New market figures show PC shipments declined in the last quarter of 2012 thank in large part to the growing popularity of tablets.

IDC says 2012 ended on a sour note for PC makers as overall shipments declined by 3.7% for the year globally.

Tablet sales were one reason for the PC slump, but IDC also noted Windows 8 (across all platforms, tablet, desktop and notebooks) had “an underwhelming reception” over the holiday season, while the continuing economic malaise further limited IT budgets.

IDC said PCs saw a year-on-year decline of 8.3% in fourth quarter shipments, the most substantial decline recorded for a holiday quarter. For 2013 it’s forecasting PC shipments will decline by an additional 1.3%.

 

"Growth in emerging regions has slowed considerably, and we continue to see constrained PC demand as buyers favor other devices for their mobility and convenience features,” said Loren Loverde, progam VP for IDC Worldwide PC Trackers.

“We still don't see tablets (with limited local storage, file system, lesser focus on traditional productivity, etc.) as functional competitors to PCs – but they are winning consumer dollars with mobility and consumer appeal nevertheless."

PC makers are going to have to develop new ideas to gain get more traction with buyers, Loverde said. 

IDC notes the PC industry has been banking on Windows 8 and a more varied and less expensive offering of ultrathin notebooks to revive demand, but the results so far have been disappointing.

“A lack of touchscreen components has contributed to a limited supply of touch-enabled Windows 8 models – being out of step with the touch focus of Windows 8, and appearing relatively expensive compared to other options,” the report said.