Europe drives rising demand for PCs

PC shipments increased by over 10% in the first quarter of this year, said analyst Gartner, although enterprise demand was “weak”.

Poorer than expected growth in the US PC market was balanced by stronger growth in other regions, as worldwide PC shipments increased 10.3% in the first quarter of 2005, according to Gartner's figures.

Worldwide PC shipments totalled 50.4 million units in the first quarter, up from 45.7 million in the same quarter last year.

"The shortfall in the US market was made up for by stronger than expected growth in the Europe, Middle East and Africa," said Gartner analyst Charles Smulders. "On a worldwide basis, we judge corporate demand to have been weaker than expected."

Dell's worldwide growth rate (13.7%) fell below 20% for the first time in 10 quarters, pulled down by a weaker performance in the US. Even so, Dell's growth rate remained higher than the worldwide average, and it extended its lead in the worldwide rankings.

Both Dell and HP grew at a much faster pace in markets outside the US.

The top five worldwide PC suppliers, covering desktops, laptops and servers, in order, are: Dell, HP, IBM, Fujitsu and Acer.