This IDC study analyzes Japan's PC market in 1Q06. Besides illuminating the current trends, we also provide a market forecast. The user trend analysis is conducted by company size. The products covered in this study include x86 servers, desktops, and portable PCs. The annual data in this study for the years up to 2005 are actual values while the data for 2006 and beyond are forecast values. As for quarterly data, the data pertaining to the period up to 1Q06 (January-March) are actual values while the data pertaining to 2Q06 (April-June) and beyond are forecast values. All data are updated as of June 2006.

"Analog tuner models and digital tuner models will see a reversal of fortunes in 2007 in the case of desktops and in 2008 in the case of portables. After 2008, digital TV tuner will no longer be a value-added feature but just another added function, as the analog tuner is. Before this happens, it is imperative for vendors to propose new value-added features in place of digital TV tuners," observes Kosuke Kusano, research analyst, Personal Computing, IDC Japan.