It is particularly noteworthy that Acer pipped HP and Dell to be the biggest PC seller in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Taiwan's finest makes cheap, fast computers and price-sensitive conditions suit it down to the ground. Just as Dell grew at the expense of IBM and Compaq in the early 1990s, so Acer, Asustek and others can expect a lift this time around.

Even more interesting, mini-notebooks priced under US$500 were identified as a fast-growing category. Think of the Eee PC and Netbooks: these are highly suitable for an age that seeks optimum value and flexible working. For workers that need internet access, email and light editing capabilities and do not need top-end processing or visualization capabilities they fit the bill very nicely.

This is bad news for premium-priced suppliers and component makers but PC prices are heading nowhere but south and buyers will cry all the way to the bank.