Windows 7 to boost Aussie PC market

The local PC market could grow by as little as one per cent this year compared to 2008, with ‘thin-and-light' notebooks running Windows 7 shaping to be the industry's saviour, IDC reports.

The analyst firm's PC market tracker identified that fewer than 1.1 million units shipped in the first three months of 2009.

This amounted to a three per cent decline compared to the same period last year.

IDC's associate analyst for PC hardware, Felipe Rego, said the consumer market "was the only area showing positive growth".

"Retail business is still very positive though, particularly in the notebook form factor," Rego said.

The emergence of netbooks provided welcome unit sales in the past year and a new breed of notebooks could continue that trend.

"The new light, thin and affordable notebook platforms that are coming into the market have the potential to contribute to another revolution similar to the mini-notebook one, especially with the expectation of the Windows 7 launch which will make them ideal Christmas gifts," Rego said.

HP, Dell and Acer account for half of all Australian sales, IDC reported. HP leads with 20 per cent market share.