The global PC market registered 11 percent overall growth in the third quarter of 2010, according to a report released Wednesday by International Data Corporation (IDC).
Despite weak results in some segments and limited consumer spending during a back-to-school PC shopping season which IDC described as "tepid," the overall PC market improved in September in particular and throughout the quarter in general. However, 11 percent growth is still 3 percent less than previously expected, according to IDC.
"Despite a sluggish start, the quarter ended with a good rally in September which could be a good prelude for what is ahead," said Jay Chou, research analyst with IDC's Worldwide PC Tracker Program, in a statement. "Lower PC component costs, budding excitement around new media-centric form factors and continued business buying should still make for a competitive holiday season.”
Apple (NSDQ:AAPL) nevertheless managed 24 percent growth in shipments to customers in the U.S. Apple is now the No. 3 vendor of personal computers inside the U.S., ahead of Acer whose share of the U.S. market fell to 10.5 percent. With almost 2 million units, Apple's Q3 PC sales constituted 10.6 percent of the overall U.S. market.
The report also reiterated growing concern over cannibalization of the PC market by Apple's iPad, just as other PC manufacturers begin producing tablets.