PC Sales Outlook Brightens

With the exception of Japan, PC shipments were ahead of IDC's forecasts around the world, with buying by U.S. consumers on the rise and businesses expected to follow, said Loren Loverde, an IDC analyst who follows the industry.

IDC raised its worldwide growth forecast for 2002 from 3 percent to 4.7 percent. In 2003, IDC predicts PC shipments will accelerate further, pushing growth to 11 percent.

Earlier Wednesday, IDC released a survey that shows that small no-name vendors carry a far bigger share of the world market than any of the big U.S. PC makers like Dell or Compaq.

The survey found that 500 small "white box" PC vendors _ operating in some 55 countries around the world _ captured more than 58 percent of the personal computer sales in 2001.

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By comparison, market leaders Dell, Compaq and Hewlett-Packard captured less than a third of the world's PC market, or 13 percent, 11 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

IBM's PC sales counted for 6 percent of the market and Fujitsu Siemens 4.5 percent.

Worldwide, PC shipments slumped 4 percent in 2001 to 134 million, the survey found.

The staying power of the small vendor is due to price -- most sell cheaper machines- --- as well as the personal attention and services that many companies offer their buyers, Loverde said.

Dell, which saw its market share increase more than 16 percent between 2000 and 2001, overtook Compaq as the world's number one PC vendor.

This year's merger of Hewlett-Packard and Compaq ought to push the combined company into the top spot for 2002, Loverde predicted.

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