Goldman Sachs’ latest IT spending survey forecasts modest overall growth in the coming year, with pent-up demand for new hardware such as servers and PCs stimulating an increase in Windows 7 upgrades.
Overall, Goldman forecasts an 8% decline in global IT spending for 2009, followed by 4% growth in 2010. The survey is comprised of 100 IT executives from Fortune 1000 companies.
Spending on software for servers (with VMware and Red Hat ranking highest) as well as virtualization and SaaS-based applications (with VMware, salesforce.com and Citrix ranking the highest) is predicted to return to normal levels in 2010. But with more than half the survey respondents indicating they will do PC, server and storage refreshes next year, most of the spending will be on hardware, according to the report.
Goldman points to data from research firm IDC stating that 2009 third-quarter PC shipments are up 17% from the previous quarter and up 2% year-over-year.
The increase in PC upgrades in 2010 are likely due to aging PCs at the end of their lifecycle. Yet the arrival of Windows 7 also has a significant influence, according to the Goldman Sachs report
READ MORE >> Goldman Sachs: Windows 7 upgrades to fuel IT spending in 2010
