Good News for Apple and Samsung - Tablets Will Overtake PCs This Year

According to data published yesterday by the research firm IDC, tablet shipments will reach 84.1 million units in the fourth quarter of 2013. For the same period, PC shipments are estimated to come in at 83.1 million, making it the first time that tablets will overtake PCs in sales. IDC has projected that PC sales will decline by 10% in 2013. 

However, the global market for Internet-connected devices -- which includes smartphones, tablets, laptops, and yes, desktops -- will increase by a solid 28% to $622.4 billion in 2013. By 2015, that figure is expected to hit $735.1 billion. The explosive growth of smartphones and tablets is partly responsible for the decline in PC sales, but it also makes the blow of declining PC sales negligible for some brands, but not for others. 

PC business like Hewlett-Packard ( HPQ ), Microsoft ( MSFT ), and Intel ( INTC ) have seen sales slump with the worldwide decrease in demand for PCs. On the other hand, Apple ( AAPL ) with its iPads, Google ( GOOG ) with its Nexus line of tablets, and Samsung (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) with its Galaxy Tab line are all profiting from the latest shift in tech consumption. 

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