Laptop PC sales hit records in June
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(InfoWorld) - Laptop PC shipments by the world's two largest contract makers surged in June, rebounding fromÂ a lull in April and part of MayÂ as systems makers awaited theÂ launch of Intel's Santa Rosa laptop PC chips, an upgrade to its popular Centrino package. Quanta Computer, the biggest contract notebook maker, said it shipped 2.8 million laptops in June, up sharply from 2.4 million in May and 2.2 million in April. Taiwanese rival Compal Electronics, shipped 1.77 million laptops in June, its third-highest figure ever for a single month, and up from 1.65 million in May and 1.70 million in April. The stronger shipment figures show the laptop PC market has surged again after systems makers and users awaited the new Intel chips. Market researchers had expected users to upgrade to new laptop PCs afterÂ the launch of Santa Rosa, when they could pick up the latest laptop PC hardware along with the Windows Vista OS. Intel launched its fourth generation Centrino wireless chip package on May 9, abandoning the Santa Rosa code name in favor of its marketing names, Centrino Duo and Centrino Pro. The package of chips increases wireless Internet and processing speeds in notebook PCs when compared to the previous Intel Centrino package. The Duo and Pro versions both come with Intel dual-core microprocessors, but the Centrino Pro is targeted at laptops for business users. It carries Intel vPro software, which helps corporate IT departments manage fleets of laptop PCs. At the time, Intel said it expected over 230 new laptop and desktop PCs to be built around the new chip package this year. Quanta and Compal, which make notebook PCs and other products for customers such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Acer, also reported higher revenue for the month. Quanta's June revenue rose 69 percent year-over-year to NT$65.42 billion (US$1.99 billion), while Compal's increased 61 percent to NT$36.28 billion. Â
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Global sales of servers, powerful computers used by large companies, rose 7.7 percent in the second quarter to $11.55 billion (6.4 billion pounds) as demand for information technology remained strong after a three-year downturn
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An executive said laptop sales are on track, despite a report that HP is reigning in PC orders.
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(InfoWorld) - Lower prices and the improved performance of laptops will fuel continued growth in PC sales this year and next, despite concerns a recession could be on the horizon for the U.S., market analyst Gartner predicted Thursday. Worldwide PC shipments will grow 12.3 percent this year, dropping slightly to 11 percent growth in 2008, Gartner said. Emerging markets will drive desktop PC sales, which will also be boosted by the start of a new replacement cycle through the end of the year. Emerging markets will average 18.6 percent growth in unit sales, while mature markets will see 7 percent growth, Gartner said. The recent economic turbulence, caused in part by problems in the U.S. mortgage markets, should not affect PC shipments in the coming months. However, Gartner warned that PC vendors should closely look at their supply chain in case conditions change.
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(InfoWorld) - Windows Vista's share of online users has increased every month this year, while rival Mac OS X -- to which Vista has often been compared -- has shown little, if any, growth, a metrics company reports. According to Net Applications, Windows Vista accounted for 4.52 percent of all systems that browsed the Web in June, up from January's 0.18 percent. Vista has grown its usage share each month since its release to consumers Jan. 30, hitting 0.93 percent in February, 2.04 percent in March, 3.02 percent in April and 3.74 percent in May. Apple's Mac OS X, meanwhile, accounted for 6.22 percent in January and hit its high point of 6.46 percent in May, but it slipped back to 6 percent in June. If Vista's uptake trend continues, it should pass Mac OS X in Web usage share by the end of August. Shifts from the Mac OS X running on older PowerPC processors to the edition running on Intel CPUs have been constant, but according to Net Applications' data, the computer maker is not making new Mac converts. In January, for example, the PowerPC version of Mac OS X was reported by 4.34 percent of the machines Net Applications tracked, while the Intel version accounted for just 1.88 percent. June's numbers showed that the PowerPC edition of the operating system still held the lead, but the gap had narrowed considerably: Older versions were pegged at 3.52 percent and Intel editions at 2.48 percent. Likewise, Vista's increases have come at the expense of Windows XP and Windows 2000, both of which have dropped in usage since January. Windows XP, for instance, accounted for 85.02 percent of all machines that month but was down to 81.94 percent in June. Windows overall total has remained flat, ranging between 90.01 percent and 90.46 percent through the first six months of the year. Net Applications' 6 percent share for Mac OS X jibes with recent IDC sales estimates, which put Apple's portion at 5.6 percent of all personal computer sales in the U.S. during the second quarter. Apple's next major upgrade to Mac OS X, dubbed Leopard, is scheduled to ship in October.
