Apple World No.1 For PC Sales... Thanks To The iPad

Can it be true that Apple was really world no.1 for PC sales at the end of 2011? Ahead of HP? Yes, but only by including iPad sales.

This is what Canalys have just stated, including tablets as part of computer sales in the last quarter of 2011. Over this same period, the PC market grew 16 points to 120 million units sold. Apple has come out on top thanks to iPad sales, with 15.4 million units sold in the fourth quarter of 2011, holding its position as market leader in the segment.

What's more, while computer sales are barely holding their own (-0.4% excluding tablets), Apple continues to see sales progress, up 26% with 5.2 million units sold (1.4 million iMacs and 3.7 million MacBooks) in the last quarter.

According to the Canalys figures Apple has become world no.1 in PC sales, with a market share of 17%, ahead of HP, Lenovo, Dell and Acer. 

Without any doubt, the PC market continues to evolve. The tablet, at one time caught between smartphones and laptops, is now very much part of the computer landscape. It is however a moot point as to whether tablets should be classified as computers (Gartner still had HP as no.1 in its figures published a couple of weeks ago, not including tablets), especially as this has such an impact on the rankings.

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