Low-cost portable notebooks and netbooks may not be the sexiest devices out there, but they are among the most popular. As holds true for most segments of technology -- including notebooks – cheaper, mainstream systems will outsell high-end enthusiast units.

According to a new report from IDC called IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, low-cost portable systems are allowing the PC market to resist economic pressures. Despite the current economic woes in many areas, PC shipments are still growing.

Shipments are especially growing in the low-end portable market reports IDC. The low-end portable market is expected to continue driving growth for the next few years. Worldwide PC shipments are expected to grow by 15.7% in 2008 to 311 million units.

Growth in worldwide shipments is expected to remain in the double-digits through 2011 and fall off to somewhere above 9% by 2012. In 2012, IDC predicts that over 482 million computers will be shipped globally.

IDC reports that the Asia/Pacific region is still growing rapidly with 14% growth year-over-year in Q2 2008. Despite the 14% growth, that is a drop from 20% year on year gains for the last several years. That number seems to be indicative of the global economic woes that are hurting the PC industry as a whole.

Growth for the quarter in Western Europe was significant for Q2 2008 with an increase of 23% compared to growth of 12% in 2007. IDC specifically cites the Asus Eee PC as one of the contributing factors to the continued growth of the PC industry, consumer portables in Western Europe grew by a significant 60% over the same quarter in 2007.

The prediction form IDC is that increased adoption of low-cost notebooks by consumers will contribute to prices in the netbook segment dropping further and volume of sales will be boosted.

Loren Loverde, IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker director said in a statement, "We continue to see a rapid transition to Portable PCs around the world, even as economic pressures rise. The trend reflects the increasing importance of computing, not just in the home or office, but as an integrated part of our lives. Falling prices, more design choice and competition for PC makers to capture this market continue to drive a rapid transition."

IDC reports that in 2007, shipments of portable computers in the U.S. totaled 30 million units. In 2008, shipments of portables are expected to hit 35.3 million. By the year 2012, U.S. shipments of portable computers are expected to hit 61.1 million units.

By comparison, for the U.S. in 2007, desktop and server computers sold 37 million units -- in 2008 35.5 million desktop and server systems are expected to be sold. By 2012, IDC expects desktop shipments to be 29.6 million units.

Looking at shipments on a global scale, the number of portable computers sold around the globe in 2007 was 108 million. In 2008, 148.2 million portables are expected to ship. By 2012, IDC predicts global port able sales will be 298.3 million units.

Desktop shipments on a global scale in 2007 were 161.1 million units. 163.2 million units are expected to ship in 2008 across the world. By 2012, IDC predicts desktop and x86 server shipments of 184.3 million units. Despite desktop sales in America falling, shipments are predicted to rise globally.