Chinese buying more PCs than Americans

China bought more PCs than the US in the second quarter this year, making it the largest computer market in the world for the first time, according to market research firm IDC.

Long touted as the next biggest market for PCs, China finally managed to beat the US with 18.5 million units worth $11.9bn shipped compared to 17.7 million units worth $11.7 billion in the US. And it only took a massive recessional setback and a country teetering on the edge of financial ruin courtesy of its warring politicians to do it.

Unfortunately, China's supremacy will be short-lived as IDC predicts the US will stay on top on a full year basis, with holiday season buying helping it bag 73.5 million units in 2011 overall versus China's 72.4 million.

"China's lead in the PC market is a huge shift that reflects the rising fortunes of emerging markets as well as the relative stagnation of more mature regions," said Loren Loverde, programme vice president of Worldwide PC Tracker.

However, he also pointed out that China would have taken the lead eventually, the current state of Western economies has just managed to get it there faster. ®