With their
shipments projected to surge this year and beyond, all-in-one (AiO) PCs
will help prop an ailing market for overall desktop PC systems,
according to the IHS iSuppli Compute Platforms Service at information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS).
Shipments
of AiO PCs are forecast to reach 16.4 million units this year, up a
robust 20 percent from 13.7 million units last year. In comparison,
worldwide growth of traditional desktop PC shipments in 2012 will amount
to a dismal 0.2 percent—rising from approximately 132.0 million units
to 132.3 million units.
The
healthy pace of growth for AiO PCs will continue in the years to come.
By 2016, shipments will hit an estimated 24.8 million units, equivalent
to a five-year compound annual growth rate of nearly 13 percent, as
shown in the figure below. The fast-growing AiO space may, in fact, save
the overall desktop segment—already battered by competing consumer
devices, like smartphones, media tablets and even mobile PCs such as
laptops and Ultrabooks—from going into further decline, IHS iSuppli
believes.
Unlike
traditional desktop PCs that comprise a separate monitor, system base
unit and power cable, all-in-one PCs utilize a different form factor—one
that integrates the display and base unit into a common chassis, with
the power cable permanently attached to the entire mechanism. AiO
examples on the market today include the iMac range of products from
Apple Inc., as well as the TouchSmart series of PCs from Hewlett-Packard
Co.
“The
AiO PC is especially appealing to consumers that have been waiting for a
desktop-monitor combo that not only combines the strengths of a
traditional desktop system but also offers a few more extras typical of
the new versatile devices, such as a flexible form factor, a large
screen size and touchscreen optical technology,” said Craig Stice,
senior principal analyst for compute platforms at IHS.
For
instance, AiO PCs no longer need to be bound to a computer desk but can
fit into a variety of environments—including on a wall, from where the
devices can be hung—bringing about new user experiences in the process.
Some models also offer a TV tuner option that allows the PC to function
as both a personal computer and a television.
Often
AiO PCs also come with larger screen sizes, with 22-inch screens being
the average.
Many larger systems offer high-definition (HD)
specifications, including HDMI inputs and outputs, options for 3-D, and
high-end sound systems.
Most
AiO systems also employ optical technology with sensors within raised
bezel edges that will track touch in a typically two-touch or
point-and-touch screen. A more tablet-like experience with multitouch or
swipe capabilities could likewise be possible when Microsoft launches
its new Windows 8 operating system later this year.
Pricing
for AiO systems is now comparable to standard desktops—anywhere from
less than $500 for a modestly packed system with a 20-inch screen, up to
nearly $2,000 for a fully loaded high-end system.
Still,
AIO systems have their drawbacks. The PCs cannot be customized with
additional or upgraded hardware as easily because of the more enclosed
environment and space constraints within the system, and the all-in-one
form factor that makes them unique also makes the machines hard to
repair. As a result, their product life cycle is shorter than that of
the traditional desktop PC, and the total cost of ownership also comes
out higher.
Apple
was No. 1 last year in AiO shipments, with 28 percent share of the
market, followed by Lenovo, Dell, HP and Sony. The largest original
development manufacturer for Aio PCs was Quanta Computer of Taiwan,
whose clients include Apple, Lenovo and HP. Pegatron and Wistron, also
from Taiwan, were other important manufacturers of the machines.
Source: IHS iSuppli
No comments:
Post a Comment