PC market shifts toward specialization

The PC industry is shifting toward specialized machines and two-in-one hybrid devices that double as tablets. New numbers from Gartner show that the PC industry declined again over the course of 2015, with shipments falling 8 percent to 288.7 million units compared with the previous year. However, some areas showed progress. The UK did well with Windows 10 promotions and shipments in France were relatively good. Eastern Europe saw single-digit growth thanks to sales of hybrid laptops and those related to Windows 10 upgrades. As PC makers search for new forms of revenue, they are moving toward specialized computers such as gaming PCs, computers bundled with large monitors and the slim ultrabooks that are good for portability.

Specialization appears to be the strategy of Lenovo, which beat the market overall. While 4Q 2015 gave the company its third consecutive quarter of declining PC shipments, it did not shrink as much as the overall market, and US shipments actually jumped 21 percent. Lenovo also accounts for about 20 percent of the market, maintaining its lead. Lenovo is already making hybrid computers with its Yoga line, but the company is now moving into gaming PCs. Lenovo announced a partnership with gaming PC company Razer on a series of computers. This is in addition to the computers Lenovo offers currently. A report shows the gaming PC market was worth $24.9 billion in 2014, and while it was set to contract slightly in 2015, projections are more optimistic than the general PC market.

Lenovo is a sign of where the PC market is headed. Hybrid laptops and gaming PCs are good bets for the future of the market as users decide whether they want to focus on mobile or if they need something more heavy-duty for their homes. Along with gaming PCs come accessories such as gaming mice, which means opportunities amid shift in the market exist outside sales of PCs.

See a comparison table of selected hybrid WindowsPC suppliers on GlobalSources.com