American computer hardware maker Hewlett Packard continues to maintain the lead in global PC sales which is currently declining at a faster rate.
"HP continued to defend its top position in IDC's worldwide ranking, recovering somewhat from past weakness in key markets. An aggressive push for Windows 8 volume helped the vendor make gains in Asia/Pacific and its home turf in the U.S.", reported market research firm IDC (International Data Corporation).
IDC also claimed that global PC shipments totalled to 89.8 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012, down 6.4 percent compared to the same quarter in 2011 and worse than the forecasted decline of 4.4 percent.
HP leads the global PC market with more than 15 million unit shipments, Lenovo came in second with a little more than 14 million units. US PC maker Dell rounded off the top three with close to 9.5 million unit shipments.
IDC's Report on Worldwide PC Shipments in the Fourth Quarter of 2012(Preliminary)
|
PC maker |
4Q, 2012 Shipments |
4Q,2012 Market Share |
4Q, 2011 Shipments |
4Q,2011 Market Share |
4Q,2012/4Q,2013 Growth |
|
HP |
15,023 |
16.7% |
15,113 |
15.8% |
-0.6% |
|
Lenovo |
14,105 |
15.7% |
13,040 |
13.6% |
8.2% |
|
Dell |
9,482 |
10.6% |
11,967 |
12.5% |
-20.8% |
|
Acer Group |
6,959 |
7.8% |
9,692 |
10.1% |
-28.2% |
|
Asus |
6,467 |
7.2% |
6,126 |
6.4% |
5.6% |
|
Others |
37,753 |
42.0% |
39,974 |
41.7% |
-5.6% |
|
Total |
89,789 |
100% |
95,913 |
100% |
-6.4% |
(Units shipments are in thousands)
IDC Report on Worldwide PC shipments, 2012 (Preliminary)
|
PC maker |
2012 Shipments |
2012 Market Share |
2011 Shipments |
2011 Market Share |
2012/2013 Growth |
|
HP |
58,129 |
16.5% |
62,321 |
17.1% |
-6.7% |
|
Lenovo |
52,448 |
14.9% |
44,016 |
12.1% |
19.2% |
|
Dell |
38,718 |
11.0% |
44,278 |
12.2% |
-12.6% |
|
Acer Group |
33,494 |
9.5% |
37,073 |
10.2% |
-9.7% |
|
Asus |
24,134 |
6.8% |
20,619 |
5.7% |
17.0% |
|
Others |
145,498 |
41.3% |
155,580 |
42.8% |
-6.5% |
|
Total |
352,421 |
100% |
363,887 |
100% |
-3.2% |
(Units shipments are in thousands)
Eventhough HP leads the global PC shipments table, its unit shipments have declined by 6.7 percent compared to last year.
The global PC sales slump is seen as the beginning of the end of desktops, as technology-savvy consumers are inclining more towards lighter and cheaper tablets and smartphones which are capable of performing the same operations as bulky desktops and laptops.
Technology market analysts around the world have opined that the slump in PC sales is also attributed to the lackluster response of PC consumers towards Microsoft's Windows 8 OS.
However, by looking at the big picture, many believe that future computing will be driven by tablets and smartphone as seen at the recently concluded International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas where many top PC makers such as Lenovo, Asus and others showcased hybrid tablet PCs with detachable keyboards.
