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July 15, 2010
Global PC Sales Climb 22 Percent As Inexpensive Laptops Proliferate and Businesses Replace Aging Computers
By Ashok Bindra, TMCnet Contributor
Despite slow pace of economic recovery, the personal computer market rebounded in the second quarter as predicted by the market research firm International Data Corporation. IDC (News - Alert) statistics show that worldwide shipments of personal computers of all types climbed 22.4 percent in the second quarter as businesses replaced aging computers and consumers continued to show interest in inexpensive laptops. This is in-line with the forecasted growth of 22.9 percent, said IDC.
The report indicates that the market in Europe, Middle-East and Africa (EMEA) remained strong, while the growth in the United States and Asia/Pacific was slightly behind projections. IDC study shows that the PC shipments in the U.S rose only 12.6 percent with Hewlett-Packard leading the vendor list, followed by Dell and Acer. Apple took the fourth place and Toshiba (News - Alert) came fifth.
Globally, PC manufacturers shipped 81.5 million units in the second quarter 2010 with Hewlett-Packard taking the top spot, followed by Dell (News - Alert) and Acer. While Lenovo Group Ltd., Toshiba Corp.and ASUSTek Computer came in the top five ranking. With similar worldwide shipments of 4,343 units, Toshiba and ASUSTek (News - Alert) occupied number five position.
In a statement, Jay Chou, IDC's research analyst with Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, said, 'The PC market remains robust, and in a recovery phase, despite challenges to a broader economic recovery, such as slow job growth and a more conservative outlook in Europe and Asia/Pacific.' 'The factors which led to the recent PC rebound - an aging commercial installed base, a proliferation of low-cost media-centric PCs, and low PC penetration through much of the world - remain key drivers going forward, ' added Chou.
'The surge in consumer activity seen in the past two quarters has started to slow as expected, while commercial replacements continue to grow,' said Bob O'Donnell, IDC Vice President for Clients and Displays. 'We expect consumer activity to remain healthy, but gradually slow through the end of the year, while commercial market growth will be more stable, reflecting a planned replacement cycle over the next several years.'
The report indicates that the market in Europe, Middle-East and Africa (EMEA) remained strong, while the growth in the United States and Asia/Pacific was slightly behind projections. IDC study shows that the PC shipments in the U.S rose only 12.6 percent with Hewlett-Packard leading the vendor list, followed by Dell and Acer. Apple took the fourth place and Toshiba (News - Alert) came fifth.
Globally, PC manufacturers shipped 81.5 million units in the second quarter 2010 with Hewlett-Packard taking the top spot, followed by Dell (News - Alert) and Acer. While Lenovo Group Ltd., Toshiba Corp.and ASUSTek Computer came in the top five ranking. With similar worldwide shipments of 4,343 units, Toshiba and ASUSTek (News - Alert) occupied number five position.
In a statement, Jay Chou, IDC's research analyst with Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, said, 'The PC market remains robust, and in a recovery phase, despite challenges to a broader economic recovery, such as slow job growth and a more conservative outlook in Europe and Asia/Pacific.' 'The factors which led to the recent PC rebound - an aging commercial installed base, a proliferation of low-cost media-centric PCs, and low PC penetration through much of the world - remain key drivers going forward, ' added Chou.
'The surge in consumer activity seen in the past two quarters has started to slow as expected, while commercial replacements continue to grow,' said Bob O'Donnell, IDC Vice President for Clients and Displays. 'We expect consumer activity to remain healthy, but gradually slow through the end of the year, while commercial market growth will be more stable, reflecting a planned replacement cycle over the next several years.'
Ashok Bindra is a veteran writer and editor with more than 25 years of editorial experience covering RF/wireless technologies, semiconductors and power electronics. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Patrick Barnard
