New York – Worldwide PC shipments rose just more than 3
percent for the third quarter, but were flat in the U.S., according to IDC and
Gartner.
The worldwide increase and flat U.S. figure was slightly
below each of the companies projections for the quarter, with IDC having
expected a 4.5 percent increase and Gartner anticipating 5.1 percent growth.
Gartner blamed a weaker-than-anticipated back-to-school
selling season along with a general shift to tablets and other, non-PCs by
consumers for the lower shipment numbers.
IDC pointed to similar issues and expects PC shipments to
have single-digit growth through the fourth quarter, with stronger gains in
2012. This growth will come from consumers being exposed to more ultra-mobile
laptops that will better compete with tablets.
Hewlett-Packard remained the top shipper of PCs into the
U.S. market, increasing shipments 15.1 percent for the quarter. This is despite
a tremendous amount of upheaval at the company that included seeing its CEO Leo
Apotheker fired by its board, the hiring of Meg Whitman as the new CEO and the
company stating it is entertaining the idea of selling or spinning off the PC
group.
Dell saw its shipments fall 7 percent for the quarter, but
the company retained its No. 2 spot.
Apple also experienced very healthy growth as the No. 3
supplier on both lists.
Fourth-place Toshiba saw its shipment totals and share fall
on 1.4 million units shipped.
IDC and Gartner differed on the fifth place PC vendor.
IDC gave the nod to Lenovo, reporting that it had shipped
1.52 million units, for an overall 6.8 percent share of the PC market.
Gartner placed Acer fifth on shipments of 1.37 million, for
a 7.8 percent share.
Worldwide Lenovo was the big winner. The company moved into
second place behind HP on shipments in excess of 12 million units. IDC and
Gartner credited Lenovo with a market share in the 13.5 range.
Dell, Acer and Asus finished out both companies’ top PC
vendor lists.
