Competitive laptop pricing and the appeal of mobile computers has lead to a growth in worlwide computer sales, but at the sacrifice of desktop PC sales. From Channel Register:
"The drop in mobile PC ASP [average selling price] has been particularly remarkable," said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner’s client platforms research. "PC vendors have succeeded in increasing the unit share of higher margin mobile PCs, but this has resulted in a significant sacrifice of desk-based revenue as vendors struggle to maintain the value proposition of desktops at the low end of the market."
I've have had numerous people asking me for new PC specs for thier upcoming adventures at University. All but one wanted a laptop.