End of an era

After watching PC sales drop for five consecutive quarters — the longest PC decline on record — Japan may be the first country to phase out the device.

NEC and Sony's sales have fallen since 2006 in the island nation. AndHitachi is dropping out of household computers entirely.
In Q2 2007, desktop units fell 4.8 percent; laptops, 3.1 percent, according to AP News.

The decline has much to do with competition from other devices. More than 50 percent of Japanese email and browse the web through mobile phones. Its the fastest-growing social network, Mobagay Town, is designed exclusively for mobiles.

Millions also get music through their phones; others use them for online shopping and to play games.

Entertainment and recreational options also enjoy independence from the PC amongst the Japanese. Digital cameras print directly to printers, while TVs come with terabytes of free space.

Despite trends in Japan, worldwide PC sales rose 11 percent in 2007, reaching an all-time high of 286 million. This was fueled by demand from industrializing nations.