PC sales sink at record rates in Canada

According to their numbers, PC sales fell 13.8 percent. That compares to the worldwide average of -7.8 per cent.

How did the American market do? Their sales fell 6.3 per cent – almost half has bad as the market in Canada.

But for those who do sell computers, all but two companies lost market share. Lenovo actually increased its share by 2.6 per cent, while HP inched up by 0.6 per cent.

Acer was down, as was Dell and even Apple. Though the Cupertino-based company is selling iPads and iPhones like hotcakes, no matter what analysts say.

It’s not all bad news, however, despite last quarter showing the eight straight decline for PC sales.

IDC points out that Canadians are still buying PCs. In fact, its research suggests that 55 per cent of Canadian households were home to new personal computers in 2012.

And we’re starting to see new types of personal computers arrive on the market. HP has come out with some impressive touchscreen-based all-in-one computers.

“New products are being developed that are relevant to the needs to today's consumers, the quality of these products has increased significantly,” said IDC program manager Tim Brunt, “and the financial health of the industry is beginning to increase."

The best new form-factor computer yet may be the Lenovo Yoga. This standout computer can fold and adapt from being a traditional laptop to being a tablet – with a start-up process that’s as fast as the time it takes to unlock a tablet.

What’s been the latest tech gadget you bought?