HP And Dell, Neck And Neck

Overall, worldwide PC-shipment sales for Q4 were boosted by healthy holiday spending in major regions of the United States, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific, driven by robust notebook sales and demand, according to Gartner. Competitive pricing and greater wireless awareness among customers contributed to that boost as well. The PC segment, specifically, witnessed a healthy 12 percent quarterly shipment growth compared with the same period a year ago. Overall, 2003 is estimated to have grown 11 percent in PC shipments compared with 2002, which represents the highest growth rate since 2000, according to Gartner. Major growth factors can be attributed to improving markets in both Western Europe and the United States.