Between the Lines

Larry Dignan, Andrew Nusca and Rachel King

Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

By Rachel King | January 30, 2012, 3:56pm PST

Summary: Apple is on a roll already in 2012 after nabbing the top spot of another major tech list.

Apple has zoomed past Hewlett-Packard to be named as the top dog in the global “client PC” market during the fourth quarter of 2011, according to a new report from analyst house Canalys.

That’s because Apple shipped more than 15 million iPads and five million Macs combined — representing 17 percent of the total 120 million client PCs shipped globally during the fourth quarter.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company is on a roll already in 2012.

Two other news items found that Apple not only regained its crown at the top of the global smartphone market (at least on a quarterly basis) as well as the fact that Apple is now the top semiconductor chip company.

Apple recently reported record first fiscal quarter earnings, including outstanding sales numbers from its Mac unit at 5.2 million Mac computers sold — a 26 percent increase over the first fiscal quarter of 2011.

Manufacturers in this field likely suffered a bit in Q4 because of the flooding in Thailand causing a hard drive shortage worldwide, but Canalys warns that this will have a wider effect during Q1 2012.

Canalys research analyst Michael Kauh mentioned in the report that Ultrabooks might also shake things up:

We expect Ultrabook volumes to see limited adoption through the first half of 2012, before finally gaining momentum later in the year as price points decline and Intel launches a new line of processors and embarks on an aggressive marketing campaign. In the short term though, vendors will experience more pressure in the netbook and notebook segments, especially with Apple’s annual iPad refresh approaching.

The total client PC market (desktops, netbooks, laptops, and tablets) did grow by 16 percent year-over-year, but if you leave out tablets, it actually declined by 0.4 percent. Even if you broke it down regions, tablets had a huge effect on shipment numbers and proved that they are a major force to be reckoned with in this category going into 2012.

Lenovo was the only other company in the top five besides to post gains, and Dell and Acer rounded out the quintet.

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Hewlett-Packard Co., PC, Apple Inc., Desktops, Hardware, Rachel King

Rachel King is a staff writer for ZDNet based in San Francisco.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

mswift@... 13th Feb

@MG537

Your Arab spring analogy really runs against your argument. Those twits were using phones, not pads. By some estimates 80% of the world uses the net via a phone. You put the ipad in the same category as a phone with your comment. On some level even you don't think the pad is a PC.

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And if Canalys adding tablets to their definition of "client PC"

Mister Spock 30th Jan

did not place Apple ahead of HP, would they have added iPhones to the "client PC" list?

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

kenosha77a Updated - 30th Jan

@Mister Spock

Yup. And if that didn't work, there would always be iPod Touches, iPod Nanos and Apple TV's ready for inclusion in that client PC list.

Whatever it takes. Grin.

Seriously, Mister Spock, why even comment on this article?

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

piousmonk 31st Jan

@Mister Spock

No different than the mad dash by the Android fanbase to count Kindle Fire sales towards their marketshare. Yeah, yeah, I know that Amazon used some bastardized version of Android as the basis for the Fire's OS, but that's allot like getting fall down drunk in the streets on St. Patrick's day because you're great-great grandfather happened to be Irish. Nevermind the fact your last name is Sanchez and your mother's 100% Swedish.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

blarelli 31st Jan

@piousmonk Spoken by someone that doesn't code.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

tk_77 31st Jan

@blarelli

Spoken by someone who shouldn't speak for us programmers.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

jonandkelly 31st Jan

@piousmonk

you shouldn't speak when you don't know of what you're talking about.
The OS IS android, they just have a skin on top of it. Apps are Android OS written apps.

htc has Sense UI
motorola has Motoblur
Samsung has TouchWiz

all skinned . please, they counted iPads so they can inflate Apple's numbers is nothing short of a joke.

and deep down you know it.

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You shocked me there for a second!

kd5auq 31st Jan

I thought you were talking about REAL computers!
Whew! wink

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

bradavon 31st Jan

I appreciate technically it maybe but to call a tablet a PC is something of a stretch. A big stretch.

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I think we all know tablets are PCs

rbethell 31st Jan

@Mister Spock Heck, that's what Steve Ballmer calls the category - "tablet PCs." He made a passionate defence for "ipad as computer" at All Things Digital in 2010. I certainly use my Playbook as a very portable computer. It certainly does not replace my phone!

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And?..

rhonin 31st Jan

@rbethell

It definitely does not replace my notebook shocked

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So Apple and Steve Ballmer call it a TabletPC?

