STAMFORD, CT – Gartner Inc. raised its outlook for worldwide PC shipments, saying shipments will drop 2% in 2009, up from a June estimate of a 6% fall.

The firm cited better-than-expected demand in June, especially in the U.S. and China.

“Mobile PC shipments have regained substantial momentum, especially in emerging markets, and the decline of desk-based PC shipments is slowing down,” says George Shiffler, research director at Gartner.

The research firm forecasts shipments are on pace to reach 285 million units this year.

Despite the increases, Gartner doesn’t expect global shipments to grow this year. For the first six months, PC units dropped 4.4% compared to 2008. To post growth for the year, shipments would need to increase at least 4% in the second half.

Gartner further guided for mini-notebook shipments to reach 25 million units for the year, up from a May estimate of 21 million. Shipments for 2010 are forecast to increase 12.6% to 37 million as momentum grows and desk-based PC activity turns positive. 

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