This IDC update highlights significant events in the PC market in April 2012. We present information from Worldwide PC Market: 4Q11 Review (IDC #234271, April 2012), which shows year-on-year (YoY) growth for the overall PC market at 0.4% with a sequential decline of 0.1%. In 4Q11, the desktop PC market declined by 3.2% YoY and the portable PC market grew 3.0% YoY. In comparison, the previous quarter (3Q11) desktop PC (1.9%) and portable PC (7.9%) markets both grew YoY.

In IDC's 2012 Commercial PC Survey, Part 1: U.S. Results (IDC #234375, April 2012), we found that processor speed and RAM are still the most important attributes to all PC buyers. Notebook PC and desktop PC attribute preferences vary after that, but we note that small business segment preferences were significantly different from those of medium-sized and large companies. We also found significant changes in form factor and price band preferences. Interest in the all-in-one (AIO) desktop PC form factor jumps from 14.9% for previous purchases to 23.0% for future purchases, while desktop PC tower form factor interest drops from 36.4% (previous) to 29.0% (future).

Moving from final 4Q11 and annual survey data to the preliminary 1Q12 data in the 1Q12 IDC Worldwide and U.S. PC Tracker Preliminary Top 10 Update, we see that this early data (which is subject to change) shows a worldwide YoY PC market increase in volume of 3.7% from 1Q11 to 1Q12. These results are well above IDC's February projection of a 0.9% year-on-year decline. The top 10 list of PC manufacturers did not change rank order from the previous quarter, but it did change share as market leader HP climbed 2.0% and Dell fell by about 1.0%.

We wrap up with comments about Dell's Wyse Technology purchase, which we believe has great strategic importance to Dell but little impact on the PC market in the near term.

We also present highlights of new product releases and announcements. The first product differentiates itself on artistic appeal to attract a specific buyer segment. The next is a "PC on a stick" product aimed at older PCs and inexperienced PC users. The highlights of this update are:

• IDC Releases Worldwide PC Market: 4Q11 Review (IDC #234271, April 2012)
• IDC Releases 1Q12 Worldwide and U.S. PC Tracker Preliminary Top 10 Update
• IDC Releases IDC's 2012 Commercial PC Survey, Part 1: U.S. Results (IDC #234375, April 2012)
• Industry News and New Product Announcements