SAN FRANCISCO -- Gartner today raised its 2009 forecast for PC shipments to 2.8% growth, a jump from the previously forecast 2% drop.

Seasonally modest shipment growth in the fourth quarter will boost 2009 shipments to 299 million units, the firm said.

Gartner predicts 2010 unit growth of 12.6%.

Consumer notebooks and netbooks are behind the latest swing up, the firm said. However, an "unprecedented" drop in average selling prices this year will lower PC revenues 10.7%, to $217 billion.

"The rapid decline in PC ASPs reflects a marked shift towards lower price points as customers have looked for 'good enough' PCs at the cheapest price, and vendors have tried to spur market growth by catering to ever-lower price points," said Gartner analyst George Shiffler in a press release. "We expect PC ASP declines to slow as the market recovers, but given the market's competitive dynamic, we don't see PC ASPs rising any time soon." 

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