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BERLIN Fujitsu Siemens Computers, the No.3 seller of PCs in Europe, said Wednesday that revenue and profit surged in the six months through September as sales to small businesses increased amid a revival in corporate technology spending.
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Laptops are overtaking PCs as the home computer of choice, but how do you find the right one? Susi Weaser explains what to look for... Just two years ago, only 30 per cent of laptops were bought for personal use. Now that figure is 40 per cent and rising each year.
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(InfoWorld) - Strong chip sales in the Asia Pacific region and the U.S. helped lift global sales to $20.1 billion in the month of July, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). The figure represents an 11.5 percent increase over July, 2005, and is 1.8 percent higher than the $19.8 billion in sales registered in June, according to SIA. The industry association also noted thatÂ falling chip pricesÂ are helping pull down the cost of gadgets for end-users. "For example, the average selling price for a PC declined by approximately 7 percent year-over-year," the SIA noted in its report. Around 40 percent of all chips sold go into computer products. AÂ price warÂ between IntelÂ and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) could be a large part of theÂ fall in PC prices. The companies both halved prices on some desktop PC microprocessors, the most expensive PC component, in July. The global chip industry remains on course to set record high sales this year of over $240 billion, the industry group said, thanks to strong growth in the Asia Pacific and the U.S. But the figure the SIA noted isÂ lower than its May forecastÂ calling for $250 billion in chip sales this year. SIA representatives were not available to comment on the apparent full year sales target discrepancy.ADVERTISEMENTMAKE SOA REAL WITH IBM WEBSPHERE PODCASTStreamline processes and maximize efficiency within a proven service oriented architecture. Take back control of your business processes with IBM WebSphere.
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(InfoWorld) - PCs running Microsoft'sÂ new Windows Vista operating systemÂ got a cool response from consumers in Japan during their first month on sale, according to data published Tuesday. Sales of desktop and laptop computers from brand-name makers in February were 1.2 percent higher than the same month in 2006, said BCN. The company came up with its figure after analyzing point-of-sales system data from about 560 specialist PC and electronics shops that are part of 12 retail chains. The entire market was up 6 percent thanks to better demand for white-box PCs made by computer stores and for motherboards. The jump in the brand-market was smaller than expected by market watchers, who thought the launch of the long-awaited operating system on Jan. 30 would give the PC market more of a kick. Better sales had been expected in part because consumers had shown a lack of interest in new PCs in the months prior to Vista's launch. In October, sales were down 21 percent compared to the previous year. In November, they were 22 percent lower, in December 19 percent down and in January 14 percent below the same month in 2006. The little strength there was in the brand-name market came from increased sales of laptops, sales of which were up 9.3 percent on a unit basis for the month, said BCN. The desktop sector was down 13.8 percent on the year. Despite the apparently lackluster response from Japanese consumers, Microsoft and two major PC makers have in the last 24 hours given the Vista launch votes of confidence. "We're actually pretty happy with how the launch has gone so far," said Darren Huston, president and CEO of Microsoft's Japan unit, at a news conference on Monday. The same day Walt Mayo, corporate director of Dell Japan's home and business sales division, said in an interview that the Vista launch has been "good overall." On Tuesday Richard Walker, head of Hewlett Packard's consumer PC division, said sales of Vista PCs were "strong" in the global market. He didn't have any data specific to the Japanese market. "We're definitely ahead of our plan as far as Vista is concerned," he said. Among Vista sales demand for the premium versions has been greater than anticipated, said Microsoft's Huston. "That was actually a good, positive surprise for us," he said.
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The PC maker continues its expansion of retail outlets around the world.
