WorldWide
Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.
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Table Notes:
- Some IDC estimates prior to financial earnings reports.
- Shipments include shipments to distribution channels or end users. OEM sales are counted under the vendor/brand under which they are sold.
- PCs include Desktops, Portables, Mini Notebooks, x86-based Workstations and exclude handhelds, x86 Servers, and Tablets (i.e. iPad and Android-based Tablets as well as Microsoft Windows-based slate Tablets ). Data for all vendors are reported for calendar periods.
IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker gathers PC market data in over
80 countries by vendor, form factor, brand, processor, sales channel
and user segment. The research includes historical and forecast trend
analysis as well as price band and installed base data.
Q3 2012: PC Market: Lenovo Nearly Catches HP for the Worldwide Market Leadership Position.
Worldwide shipments of
PCs fell sharply in the third quarter, as some consumers spent their
electronics dollars on smartphones and tablets and others held off for a
new version of Windows.
One research firm
also estimated Wednesday that Chinese PC maker Lenovo Group Ltd. outsold
Hewlett-Packard Co. for the first time to become the world's largest
seller of PCs.
Gartner said global PC
shipments fell 8.3 percent to 87.5 million, while IDC said the decline
was 8.6 percent to 87.8 million. Their reports came hours after a third
research firm, IHS iSuppli, projected that PC shipments are bound for
their first annual decline in 11 years.
PC
makers began the year with hope that a new wave of lightweight laptops
called ultrabooks would provide a sales lift. But ultrabooks haven't
been compelling enough to overcome the growing popularity of smartphones
and tablet computers. Those mobile devices are reducing the need for
consumers and businesses to buy new PCs or replace older ones.
Gartner
and IDC agreed that Lenovo was the only one of the top four PC makers
that saw an increase in shipments, thanks to low prices. Lenovo vaulted
onto the international scene when it bought IBM Corp.'s PC division in
2005. It's been the No. 2 PC maker in the world for a few years, behind
Hewlett-Packard Co.
According to Gartner,
Lenovo saw worldwide shipments grow 9.8 percent to 13.8 million in the
third quarter, giving it a market share of 15.7 percent. HP's shipments
fell 16 percent from last year to 13.6 million, for a share of 15.5
percent.
IDC had HP on top with 13.9 million and a share of 15.9 percent, with Lenovo close behind at 13.8 million, or 15.7 percent.
HP,
which has its headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., issued a statement
saying that some reports "don't measure the market in its entirety. The
IDC analysis includes the very important workstation segment and
therefore is more comprehensive. In that IDC report, HP occupies the No.
1 position in PCs."
Both reports are based on
estimates. Companies will start releasing their numbers over the next
few weeks as part of quarterly earnings reports.
Dell
Inc. of Round Rock, Texas, and Acer Group of Taiwan are No. 3 and 4 in
both reports. AsusTek Computer Inc., also of Taiwan, is fifth.
In the U.S., both had HP as the top PC maker, followed by Dell, Apple Inc., Lenovo and Acer.
As
the year winds down, the PC industry is now counting on an upcoming
makeover of the Windows operating system to revive interest in desktop
and laptop machines.
Windows 8 has been
redesigned by Microsoft Corp. so it can power hybrid PCs that can be
controlled by touching a display screen or relying on a keyboard and
computer mouse. The revamped operating system also works on tablet
computers, including one that is being made by Microsoft. If tablets
running on Windows catch on, they threaten to siphon even more sales
from PCs.
Machines running on Windows 8 are scheduled to go on sale Oct. 26 from Lenovo, HP, Dell, Samsung Electronics Co. and others.
Even
with Windows 8, IHS predicts a 1 percent decrease in PC shipments this
year to nearly 349 million. Although small, the anticipated decline
would be the first time annual PC sales haven't grown since 2001.
Press Release by IDC:
PC Market Struggles Ahead Of Windows 8 Launch As
Lenovo Nearly Catches HP for the Worldwide Market Leadership Position,
According to IDC
10 Oct 2012
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., October 10, 2012 – The worldwide
PC market contracted sharply in the third quarter of 2012 (3Q12), with
shipments declining 8.6% from the third quarter of 2011, according to
the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. The results are below IDC's August forecast of a 3.8% year-on-year market contraction.