William Farrel 31st Jan

@rbethell

I think alot of people will still disagree that an ARM based tablet is a client PC in respect to x86 based computers

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

rbethell 31st Jan

@William Farrel I don't think anyone has ever defined the PC category as consisting solely of x86 computers - particularly since even Intel's own Xeons don't qualify!! Certainly there've been too many PPC, Motorola 6080, and Alpha-based computers in the last twenty years for that to be seriously considered as a criterion regardless.

Given Windows 8 itself will run on Arm, any x86 based barrier seems to be a capricious one devised solely for the purpose of preventing Apple from claiming the top PC spot.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

rbethell 31st Jan

@rhonin It doesn't need to replace your personal notebook, in order to qualify. If a tablet generally does computerish stuff for its users, and does not generally do phone-ish stuff, and I would argue that iPad use cases generally tend to the former, then its a PC - whether you personally would wish to replace yours with it or not.

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Then why didn't they include smartphones?

William Farrel Updated - 31st Jan

@rbethell

Isn't that a "client PC", in an even smaller form factor?
I would have grouped the iPad with 'Mobile devices" which is where I think that Canalys made their mistake.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

jonandkelly 31st Jan

@Mister Spock

yup it's nothing more than manipulation and biased reporting to include iPads.

and of course Zdnet ate this up and was loving it.

It's a joke.

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Funny joke..

bbaldwin803 31st Jan

@jonandkelly

I'm pretty sure that most PC manufacturers don't consider the significant loss of sales in the traditional PC market to the iPad as a joke. Maybe that's why they included the iPad in the PC market sales numbers (because it's taking a huge part of the market segment's sales).

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

Peter Perry 30th Jan

Not to take anything away from Apple but, HP didn't exactly do themselves any favors.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

terry flores 30th Jan

@Peter Perry - Yeah, HP did almost everything they could to screw up their own business. They abandoned their own tablet within days of shipping it, they scared customers off with the idea of abandoning the PC market, and finally they came in dead last in quality and support ratings last year. We are buying non-HP laptops for the first time in five years because of it.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

TBeckner Updated - 31st Jan

With almost 39 years in IT (February 1973), the iPad is the most personal computing device that I have ever used. BTW, if you define a NetBook as a PC, then a tablet as useful as an iPad has to be defined as a PC. I draw the line at screen size. A handheld calculator, a smartphone, or 5 inch tablets have too small of a screen to be useful as a computing device, but based upon my own use, an iPad is as useful as a NetBook.

On HP, well Terry Flores said it all, HP didn't just shoot their big toe off, the used a shotgun and blew their whole foot off. Next to Netflix and RIM, I would estimate that HP is a close runner-up for what not to do. And as an example, because of a vendor we have one HP server that was installed last year and we will never have another installed. Service was worse than a junior high kid building his first computer.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

Xander_Crews 31st Jan

@TBeckner - The problem with your stance is that you are comparing the iPad to a netbook, which is also not a full blown personal computer.

iPads aren't even close to doing what true personal computers can do.
Would you replace your work desktop or high powered laptop computer with an iPad full time? Of course not. Because they aren't comparable at all.

The iPad has many uses, and does some things quite well...but the thing about iPads is people sacrifice functionality for convenience/portability. iPads need to be in the Mobile device category (along with true netbooks), not the personal computer category.

Come on people.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

Englishmole 31st Jan

iPads are in the PC category because that's what they're about to replace.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

rbethell 31st Jan

@Xander_Crews Shrug. The very same could be said of a Netbook. I wouldn't run Visual Studio on it. And on the high powered laptop you refer to, I probably wouldn't run SQL Server Enterprise Edition. We've always had different classes of machines and capabilities, and not all computers measure up in every way to each use case.

But that dot com you won't run on your laptop does not disqualify it any more than the lack of Autocad-running ability disqualifies an iPad. They are computers, and they are used to do the kinds of things computer users generally do (store recipes, watch cats meow on Youtube, and slingshot birds at pigs, which is all a lot of folks have ever done with them.)

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

rhonin 31st Jan

@Englishmole

They are?
When?

Chuckle... I definitely think not.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

marlenegregg@... Updated - 31st Jan

@TBeckner
Me too. I used HP since 2000 but replaced it with an Acer Aspire Laptop last fall . Excellent product , by the way.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

piousmonk 31st Jan

While it may be a little early to define tablets as PCs, that day is not all that far off. Sure, the IT pros and enthusiasts here at ZDNet may not be able to substitute a tablet for a PC or laptop, but for many people, it's a viable option, or will be very soon. What do most people do on their home PCs? Internet, e-mail, light word processing, photos/light photo editing, videos and games. The tablet is very capable in pretty much all of those areas. So what does a full blown laptop or PC get that type of user above what a tablet gives them? Power users are always going to need more than normal users. That's why there are still PCs and laptops floating above the $1000 price point, in some cases, well above. But power users are a minority, so while many tablet purchase right now may be augmenting an existing PC, don't be surprised if the average user doesn't replace that PC with a new one when it dies.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

mswift@... 13th Feb

@piousmonk

I call them internet access devices for people that don't need computers. Built into the TV for $100 or stand alone $600 devices (okay $200 for the fire).

