Apple's iPad surpassed Acer's sales in fall

Apple's iPad cut dramatically into Acer's sales this fall, IDC estimates showed today. In the US, Acer's computer numbers plunged 28.5 percent compared to a year ago, dropping it from 11.8 percent share at the end of 2009 to virtually tie Apple's share at 8.8 percent. Apple itself was the fastest mover and jumped from 7.2 percent a year ago to reach 8.7 percent.

Toshiba was helped by Acer's slump and may have cannibalized those users who didn't buy an iPad instead. Its pace was only slightly slower than Apple's and was helped by its larger established share to move up to 9.8 percent of American notebooks. HP and Dell kept their leads but both dropped over five percent each.

Worldwide, the iPad's effect on Acer was still pronounced as its market share dropped 15 percent, to 10.6 percent, and nearly let fast-moving Lenovo take third place. HP still lost a slight amount of share, but Dell grew internationally where Toshiba also moved up.

Combined, PC shipments as a whole were sluggish and only climbed 2.7 percent worldwide and were ultimately down 4.8 percent in Apple's home country.

IDC directly blamed Acer's poor results on "lackluster sales" of netbooks, its previously favorite category, and strong sales of the iPad. PC demand had been hurt by the "stellar uptake" of tablets in the fall and led many to either have no money left over for a full computer or to have no interest in getting one. The company was hurt beyond the US and felt a similar blow in Europe. HP was also impacted, the analysts said.

The situation was only likely to get worse in 2011, Research Director David Daoud said. A rush of tablets such as the Motorola Xoom could "put a dent" in the computer market. Many are either leery of continuing to buy new systems or are tired of the usually Atom-based netbook designs.

"Consumer fatigue is playing an important role in many markets as the [netbook] surge wanes and consumers watch their spending and evaluate other products," Daoud said.

For all of 2010, Apple's success with Macs and impact on other PC makers with the iPad helped it tie almost exactly with Toshiba for fourth place and 8.8 percent share in the US. Acer held third but lost share at 10.7 percent, while HP and Dell also lost some ground at 25.9 percent and 23.1 percent each.

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