IDC had expected a quiet quarter as channels focused on clearing
out Windows 7 inventory to make space for Windows 8. Continued pressure
from other products such as tablets and smartphones, as well as
uncertainty over the impact of Windows 8 and the economic outlook,
contributed to depressed shipments – largely as expected. Nevertheless,
despite an already conservative outlook, the results show the
vulnerability of PCs and the loss of mindshare among buyers who until
recent years have flocked to back-to-school promotions in the third
quarter for PCs. Familiar and persistent factors such as renewed
economic issues and budget diversion into other devices also played a
part. As a result, all regions saw shipment volumes decline from a year
ago.
"PCs are going through a severe slump," said Jay Chou,
senior research analyst, Worldwide PC Tracker. "The industry had
already weathered a rough second quarter, and now the third quarter was
even worse. A weak global economy as well as questions about PC market
saturation and delayed replacement cycles are certainly a factor, but
the hard question of what is the 'it' product for PCs remain unanswered.
While ultrabook prices have come down a little, there are still some
significant challenges that will greet Windows 8 in the coming quarter."
"We expected a weak PC market in the lead up to Windows 8 release
in the fourth quarter. While the industry has been focused on shaving
excess inventory and preparing to launch a new generation of products,
consumers have been looking at alternative devices like tablets. In
addition, businesses have slowed their refresh cycle as they remain
concerned about the broad economic outlook, amid a busy political
season," said David Daoud, research director, Personal Computing
at IDC. "Nevertheless, as vendors line up innovative new products and
designs, consumers are likely to respond positively during the tail-end
of 4Q12, and that means a potential return to positive growth at the end
of this year."
Regional Outlook
United States – The U.S. market came in slightly
weaker than an already negative forecast, contracting 12.4% compared to a
forecast of –9.5%. This reflected weaker consumer demand, including a
weak back-to-school season, and an industry-wide inventory clean up. The
consumer segment was particularly affected as buyers focused on
competing products. Demand in the commercial sector was subdued by
weaknesses and uncertainty in the broad global economy amid a heated
presidential election season. However, IDC believes that the
fundamentals for some recovery exist. With the launch of Windows 8 in
4Q12, we expect shipment growth to return to mid-single digits in the
fourth quarter and into next year.
EMEA – The EMEA market remained constrained as
expected in the third quarter. July and August saw low sell-in levels as
vendors focused on ensuring leaner inventory levels after a strong
2Q12, while September sell-in was boosted, as anticipated, by the
production of new Windows 8 systems and an attractive ultrabook and
ultra slim line up set to hit the shelves end October. Continued
economic pressure in the business space and competition from other
devices for consumers, however, combined to keep the supply chain and
buyers cautious.
Japan – Japan was one of the stronger markets,
benefitting from rebuilding efforts. Unfortunately, this "strength" was
only relative to other markets – achieved with shipments still falling
short of flat from a year ago.
Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) – The region
continued to contract on a year-on-year basis, though growing
sequentially from 2Q12. China was mostly on target but the rest of the
region came in below expectations as ongoing economic sluggishness and
competing device distractions weighed on PC spending this quarter.
Vendor Highlights
HP saw shipments contract more than 16% from a
year ago and narrowly held on to the top vendor spot. Distractions
caused by its reorganization, challenges in integrating its enterprise
acquisitions, and an unclear strategy to regain its course remain key
obstacles.
Lenovo, despite slowing growth in Asia, continued
to register the highest yearly growth among all top vendors. The vendor
maintained its methodical approach to build out channel partnerships and
acquire key OEMs in markets outside it home turf, with varying degrees
of success. Its persistence as well as missteps of its rivals helped
Lenovo to maintain a top 5 position in the U.S., and gain a couple
points of share to nearly tie HP for the lead in global shipments.
Dell faced a tough quarter, dropping below its own
2Q12 shipment volume. The vendor saw share declines in all markets and
ended the quarter with a 14% decline. Tepid PC refresh activity in the
U.S. and EMEA continued to be a key inhibitor for Dell. Although the
company has made strides in other areas, with Asia/Pacific becoming its
second biggest market after the U.S., its momentum there has also been
curtailed by a cooling market.
Acer Group – the vendor has faced an uphill climb
to get back into growth mode since the market for low-priced notebooks
dimmed. The third quarter was no different, with shipments registering a
sequential decline and disappointing notebook volume. However, Acer's
aggressive foray into ultrabooks and Windows tablets could help to
reverse its fortunes if Windows 8 finds solid acceptance.