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(InfoWorld) - Even as PC sales continue double-digit growth, industry revenue is likely to decline 2.5 percent to US$198.5 billion in 2006, according to a forecast released Friday by Gartner Inc. Worldwide PC shipments are scheduled to rise 10.5 percent over last year, reaching 233.7 million units. The disparity comes because PC vendors have been slashing the prices of desktops and notebooks as they hustle to compete with each other. Another force pushing computer prices down is a series of recent price cuts by Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. on their processors, the most expensive part of a PC. Now, as the holiday sales season approaches, things could get even worse for vendors like Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. In additional to wrestling with each other, they will also have to compete with consumer electronics companies, said George Shiffler, a research director at Gartner. Shoppers have a limited number of dollars to spend on electronics. That spells trouble for PC vendors since the price of a low-end desktop is comparable to a smartphone and its accompanying service contract, he said. Flat panel TVs will also compete with PCs, since excess production capacity has lowered LCD (liquid crystal display) prices and producers are expected to cut prices further with aggressive holiday discounts. Even Microsoft Corp.'s impending launch of the new Vista OS will produce only a temporary rise in sales, Shiffler said. The Gartner study echoes weak financial results at Dell, the world's largest PC vendor. Dell blamed cost cutting and weak demand for $14.1 billion in revenue for the quarter ended Aug. 4. That number was up only 5 percent over the same period last year although Dell sold 11.6 percent more computers worldwide, climbing from 8.7 million in the second quarter of 2005 to 9.7 million this year. Looking past 2006, the flood of low-cost PCs will drive brisk sales in emerging markets through 2008, but mature markets like the U.S. will soon slump to single-digit growth, Gartner said.
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Notebooks and laptops show biggest growth Worldwide PC shipments are expected to rise by 12.6 per cent this year, according to new research by analysts IDC.â¦
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The wettest June on record sees UK retail sales rise more slowly than expected in June, official figures show.
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Taiwan&#39;s Asustek Computer complained on Tuesday of a shortage of Intel central processing units (CPUs) for laptop PCs, but said it didn&#39;t expect the problem to affect its sales.&quot;The biggest shortage in notebook components is in CPUs, Intel CPUs. Intel isn&#39;t meeting demand,&quot; said Jerry Shen, president of Asustek, answering questions at an investors conference in Beitou, Taiwan.The statement highlights persistent problems laptop PC makers have faced this year in trying to procure certain parts. Strong demand for mobile computers has caused&#160;a shortage&#160;of small LCD (liquid crystal display) screens and small hard disc drives (HDD), laptop makers have complained. Therecall of around 10 million laptop batteries&#160;containing cells manufactured by Sony has also kept these vital parts in short supply since last year.Intel could not immediately be reached for comment.Back-to-school sales in September, and the run-up to the end-of-year holiday season are hot times for people to buy new laptop PCs, and hype around Microsoft&#39;s Windows Vista and&#160;Intel&#39;s Santa Rosa laptop chips&#160;has given an added spurt to demand this year. Laptop PC sales are expected to hit record highs, and some companies believe the market will grow by around 30 percent next year.Supplies of certain laptop parts could become more plentiful once the peak season ends and demand slows down.Meantime, laptop makers have had to keep up with suppliers by maintaining relationships and building inventory when they can.&quot;Our relationship with Intel is good so we don&#39;t have a big problem, but if it wasn&#39;t so good, our troubles might be worse,&quot; said Shen, of the CPU issue.Asustek forecasts it will ship between 4.2 million and 4.4 million of its own-brand laptops this year, not including its popular new Eee PC. The company has targeted shipments of up to 400,000&#160;Eee PCs&#160;this year.&#160;
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The big four drugstore chains report higher comparable sales in June.
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Sales up 13.5% PC sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) were up 13.5 per cent in Q2 2007, according to market watcher IDC. A total of 17.5m desktop and notebook computers were sold in the region, with a 31 per cent increase in notebook sales compared to the same period last year.â¦
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Sales of new homes fell in June by the largest amount in four months while the inventory of unsold homes climbed to a record high, providing further evidence that the once-booming housing sector is slowing.