DigiTimes: According to new figures from researchers at IDC, worldwide PC shipments declined 3.2 percent year-over-year during the first quarter of 2011. That marks the first time the PC market has shrunk since the end of the most recent recession.
IDC blames the slowing in part on events in Japan and the Middle East. In addition, IDC's Bob O'Donnell said "Slower than expected commercial growth in the first quarter failed to offset the ongoing challenges in the consumer market. While it's tempting to blame the decline completely on the growth of media tablets, we believe other factors, including extended PC lifetimes and the lack of compelling new PC experiences, played equally significant roles."