Lenovo has taken over Dell as the world's second largest PC vendor behind HP, according to the latest industry figures from Gartner.
Gartner figures for third quarter 2011 showed a 25 percent increase in Lenovo’s global PC shipments, giving the company just over 12 percent of the market and the number two spot behind HP for the first time.
Overall the PC market recorded a slight increase of 3.2 percent on last year’s figures, less than the 5.1 percent growth figure projected by Gartner. Gartner analyst Mikako Kitagawa said the rise in popularity of non-PC devices such as tablets and smartphone took spending away from PCs.
"Media tablets and smartphones took centre stage in the US retail sector, and the expectation is for continuing demand for these devices throughout the holiday season,” Kitagawa said.
She attributed Lenovo’s rise to its recent joint venture agreement with NEC in Japan as well as its purchase early this year of 37 percent of German consumer electonics company Medion.
Lenovo chief Alan Munro told CRN earlier this month the company had gained 40 new channel partners since HP’s PSG spin-off announcement.
“It’s the uncertainty of the [PC business] announcement that makes it difficult for vendors,” he said. “It’s important HP realise if vendors are going to recommend products, they need to be sure the products are going to be here in the future.”
Despite the uncertainty of its PC future, HP performed well in the US PC market, increasing its shipments by 15 percent. The Asia Pacific saw PC shipments reach 31.8million units, up 6 per cent on the 2010 third quarter.
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