“The bad news for personal computer makers is that consumers aren’t in much of a mood to buy new PCs. The good news is that demand hasn’t completely fallen off a cliff. A survey of U.S. households this month by IBD’s polling partner, TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, finds that 21% of respondents are likely to buy a new PC within the next six months. A year ago, the figure was 24%,” Patrick Seitz reports for Investor’s Business Daily. “The TechnoMetrica reports are based on monthly random phone surveys of at least 900 U.S. adults.”

“The IBD/TIPP Home Computer Purchase Outlook Index fell 12% from the previous month to 16.9 in December, its lowest level in seven months; the 12-month average for the index is 17.7. The 16.9 reading is down 19% from 20.9 a year ago. Index scores range from zero to 100, with higher numbers corresponding to greater intent to buy new PCs,” Seitz reports. “Purchase intent for new home PCs was actually lower in May at 14.9 and March at 14.3, which was the lowest reading since TechnoMetrica began polling consumers on PC buying plans in April 2002.”

“Among likely PC buyers, Dell remains the preferred vendor. The Round Rock, Texas, company is tops for desktops, with 47% of likely buyers, and notebooks, with 35% of likely buyers. Overall, Dell is the PC vendor of choice, with 38% of likely buyers, down from 41% a year ago,” Seitz reports.

MacDailyNews Take: In related news, 38% of the general population can’t name the author of Huckleberry Finn, provide the square root of 9, or name even one planet in our solar system (including Earth), but they can tell you more than you’d ever want to know about Britney’s latest video. These sheepeople will have to repeatedly see and hear about others using Macs for the fact to finally penetrate their nearly impenetrable denseness that Dell’s or anybody else’s Windows PCs are crap. They. Just. Don’t. Get. It. Nor do they read much, if at all. Some can barely speak. Constant drool is not uncommon. Mouth-breathing is a given. On the bright side, the tipping point seems to finally be approaching:

Seitz reports, “Apple is No. 2 in popularity with 17% of likely buyers, up from 13% last year. For notebook computers, Apple’s share of likely buyers is 22%, up from 15% a year ago. Hewlett-Packard slipped behind Apple to third place from second a year ago, with 13% of likely buyers, down from 18% last year.”

Full article here.