IDC: Vista Delay Should Have Minimal Impact on PC Industry

Microsoftis decision last week to delay the release of Windows Vista until January should "shift only moderate [sales] volume from the fourth quarter of 2006 into 2007," IDC analyst Loren Loverde told MarketWatchis Rex Crum on Monday. PC sales this year should hit 229.4 million units, up 10.5% from 2005 and setting the stage for 10.7% and 10.5% leaps in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Mr. Loverde expected "some delay in customer purchases this year due to Microsoftis plans to postpone releasing Vista," according to Mr. Crum, but the change "will probably have a larger impact on PC vendor and Microsoft marketing efforts."