UPDATE: H-P Overtakes Dell In US PC Sales In 1Q 2009 -IDC
16 Avril 2009 - 12:19AM
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,
two market trackers said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, PC sales in the U.S. and worldwide during the same
time frame were slightly better than expected, 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, according to IDC. Gartner
Inc., another data tracker, reported a similar change on the U.S.
leader board after stronger-than-expected sales. 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, according to IDC. Consumer aversion to higher priced
goods, which Apple is known for, led to the decrease in shipments,
according to IDC. Gartner's view differed; it suggested Apple
shipped fewer computers and saw its market share decline
slightly.
Worldwide, PC shipments fell 7.1% as the economic crisis
continued to unfold, according to IDC, with Gartner suggesting the
decline was less severe. In both cases, 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.
The 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. Gartner analyst George Shiffler warned Wednesday that "it's
still unclear if the global PC market has hit bottom," however.
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