PC Market Continues To Decline
The personal computer market is still ailing, despite showing some signs of recovery in the U.S. and western Europe, according to data released by IDC and Gartner. PC sales in the third quarter rebounded in the U.S. and western Europe, but shipments continued to fall in China, Japan and other Asian countries.
IDC estimates worldwide PC shipments during the three months ended in September totaled 78.5 million units, a 2 percent decline from last year. Gartner reported worldwide sales at 79.4 million units, a decrease of less than 1 percent.
PC sales in the U.S. rose by 4 percent in the third quarter, according to IDC. Gartner estimated PC shipments surged by nearly 10 percent in a region anchored by Europe.
Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 3Q14 (Thousands of Units) - Gartner
|
3Q14 Shipments |
3Q14 Market Share |
3Q13 Shipments |
3Q13 Market Share |
3Q13-3Q14 Growth |
Lenovo |
15,703 |
19.8% |
14,090 |
17.7% |
11.4% |
HP |
14,214 |
17.9% |
13,621 |
17.1% |
4.4% |
Dell |
10,185 |
12.8% |
9,286, |
11.6% |
9.7% |
Acer Group |
6,830, |
8.6% |
6,265 |
7.9% |
9.0% |
Asus |
5,768 |
7.3% |
4,936 |
6.2% |
16.9% |
Others |
26,684 |
33.6% |
31,595 |
39.6% |
-15.5% |
Total |
79,386 |
100.0% |
79,794 |
100.0% |
-0.5% |
Top 5 Vendors, Worldwide PC Shipments, Third Quarter 2014 (Thousands of Units) - IDC
Vendor |
3Q14 Shipments |
3Q14 Market Share |
3Q13 Shipments |
3Q13 Market Share |
3Q14/3Q13 Growth |
1. Lenovo |
15,707 |
20.0% |
14,130 |
17.7% |
11.2% |
2. HP |
14,729 |
18.8% |
14,016 |
17.5% |
5.1% |
3. Dell |
10,442 |
13.3% |
9,517 |
11.9% |
9.7% |
4. Acer Group |
6,632 |
8.4% |
5,952 |
7.4% |
11.4% |
5. Apple |
4,982 |
6.3% |
4,577 |
5.7% |
8.9% |
Others |
26,026 |
33.1% |
31,714 |
39.7% |
-17.9% |
All Vendors |
78,519 |
100.0% |
79,905 |
100.0% |
-1.7% |
Even with those challenges, the PC market now appears to be in its best condition since 2011. IDC is projecting a "healthy" holiday shopping season for PCs, with another sales increase anticipated in the U.S. during the fourth quarter.
HP's worldwide PC shipments increased 4 to 5 percent in the third quarter, leaving the company as the second-largest PC maker, according to IDC and Gartner. China's Lenovo Group remained the largest PC maker after its third-quarter shipments climbed by 11 percent, the research firms said.
According to IDC, Apple moved into the number 5 position on a worldwide basis, slightly overtaking ASUS. The company's steady growth, along with recent price cuts and improved demand in mature markets, has helped it to consistently outgrow the market.
