Most people believe that the recent decline in PC sales is due to the popularity of iPad, but research firm NPD thinks another way.

NPD claims that the sales of consumer PCs have not been affected by the iPad tablet. According to figures released by the research firm, merely 12 per cent of iPad buyers in 2010 abandoned a PC purchase to buy a tablet.

NPD said that sales of PCs reported a drastic jump following the launch of Windows 7, and analysts are now comparing the recent sales to those huge numbers.

Speaking on the topic, NPD's Stephen Baker “The explosion of computer sales when Windows 7 launched, as well as the huge increase in Netbook sales at that time, are much more to blame for weak consumer PC sales growth than the iPad.”

Last month, two research firms, viz. IDC and Gartner, said worldwide PC sales declined 3.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively. Gartner blamed tablets for the decline in PC sales.

It may be noted here that Apple’s iPad is the dominant tablet in the market. It is expected to continue dominating the tablet market with 70-80 per cent of market share.