Research director, Ranjit Atwal, said “The real question is whether Windows 8 and ultrabooks will create the compelling offering that gets the earlier adopter of devices excited about PCs again”.  Atwal continued: “The use of applications such as e-mail, social networking and Internet access, that were traditionally the domain of the PC, are now being used across media tablets and smartphones, making these devices in some cases more valued and attractive propositions, ....Consumers will now look at a task that they have to perform, and they will determine which device will allow them to perform such a task in the most effective, fun and convenient way. The device has to meet the user needs not the other way round.”

As the industry looks for new ways to boost the mobile PC form-factor, the trend is for ultrabooks to get more attention, even as PCs face more competition from tablets using Microsoft, Android and Apple operating systems.

Gartner Research anticipates:  “Emerging markets are key to driving worldwide PC growth in both the short and long-term, and our expectation is that 2012 and then 2013 onwards will be supported by growth in emerging markets as their share increases from just over 50 percent in 2011 to nearly 70 percent in 2016,” said Mr. Atwal. “Emerging markets have very low PC penetration and even with the availability of other devices we still expect a steady uptake of PCs.”

Gartner believes mature PC markets will experience less volume than emerging markets, as mature markets increasingly become replacement driven.