MEA. In contrast, the desktop market expanded by 18.5% in CEE and 16.7% in MEA, while the x86 server market grew by 29.9% and 9.5%, respectively.