Apple's iMac wil lead the way this year, accounting or 25 per cent of total desktop computer growth in the worldwide market, according to a report.
The news comes at a time when most of the growth in the PC market is down to netbooks and laptops. Apple reported that 63 per cent of all the Macs sold last quarter were laptops.
In the Caris and Company report, analyst Robert Cihra predicted that 90 per cent of the growth in the PC market this year will be due to netbooks and laptops.
Despite the preference of the consumer for laptops, Apple's iMac has recently shown signs of life. As a result, the analyst expects iMac shipments to grow three per cent this year. They fell 12 per cent last year.
Apple has already seen a boost in sales as a result of the release of it's latest iMac last October, with widescreen LED display and wireless keyboard. Apple saw a 74 per cent rise in desktop sales, following the update to the iMac, according to Cihra.
"We continue to model note/netbook accounting for greater than 90 per cent of PC unit growth in 2010, but with desktops at least now looking like they've stopped eroding and can resume at least some low single-digit recovery after two years of decline, driven by emerging markets, corporate workhorse use and power gamers," Cihra wrote, reports Apple Insider.
"But believe it or not, we estimate Apple's iMac accounting for a full quarter of ALL desktop market growth in calendar year 2010," he said.
According to Cihra, Apple deserves a backslap for remaining in control of it's own products and pricing schedules. This has allowed Apple to maintain much high average selling prices (ASPs) than other competition on the market.
Caris and Company are expecting the Mac to grow at 1.6 times faster than the industry average during 2010.
