The home PC is driving growth in the PC market in China, according to a preliminary report from research company IDC. Over 2.2 million units were shipped in the first half of 1999, representing a 19.6 per cent increase on the same period last year. Local manufacturers account for six of the top ten vendors in China for the first half of this year, according to IDC which notes a rush from other appliance manufacturers – such as Haier and Hisense - to get in on the action.. The bulk of the growth came from the home market, with shipments of home desktops increasing an impressive 40.8 per cent to 500,000 units. Shipments to the business sector also grew, but by a more modest 14 per cent. Fanny Yang, a research manager at IDC in China, commented: "The home PC market, after one year's cultivation, is taking off and will be a new growth area for the whole PC market." IDC said the entire Asia Pacific market was benefiting from the ‘nearly free PC’ sales model as interest in the Internet soared in the region. ®