PC Shipment Figures for ’01 Revised Upward

Personal computer makers shipped 8 million more PCs last year than previously reported, according to revised figures that include a closer count of small manufacturers, research firm IDC said. Worldwide shipments were 133.5 million, 6.3% more than the previous estimate of 125.5 million.

The revision means there is a larger base of PC users than thought, which will affect estimates for purchases of peripheral products and services such as printers and Internet access, said Loren Loverde, director of IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.

The revised figures don’t change the fact that PC shipments fell in 2001 for the first time since 1985. Including the new figures, worldwide shipments fell 4% instead of the previously estimated 5%.

IDC’s revised figures showed that all of the top five vendors lost market share. Dell Computer Corp. had the biggest change, falling to 12.9% from 13.7%.

The revision didn’t change the positions of any of the top five manufacturers.