PC shipment figures for the UK have shown solid growth during the first quarter of 2008, rising 14.3 per cent to 3.23 million units.

The laptop market jumped 41.8 per cent during the three month period, as users continued the trend of swapping their desktops for mobile computers. Notebook shipments will increase by 35.5 per cent this year, while desktop sales slip 8.3 per cent, said analyst IDC.

"Demand for notebooks, stimulated by fierce vendor competition and aggressive pricing, will remain a key engine for growth throughout the year," said research analyst Lucie Jichova.

"Economic pressure will continue to drive cautious spending behavior, but the arrival of low-cost ultraportables, increasing traction of telco bundles, and mobile solutions in the business space, will maintain strong momentum in the notebook market in the second half of the year."

Co-operative promotions between manufacturers and telecoms companies, such as Dell's free laptop offer for Carphone Warehouse users, will also continue to grow in popularity. Bundles combining computers and internet access are thought to be highly-appealing to first-time owners, said IDC.