The Growing Popularity of Computers Predicting the imminent demise of the personal computer has become an annual ritual in recent years -- and each year the PC has defied the prophets of doom. This year looks set for a repeat performance. Predictions for first-quarter global sales were bad; the PC era was finally ending. In fact, sales grew at a healthy 19 percent annual rate. Worldwide, well over 100 million PCs will be sold this year. That means the world now buys almost as many PCs as color TVs. The PC's growing popularity isn't surprising. Prices have fallen sharply while the power of the hardwar