I can't consider them PCs anymore than I consider the internet capable TV to be a PC.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

owlnet 31st Jan

Rubbish.. IPAD does not have the capabilites of a PC, not even close. IPADs and similar devices are just consumption devices.... All these are propaganda...

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

MG537 Updated - 31st Jan

@owlnet
Oh really! By writing an e-mail to someone you just created something. iPads do that every day.
By posting something on Facebook you just created something. iPads do that too.
By tweeting you also just created something. iPads? Check!
By taking notes through Evernote on an iPad in a meeting you also create something. Yep! iPads do that too.

So much for your theory of just consumption devices.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

Xander_Crews 31st Jan

@MG537 - Can an iPad run Photoshop? Illustrator? InDesign? Do high end video/photo editing? Can it connect to my work LAN? Can it play Flash? Can I transfer files from my usb jump drive to it/from it? Burn a cd/dvd?

Would you replace your work computer with an iPad? Of course not. That's what I thought.

But hey, it can post a message on Facebook and send an email. Yay!!

Thanks for playing.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

Mikael_z 31st Jan

@Xander_Crews
There are both video and photo editing apps for iPad.
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/10-best-iphone-and-ipad-photo-editing-apps-968267
http://filmmakeriq.com/2010/07/22-filmmaking-apps-for-the-ipad-iphone/

Why isn't an iPad a PC again? happy

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

MG537 Updated - 31st Jan

@Xander_Crews
Can an iPad run Photoshop? Illustrator? InDesign? Do high end video/photo editing? Can it connect to my work LAN?...
Can I transfer files from my usb jump drive to it/from it? Burn a cd/dvd?
I think you forgot to throw in there, Programming in C. But the point is that the vast majority of the computer buying public does not need to do this. The points I mentioned along with web browsing and some light game playing is enough to most.

Can it play Flash?
Now do I really need to answer this? Maybe you haven't heard that even Adobe is giving up on Mobile Flash?

Would you replace your work computer with an iPad? Of course not. That's what I thought.
Nice conversation there with yourself? But I wouldn't replace my iPad either when I go into a meeting and any document is there at my disposal, just by using Pages or Numbers. Furthermore Evernote is a wonderful Note taking program. Maybe you haven't heard but MS has also ported its popular OneNote to the iPad? I somehow doubt they're viewing it as just a consumption device.

Nice playing with you to.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

pupkin_z 31st Jan

@MG537 let me go and puke in the corner as this is the most ridiculos statement I have even heard ----- Facebook and Twitter are for creating something.... don't mix creating something serious and creating a communication stream. Why don't you take your iPad and calculate something serious or write a 100-page book.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

rbethell 31st Jan

@Xander_Crews I did not know the definition of a computer was that it can run Photoshop. There are a large number of clunking towers out there, five years out of date, that there would be no hope of running CS5 on. So.... I guess they are now iPads?

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

MG537 31st Jan

@pupkin_z
let me go and puke in the corner
Well pumpkin, I hope you get over that bug you've contracted. There's a lot of gastroenteritis going on these days.

As for content, I was replying to owlnet who said that iPads are just content consumption and not creation devices. I was just pointing out that what you call content, comes in many shapes and forms.
Take the Arab spring for example. The young people of those countries (Egypt, Tunisia) were communicating a lot with either Facebook or Twitter in order to gather around and protest.
I also gave examples where iPad is an excellent device to take notes down at a meeting using the Evernote app.

Besides not everyone is interested in photo or video editing. Furthermore of all people that use something as simple as Word, how many actually use all features? Most of us, I'm sure will use nothing but a small percentage of that software's capabilities.

The original Kindle reader could be considered a content consumption device. Not the iPad.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

mswift@... 13th Feb

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You can write a school paper, do a simple spreadsheet

baggins_z 31st Jan

put together a presentation, paint, draw, edit video and play games. What more do you want in a computer. Oh. Wait. Let me guess. Programming.

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You can write a school paper inefficiently, do a simple spreadsheet slowly,

SlithyTove 31st Jan

@baggins_z

put together a presentation fairly well, paint poorly, draw poorly, edit video and play small, casual games.

