Desktops have been the dominant computer format ever since personal computers first took off, but a new report has suggested that laptop sales will overtake those of desktops by 2011. Analysts predict that the laptop market will grow by 16.1% each year until 2011, with just 3.8% predicted for desktops - during 2006, 140 million desktops PCs were shipped worldwide with 82 million portable computers being sold, up 2% and 26.3% respectively from 2005. Shifting towards mobile computing is becoming more popular as the performance gap gets smaller and notebook computers become cheaper, aided by the increased availability of wireless networks. In the USA, laptop computers have already begun outselling desktops, with 2005 being the first year in portable computers became the number one choice. Desktops are likely to remain the main choice for computer enthusiasts and those wanting to get maximum performance, as their easy upgradeability and more powerful components make them a more suitable option.
Source: BBC News