The steady increase in PC capabilities that has justified the upgrade cycle and fueled the long-term growth of the PC market is undergoing a historical deceleration, as evidenced by the slowing increase in DRAM content in notebooks and desktops since 2007.
Worldwide factory revenue for the high performance computing technical server market increased by 7.7% year-over-year in 2012 to a record $11.1 billion, up from $10.3 billion in 2011.
Second-screen devices combined with customized content, interactive apps, and loyalty programs will fuel the behavior of social TV consumers over the next 24 months.
A predicted surge of smaller, lower-priced devices in the tablet market has led research firm IDC to increase its 2013 forecast for the worldwide tablet market to 190.9 million, up from its previous forecast of 172.4 million units.
The consumer market declined 32 percent quarter-on-quarter in 4Q 2012 with 208,000 units recorded. Windows 8 failed to boost PC shipments as anticipated prior to its launch.
Despite intense industry efforts to overcome market inertia, 2012 nonetheless ended on a sour note with global PC shipment volume shrinking 3.7% on the year.