H-P Overtakes Dell In US PC Sales In 1Q 2009 -IDC
15 Avril 2009 - 11:55PM
Dow Jones News
Hewlett-Packard Inc. (HPQ) overtook Dell Inc. (DELL) as the
leading U.S. computer seller during the first three months of 2009,
market tracker IDC Corp. said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, PC sales in the U.S. and worldwide during the same
time frame were slightly better than expected, IDC reported, which
builds on new optimism about an industry turnaround this year.
Hewlett-Packard grabbed bragging rights from Dell because of
surprisingly strong sales to U.S. consumers, and Dell's inability
to take advantage of the opportunities. "It shows Hewlett-Packard
is the player to beat in the United States," said IDC analyst Loren
Loverde. Also in the U.S., Apple Inc. (AAPL) shipped fewer
computers during the quarter, but was able to slightly improve its
U.S. market share.
Worldwide, PC shipments fell 7.1% as the economic crisis
continued to unfold. But the findings were slightly better than
expected, which is generating optimism for the PC industry to
return to growth by 2010 based on continuing demand for inexpensive
and compact netbooks and falling prices. For the first time in
memory, annual PC shipments fell in 2008.
IDC's findings add to optimism for the personal-computer
industry's turnaround generated Tuesday by Intel Corp. (INTC) Chief
Executive Paul Otellini's comments about PC sales having hit
bottom.
The PC industry is coming off a quarter in which worldwide PC
shipments fell after six years of consecutive growth. In the fourth
quarter of 2008, shipments were down 1.9% compared with the last
three months of 2007, IDC reported last month. This was enough to
erase the usual bump PC sales seen from the end-of-year rush and
the growing interest in buying low-cost netbook portable
computers.
-By Ben Charny, Dow Jones Newswires; 415-765-8230;
ben.charny@dowjones.com