What more do I want? Everything else happy

Though once we get to the point when tablets can be docked into a real keyboard/mouse/monitor setup, we are basically there.

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@slithy

baggins_z 31st Jan

So, basically, the iPad is a certain class of PC intended for light computing. I'll agree with that.

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Not quite, at least not yet

sdyoung78 31st Jan

Tablets still have a ways to go before they are a true successor to the PC. As mentioned, they perform some small functions like email, web browsing, and "some" word processing type things. However, they lack the ease of use and computing power for gaming. Sure, you can install some games on them, but things like World of Warcraft and Star Wars the Old Republic would be difficult to do. Even then, a touch screen enviroment for those games isn't possible at this time, and even if it was; it would be clunky.

No, iPads and other tablets have their places. They are replacements for casual user laptops. IT professionals and Power Users, like myself, will stick to the PC for the forseeable future

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All of a sudden everyone seems to want to give Apple a helping hand

Not a Fool Updated - 31st Jan

Ed Bott did it too just a few days ago. I couldn't believe my eyes, Ed Bott was cheering Apple's success. And the fact that the success he was cheering were DIRECTLY causing smaller profits for Microsoft didn't seem to bother him at all.

I can understand when people misreport because they want to root for the underdog, but misreporting in order to help the top dog kill the smaller dogs is just plain sick. I need to throw up, where's that bag?

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

The Danger is Microsoft 3rd Feb

@Not a Fool - Didn't see that. Ed Bott is a total shill for Microsoft. But anything that hurts Microsoft is good in my book!

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

Xander_Crews 31st Jan

Tablets, phones, ipods, etc., are not full blown personal computers and shouldn't be lumped into the same category as real work horse devices that do the heavy lifting in the workplace. Tablets, phones, etc, are portable devices with mobile features, usually of the limited variety. Huge difference. Anything that doesn't have a full blown operating system and can't run common productivity software (MS Office, Adobe CS), connect to LANs, connect to network printers, etc., should be in a different category.

iPads, iPhones, etc. can't even play flash for crying out loud.

So I guess casio is a player too if you count calculator watches?
Give me a break.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

gospellife 31st Jan

iPad's are capable devices primarily because Apple makes the most of the platform without overwhelming the valued simplicity. Tablets, including most Android model try to do too much and the OS is half hearted to the touch screen experience. iPad complements my Mac and Windows laptops and replaces my dependence on them. It has made my smartphone more of a phone/organized and less of a do everything device. SO to me this makes my iPad a productive device and preferred computer for certain functions. I think educational development and learning, being a complement to web creation and design are great frontier for iPad's future.

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geesh

oneleft1 31st Jan

and how many pc's are sitting on desks in offices that get used for the most basic work stuff, day in and day out, and nothing more?

at what point did "pc" equate to productivity? someone working on a spreadsheet all day is using a "real" pc?

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It got equated with heavy lifting when Apple's iPad pushed

baggins_z 31st Jan

them into the number one PC maker slot. It's nothing more complicated than that.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

eMJayy 31st Jan

Anything to sing praises to the almighty half-eaten fruit, right?

You'd have to be really desperate for media attention to call Apple's self-proclaimed "post-PC" device that "fits between a PC and a smartphone" a PC.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

anothercanuck 31st Jan

Oh how the memories come back. This whole iPads and tablets are not PCs thing reminds of the good old days of 1982-84 when the IBM XT/AT PCs were "Not real computers", as stated by execs of all the main frame computer makers. You remember those companies? Wang, Honeywell, Data General, and even IBM.

Just like those execs, the people here that state "Tablets are not PCs, aren't now, never will be!" will be proven wrong. And just like main frames only account for a small number of computers today, biege box PCs will be a diminising item from here on in.
Get used to it.

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

88Fan 31st Jan

Yes the iPad is a PC, so is any Android tablet, and a myriad of other devices including all of our smartphones. That said I don't see them as practical yet in my normal work environments, can't join the domain. And iPad, why would I want a device that calls home, needs iCloud and/or uses the resource hog known as iTunes connected to any other computer or network I use/manage? That to me is just so many HIPAA and SOX violations waiting for fines to be issued. I'd rather not pay them, so I don't play.

And same goes for my phone, it is turned off in meetings and not connected to any corporate networks ever.

Just my 2 cents...

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RE: Canalys: Apple topples HP in global client PC market

88Fan 31st Jan

Thought about an edit, but decided this was better...

Now that tablets are playing such a large role in the PC world, I wonder how the Linux desktop numbers are looking? Bear in mind this is a loaded question since all Android Tablets and Smartphones are Linux desktops using the same definition that makes an iPad a PC.