One BILLION computers!

The PC is dead? Don't tell the rest of the world: Gartner has released research that says that worldwide, the number of PCs has now topped a full billion machines. That's just machines actually in use, not including those that have already been decommissioned; 180 million computers will be taken out of service in 2008 alone, creating a dangerous environmental problem due to lackluster recycling efforts.

Growth in the PC world is stronger than ever; it took well over 30 years to get to the industry's first billion, but Gartner predicts we'll hit our second billion in just six more years.

According to the report, about 580 million PCs are in use in "mature" markets which include the U.S., Western Europe, and Japan (and just 15 percent of the world's population), while emerging markets account for the other 320 million. That ratio will flip-flop for the next billion: 70 percent of the world's growth will come from rapidly developing parts of the planet. Falling prices and government efforts to get computers in the hands of the people are prime reasons for the rapid rise of tech in less developed parts of the world.

While developing nations struggle with getting their citizens up to speed on technology, the West turns its eyes to the issue of disposal: How to deal with the rapidly growing problem of what to do with yesteryear's technology. Of the 180 million PCs replaced in 2008, some 35 million will simply end up in the landfill, says Gartner. Eventually emerging markets will have to face the harsh realities of what to do with old and toxic tech products, too.

Read Gartner's complete press release on the new research here.