Personal Computer Industry Analysis

The personal computer industry has grown from a hobbyist industry in the 1970s to a highly profitable industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide. Driven by consumer demand to access the Internet and the advancements of microprocessor technologies, the demand for PCs for personal and business use has continued to climb in the early 21st century.

History

Apple Computer is widely credited with introducing the world's first mainstream personal computer, the Apple II, in 1977. In the 1980s, computer manufacturers began equipping PCs with simpler, graphics-based user interfaces that made them more consumer friendly. In the late 1990s, as the Internet infrastructure was being developed, personal computers became the means to access the Web, further increasing the demand.

Features

In addition to having many personal and business applications, personal computers in the 21st century -- including laptops, netbooks, and hand-held tablet PCs - offer more mobile capabilities and more form-factors.

Sales

According to the Computer Industry Almanac, U.S. PC sales were projected to be 77.1 million units in 2010, compared to 760,000 in 1980. Worldwide PC sales were projected to be 301 million in 2010, and the global number of PCs in active use topped 1 billion in 2008. The largest PC markets in 2010 were North America, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific.

References

• Computer Industry Almanac Inc.: Worldwide PC Market.
• ZDNet: More than 1 billion PCs now in use worldwide; David Meyer; June 2008.
• The Great Idea Finder: Personal Computer.