Some oddly encouraging news is coming from research firm Strategy Analytics today. In its latest survey of home computing devices, Strategy Analytics reports that an increasing number of consumers are planning to upgrade over the next year.
The report found that 23 percent of respondents are very likely or somewhat likely to buy a portable PC over the next 12 months. The number is up from just 17 percent in Q4 2012 and the biggest improvements are expected in the US.
However, consumers in France, Germany and the UK are showing increased interest in PCs as well.
Although Europe is starting to show signs of life, the US market is doing a lot better. Since Q4 2012 the purchase intention index in the US has increased by 10.5 percent for laptops and 11.1 percent for desktops. Europe is far behind, at 3.7 percent and 3.9 percent respectively.
Strategy Analytics said the findings contradict the recent decline in global PC sales and may reflect improving consumer confidence and a modest economic upturn. The survey covered 6,200 households in Europe and the US.
“There has been much talk about the threat to PCs from surging demand for tablets,” said analyst David Mercer. “But this evidence suggests that many consumers are putting home computers back on the shopping list now that the economic outlook is improving.”
The findings suggest that consumers are still willing to buy PCs when their personal finances begin to improve. Oddly enough, the same rules don’t apply to tablet and smartphone purchases.
