Jim Woods

Business PC Purchasing Limps Toward New Year

by Jim Woods   12/29/08

Corporate PC buying continues to deteriorate as we head into 2009, according to ChangeWave's latest survey on corporate PCs.

For the fourth-consecutive survey, we are seeing a reduction in corporate PC buying plans for the next quarter. And the percentage of companies planning to buy PCs is now at its lowest level in nearly two years.

The survey of 1,926 corporate IT buyers was completed Nov. 12.

As the following chart shows, just 67% of corporate IT buyers said their company plans to buy laptops in the next quarter. That number is down one point from August 2008, and nine points from a year ago.

Similarly, just 64% said their company plans to buy desktops -- down three points from August and nine points from a year ago.

So, what do these findings mean for two of the major PC manufacturers -- Dell (DELL) and Apple (AAPL)?