Computer sales dips for first time since 2009

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    PC sales fell 1.1 percent in the first quarter to 84.3 million worldwide, according to tech research firm Gartner Wednesday, well short of its forecast for 3 percent growth.

    The dip was the first since the second quarter of 2009, when most of the world was still in the grip of economic turmoil¹.

    "Although the first quarter is traditionally a slow one for PC sales, these shipment results indicate（表明） potential sluggishness², not just a normal seasonal³ slowdown," said Gartner, in a statement.

    Weak demand for consumer PCs was the biggest drag on the market, according to Gartner principal analyst⁴ Mikako Kitagawa.

    "Low prices for consumer PCs, which had long stimulated⁵ growth, no longer attracted buyers," Kitagawa said.

    "Instead, consumers turned their attention to media tablets and other consumer electronics."After Apple's second-generation iPad was released in February, many consumers either switched allegiances or simply held back from buying PCs, according to the analyst.

    Japan was a particularly weak spot, with PC sales falling 13 percent in the quarter, as people focused on getting back to normal after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami⁶ rather than spending money on new technology.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

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