SAN FRANCISCO – After seven consecutive quarters of shipment declines, the global notebook market improved slightly in the second quarter of 2014, according to market research firm NPD DisplaySearch.It estimates notebook shipments reached 45.1 million units, up one percent on year.
“North America and Western Europe have improved to positive double-digit growth, due to a combination of commercial PC replacement cycles and Windows XP migration in 2014,” said DisplaySearch VP Hisakazu Torii.
“The notebook market has also benefited from the launch of Chromebooks and other low-priced notebooks.”
After falling 20 percent in 2013, on-year growth for the top-five notebook brands collectively reached 16 percent in the second quarter of 2014.
With strong sales in Europe, China, and Latin America, Lenovo overtook Hewlett-Packard to lead the market with an 18 percent shipment share.
Asustek claimed the number three position from Dell.
HP, for its part, announced a profit for its latest quarter Q3 – the first time back in the black in several consecutive quarters – reporting higher notebook and PC sales, partly attributed to mass migration from Microsoft Windows XP.
In contrast, shipments of tablets continued to fall in the second quarter of 2014, down 12 percent on year with shipments down for the top-five brands, DisplaySearch says.
Local retailer Dick Smith also reported notebook, ultrabook sales were up during FY14 to 29 June. Tablet and computer hardware demand also were also higher than last year.
