According to the latest report by Gartner, worldwide PC shipments will total 255.7 million units in 2007, a 10.5% increase from 2006, while India shipments will grow by 20%. Worldwide PC revenue is projected to reach $213.7 billion, a 4.6% increase.

Commenting on the India market, Diptarup Chakraborti, principal analyst at Gartner India, said, "The consumer and the SMB segments will be the major drivers of the Indian market. High demand for mobile PCs bolstered the growth, overtaking sales in the desk-based segment. In addition, with a greater focus on e-governance, the government spend is expected to propel the market further North."

Gartner analysts predict that Microsoft’s Windows Vista will have virtually no impact on PC shipments to larger businesses and will provide only a limited boost to worldwide PC shipments.

"Vista’s effect on PC shipments ultimately depends on the number of consumers and small and midsize businesses (SMBs) that find its new features compelling enough to buy a new PC," said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner Dataquest’s Client Computing Markets Group.

However, Gartner expects Vista uptake by consumers and SMBS that do buy new PCs to be strong.

"Consumers and SMBs in mature markets would be hard-pressed to find a new PC with Windows XP," said Annette Jump, research director, Gartner Dataquest’s Client Computing Markets Group. "This will naturally speed Vista’s adoption among consumers and SMBs."