Apple Poised to Become World's Top-Selling PC Vendor with Tablets Included - MacRumors
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Apple Poised to Become World's Top-Selling PC Vendor with Tablets Included

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Research firm Canalys today noted that Apple appears set to become the world's largest PC manufacturer by volume if the iPad and other tablets are included in the figures. The company already ranks second behind HP by that measure, but Canalys is unsure whether Apple will take the lead in the fourth quarter of this year or if it will require a boost from the iPad 3 launch early next year in order to surpass HP.

“Apple has seen its PC market share expand from 9% to 15% in just four quarters, though iPad shipments in its core market – the United States – are likely to come under pressure in Q4 due to the launch of the Fire and Nook at extremely competitive price points,” said Canalys Analyst Tim Coulling. “HP and Apple will fight for top position in Q4, but Apple may have to wait for the release of iPad 3 before it passes HP.”

Apple already ranks as the #1 mobile PC vendor when the iPad is included, but HP's lead over Apple in desktop sales has been enough to hold off Apple in the overall market.

Apple's iPad actually carries a higher average selling price than Windows PCs, resulting in some comparisons between the two in consumers' minds when making purchasing decisions. Apple has acknowledged that the iPad is cannibalizing Mac sales to some extent, but notes that it is happy to make that tradeoff given that PC users in general are undoubtedly making similar decisions to opt for the iPad. Consequently, Apple's relatively small share of the PC market indicates that significantly more Windows PCs than Macs are being left on the shelves in favor of iPads.

Top Rated Comments

Gasu E. Avatar
Gasu E.
187 months ago
As much as I liked my xx, I certainly do not class it as a computer.

Said the IBM mainframe guy about the Apple II.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AdeFowler Avatar
AdeFowler
187 months ago
Here come the "iPad's not a computer" arguments, in 3,2,1...
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
samcraig
187 months ago
Personally - these types of things don't matter to me or most consumers. Sure it's great marketing and PR - but at the end of the day - it's what tool is right for the job. If you're light on content creation - pads (whoever is making them) are great. But for workhorse type of things the offerings just aren't there yet and will no doubt take awhile.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
*LTD* Avatar
*LTD*
187 months ago
I can throw up my iphone onto as big a screen as I want via a hard wire connection or via airplay.

So is my phone now a computer by your definition?
It isn't my definition. Consumers and the industry are deciding the way forward.

Again, usability. Joe Average. How is Joe Average using it?

Folks are using tablets as computers - that's how they conceive of them. And they conceive of smartphones more as phones on steroids than "mini" computers.

You can slice and dice definitions until you're blue in the face. It won't matter. EVERYTHING is based on how the average market conceives of and uses these devices, regardless of their extra capabilities. That is how analyses like the one we're seeing are formulated. Trends in usage and market perception.

This requires thinking beyond the 5 feet of personal space that "I" and "me" occupy. Consider where the market is heading.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KnightWRX Avatar
KnightWRX
187 months ago
As much as I liked my iPad, I certainly do not class it as a computer. The tablet market should be classed as something separate in my mind.
Hum... the tablet market is classed as the tablet market. The Tablet market is a market of computers, just in a tablet form factor.

This makes this article pure bunk and just a speculative, what if, piece. Tablet market is the tablet market, it's separate from the Desktop/laptop market which in turn is different from the Server market, which in turn is separate from the Mainframe market.

Doesn't change the fact that all of these are computers though.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
samcraig
187 months ago
It means you're wasting time looking for definitions.

Smartphones were probably not included because they aren't being used like the iPad, regardless of "capability." They have much smaller displays anyway. With the iPad, you're getting a big display, you just turn it on and you're up and running.

You're getting caught up in specs and definitions. I know people who don't use a computer at all and just use their iPhones. So for them - their iPhone is every bit a "PC"

See how that works.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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