Acer: Price drops to drive 10-15% PC sales growth

Latin America's PC market could grow 10-15% this year thanks to falling prices, Peruvian newspaper Gestión quoted Acer product manager for Latin America Rhamsen Roldan as saying. Desktop PC prices are falling 3-5%, while prices for notebooks are falling even more, some 10%, according to Gestión. According to Roldan, desktops account for 90% of the computer market, but notebook sales are growing and may account for 50% of all PC sales in the region. "Many users are inclined to buy a notebook for its portability, so that they can have it at home and wherever else they need it," he said. While the primary market for notebooks has historically been to corporate users, in the last few years the percentage of sales to home users and independent employees has grown, Roldan said. Established in 1976, Acer employs 5,600 people supporting dealers and distributors in more than 100 countries. Revenues in 2004 reached US$7bn.