PC shipments plummet

Worldwide personal computer shipments slumped 8.1% in the first quarter, the biggest drop in the seven years research firm iSuppli has been tracking such data, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Computer purchases have been waning as the global recession persists, prompting corporations to cut back on capital spending.

Consumers have also been reducing discretionary spending, as evidenced by falling sales recently reported by PC makers such as Dell and Apple.

The weak economy is forcing even Apple to lower its prices, reports Star-Telegram.

The company recently cut prices from 5% to 15% on most MacBook laptops, from the 13-inch machine, now dubbed MacBook Pro, to the svelte MacBook Air.

Apple also said its new Macintosh operating system, Snow Leopard, will go on sale in September for just $29, which is $100 less than the last operating system makeover, Leopard.

Electronics.ca Publications, the electronics industry market research and knowledge network, has released a report entitled 'Global PC TV tuners - A solid niche in transition', according to PR-USA.

Demand for PC TV tuners has fallen off from 2008's level due to the worldwide economic recession, according to the report.

The market also faces fundamental challenges, including slow consumer demand, increased competition from online television and other programming sources, and lower prices due to a shift from hybrid analogue/digital tuners to digital-only tuners.