RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – The latest quarterly personal computer sales statistics certainly include some interesting highlights.
Michael Dell’s shakeup at his namesake PC company apparently is paying big dividends, for one. That’s good news for the workers at Dell’s two-year-old and largest manufacturing facility in Winston-Salem.
Lenovo’s Morrisville executives and workers can take heart in that firm’s continued strong growth rate worldwide.
But perhaps most interesting of all in sales data tracked by analysts firms Gartner and IDC is the fact that for the first time laptops outsold desktops in the U.S.
What further proof is needed that the world’s PC users are going mobile as mobile networks improve and our laptop machines get smaller, smarter, faster – and in many cases less expensive?
“The popularity of mobile PCs in the home market continues to propel growth,” said Gartner’s Mikako Kitagawa in his analysis of third-quarter sales. Gartner noted that laptops exceeded 50 percent of U.S. sales even though the overall growth in the U.S. market was less than forecast.
Meanwhile, IDC, another analyst firm that tracks PC data, and Gartner both had good things to say about Dell.
“Dell improved growth significantly in [Europe, Middle East, Africa] and Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) with less dramatic improvements in the United States and Japan,” IDC said. “The results put growth back in positive territory and boosted quarterly volume above 10 million for the second time. The company continues its reorganization, focusing on more profitable business in the commercial market while still expanding its retail operations.”
Gartner noted that Dell broke a losing streak in growth yet also expressed some caution: “Dell achieved its first worldwide shipment increase in four quarters, but its growth rate was well below the worldwide average. Its EMEA and Asia/Pacific results were positive, but it continued to struggle in the U.S. market. “
So, Chairman Dell still has work to do. But he appears to be making progress.
Lenovo continued to show growth as it battled Taiwan-based Acer for third place behind HP (No. 1) and Dell (No. 2) in global market share.
Gartner shows Lenovo at No. 4 with 5.480 million units shipped in the quarter. That’s more than 20 percent higher than in the same quarter a year ago. However, Acer was No. 3 with 5.455 million shipped – a growth rate of nearly 60 percent.
Gartner shows Lenovo at No. 4 with 5.480 million units shipped in the quarter. That’s more than 20 percent higher than in the same quarter a year ago. However, Acer was No. 3 with 5.455 million shipped – a growth rate of nearly 60 percent.
According to IDC, Lenovo ranked third with 5.5 million units shipped with Acer right behind at 5.436 million. Lenovo’s growth rate was 23 percent, but Acer’s soared to 59 percent.
These latest figures also don’t include deliveries from Gateway, which Acer is in the process of buying.
The battle for No. 3 may soon become moot once Acer absorbs Gateway (and a pending deal for Packard Bell in Europe). But Lenovo does continue to show strong growth – and that’s more important than who ranks a distant third behind HP and a resurgent Dell.
