Gartner reports EMEA PC shipments total 28.9M units in Q4 2011-- a -9.6% Y-o-Y decline, the fourth consecutive quarter of decline for the region.

As a result, Gartner estimates year-end 2011 EMEA PC shipments will be down by 7.2% from 2010, as a continually uncertain economic environment squeezes spending on PCs.

On a global basis, both consumer and professional PC markets remain weak in mature markets such as W. Europe, resulting in overall negative growth. Gartner reports WW Q4 2011 PC shipments de Continue reading...

IBM takes a close look at current technology market trends and releases Next 5 in 5 2011--  a yearly forecast collection from the company. Science fiction or science fact? Guess we'll be able to tell when the year 2016 comes along...

On top of this year's forecast is Energy: People power will come to life-- according to IBM, the year 2016 will have us harnessing kinetic energy (the energy generated from motion) to power "anything from your house to your city." How does one collect kinetic energy? IBM is testing means to collect ocean wave energy (using special bouys).

Global tablet shipments grow by 264.5% Y-o-Y (and 23.9% Q-o-Q) to reach 18.1M units in Q3 2011 according to IDC-- slightly lower than earlier forecasts from the analyst of shipments reaching 19.2M units.

However IDC still predicts "strong demand" for Q4 2011 and the holiday season, increasing 2011 WW shipment forecasts to 63.3M units (up from previous projections of 62.5M) due to new challengers shaking up the tablet battlefield.

Apple still leads the tablet market, even if it loses market share-- Continue reading...

According to IHS iSuppli, the Thailand floodings will disrupt the global PC supply chain further-- causing a 3.8M unit shipment shortfall in Q1 2012 due to HDD shortages.

As a result, the analyst revises 2012 forecasts and now says WW PC shipments will grow by only 6.8% Y-o-Y to total 376M units (down from previous estimates of 399M units and 9.5% Y-o-Y growth).

Q1 2012 shipments will be hit badly, reaching 84.2M with a -11.6% Q-o-Q decline (from 95.3M units in Q4 2011)-- a far sharper decrease Continue reading...