HONG KONG, March 9(Xinhuanet)-- The Asia Pacific PC market remains on track for double-digit growth with shipments estimated to total 37.3 million units in 2005, a 12.8 percent increase over 2004, Gartner Inc, a research and analyst firm, said in its press release Wednesday.

According to Gartner, the PC market ended a strong 2004, recording year-on-year growth of 13.8 percent with 33.1 million units shipped.

"Demand was exceptionally strong from the professional market, which includes business, education and government segments, where replacement as well as expansionary demand drove shipments. This was assisted by the improved economic situation as well as the need to replace aging PCs," said Lillian Tay, Principal Analyst atGartner's Client Platforms Group.

"The Mobile PC market recorded growth of 31.3 percent and deskbased PCs 10.4 percent. 2004 certainly was a good year for deskbased PC sales as the top three vendors in this category Lenovo, Hewlett-Packard and Dell saw growth in excess of 30 percent," said Tay.

For 2005, Gartner expects demand for deskbased PCs to continue with growth of 10.8 percent from the region with Chinese mainland,India Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam leading the way. Demand for mobile PC is expected to grow 21.3 percent.

"This form factor appeals to the shift in working styles and expectations of continuous accessibility to information anytime anywhere," said Tay.