IPad, other tablets hurting PC sales

SAN FRANCISCO – Last year, the popularity of Apple Inc.’s iPad hurt PC sales. This year, that trend is continuing, as new data from two market research firms indicate PC shipments declined in the first three months of 2011.

On Wednesday, Gartner Inc. said that its research shows PC shipments dipped 1.1 percent compared with the same period last year, to 84.3 million. IDC said its numbers show PC shipments fell 3.2 percent to 80.6 million. The companies measure the market in different ways.

Gartner had expected 3 percent shipment growth, while IDC was looking for 1.5 percent growth.

Gartner principal analyst Mikako Kitagawa said that during the January-March period consumers weren’t as drawn to cheap PCs – usually a category that keeps the market growing.

“We’re investigating whether this trend is likely to have a long-term effect on the PC market,” Kitagawa said.