The now notorious delay in delivering consumer versions of Windows Vista won’t materially depress PC sales once the trend slowdown is taken into account, says IDG.

Loren Loverde, Director of IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, said in a statement: “Some consumers will certainly delay PC purchases until Vista is available, but we expect the delay to shift only moderate volume from the fourth quarter of 2006 into 2007 and will not cause a loss of sales.”

The Vista delay probably will, however, drive up marketing costs for Microsoft and for PC makers this year, as they try to attract consumers and adjust to the new schedule, IDC said.

IDC’s Vista predictions may provide some comfort for PC makers amid a generally tempered outlook. While PC sales have grown around 15 percent over the last two years, IDC predicts growth to slow to 10.5 percent this year in most regions. In 2007, growth will nudge slightly higher to 10.7 percent, with 254 million PCs shipped, at a value of US$232 billion, IDC said. … It still regarded the figures as “relatively strong.” The company had expected a sharper decline in growth, but indications show commercial spending will rise in 2007 prompted in part by interest in Vista.

[Source: TechWorld.com]