Apple iPad, Pending Tablets Slowed Q3 PC Sales

Worldwide PC shipments fell below expectations during 3Q 2010, according to market research firms Gartner and IDC. Each found
commercial refresh projects to be on target, but consumer spending
sluggish, a trend each partly attributed to the hype surrounding so-called "media" tablet
PCs, such as the Apple iPad.

While iPad sales weren’t figured into PC shipment estimates,
anticipation of additional new media tablets, scheduled to arrive in time for the
holidays, likely led some consumers to hold off on purchases, Gartner
and IDC said in separate Oct. 13 reports.

Gartner estimates that worldwide PC shipments grew 7.6 percent on worldwide shipments of 88.3 million units
during 3Q 2010 compared with the same period in 2009. This figure well below Gartner’s anticipated growth projection of
12.7 percent IDC, reported growth of
11 percent in 3Q 2010 estimated shipments of 89.6 million units, compared with the same period a year ago.

Worldwide, Hewlett-Packard led the market, despite a generally flat
year, followed by Acer and then Dell. In the United States, the firms agreed that HP again led,
followed by Dell. But Gartner found Acer, which generally competes
neck-and-neck with Dell, to occupy the third position, followed by
Apple in fourth, while IDC reports that the No. 3 spot went to
Apple.

For more, read the eWeek article Apple iPad, Tablet Promises Slowed Q3 PC Sales: Analysts.