PC shipments aren't looking too good for this quarter, with the IDC's latest report saying it won't get better anytime soon. The IDC pegs the blame on an economic slowdown in China will eventually lead us to a loss in PC sales in the first quarter of 2013.

This is a big problem, as China has accounted for "over 21% of global shipments for 2012," making it the world's largest market for PCs. IDC analyst Loren Loverde has projected that "we could see a drop [in PC shipments] touching double-digits in the first quarter and a mid-single-digit decline in the second quarter before we see any recovery in the second half of the year."

Loverde adds that it will be hard for the PC industry to push into growth in 2013, and that the PC industry will need to release "attractive new PC designs and more competitive pricing relative to tablets and other products."