Computers are Multiplying, The

K. Courtney DeWinter

Even with slow sales reported this past holiday season, computers have become one of the most common appliances in both homes and offices. In 1999 alone, more than 113 million new personal computers were shipped worldwide. The number of shipments for the first three quarters of 2000 were 94.4 million, according to figures released by computer industry analyst IDC, Framingham, Mass.

Additionally, these figures do not account for the millions of PCs manufactured since the early 1980s, and only include sales for the top five computer manufacturers.