Anyone who hasn't lived under a rock in the past two months is well aware of the impact of the deadly new coronavirus on everything, including the world of computers. Entire factories in China have already been forced to shut down, halting production of not just tech products, but the parts and components needed for these items. Companies like Apple have closed retail stores due to the epidemic. Also, tech fairs and events are canceled or exhibitors drop out at the last minute. But it's not over. As Tom's Hardware reports, the latest IDC forecasts predict that the COVID-19 epidemic could really hurt the first half of 2020. IDC Worldwide Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, which covers everything from desktops and workstations to computers laptops and tablets, shows a dramatic drop in PC shipments. It's not just in the first quarter, but also for the rest of 2020, especially the first half.
IDC predicts an even bigger drop in shipments
These forecasts indicate a 6,4% and 10,3% decline in traditional PC shipments year-over-year in Q2020 2020 and Q11 8, respectively, as well as a drop of 17.5 % and 2019% of tablet deliveries. Given IDC's November 6,8 forecast for the same quarters, which only forecasts a 10,7% and 2020% drop for Q7 XNUMX, respectively, for traditional PCs and tablets, there's a big difference. Though it's also worth noting that there are other, smaller factors at play, including Windows XNUMX's end of life.
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(Image credit: IDC / Tom's Hardware) There have already been reports of a significant drop in demand, with consumers avoiding public places. IDC also expects stock to run out in the second quarter after production was cut in the first quarter. As Linn Huang, Research Vice President of Devices and Displays, IDC, said in a statement: "Current inventory of components and finished goods in Q39 will have been depleted by QXNUMX. Many critical components, such as panels, touch sensors, and printed circuit boards, are leaving these affected regions, which will lead to limited supply in the second quarter." And there is still a long way to go, even after the reopening of the factories. "We have already given up almost a month of production given the two-week extension of the Lunar New Year holiday," Huang said. "And we expect the road to China's supply chain recovery to be a long one with a sluggish network of labor in factories in affected provinces until May, when the weather improves."