Worldwide PC shipments are slated to rise 15.4 per cent in 1999, against last year's growth rate of 9.5 per cent, according to the Nomura Research Institute. It forecasts sales of desktop, portable and handheld computers jumping to 106 million units -- with desktop sales up 14.5 per cent to 86.1 million units, laptop PCs up 18.2 per cent to 18.1 million units and handhelds up 33 per cent to 1.8 million units. Nomura pinpoints growth to US corporate investment in network computers, Internet-access fuelled sales into US and European homes, and a jump in sub-$1,000 PC sales -- presumably also ending up mostly in homes. ®