With PC saturation in key U.S. and European segments, many manufacturers are waiting for the next PC upgrade cycle. The potential size of that upgrade expected in 2001 is significant. There is the potential for a 25 percent increase in professional PC replacements in 2001 in the United States compared with 2000, even without Windows 2000 as a driver. A major upgrade cycle in both the European professional and home markets is also expected in 2001. HP had continued success in the U.S. retail space, taking advantage of the absence of IBM and Packard Bell.
Table includes desk-based PCs, mobile PCs and PC servers.
Fujitsu and Fujitsu-Siemens market share, if combined in 3Q00, would equal 5.0 percent. Despite the mid-teen growth in the worldwide PC market, Gartner Dataquest analysts said this increase in the market could be misleading. The higher shipment numbers for some primarily indirect vendors may point to potential fourth-quarter problems. The fourth quarter could show slower unit growth, as upgrade cycles are deferred into 2001, and no revenue growth as vendors jockey to keep supply lines clear. In the U.S. PC market, five of the top six vendors had growth rates above the industry average.