Double-digit growth in worldwide sales of personal computers (PCs) for the fifth consecutive quarter was driven largely by strong demand in Europe, according to one research company that tracks sales.
PC sales increased 15 percent over the same quarter last year, with 39.7 million units shipped, according to IDC, which is based in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Sales were led by the strong demand in Europe, as well as better than expected sales in Canada and Latin America, IDC said.
Replacement purchases were the key for 13.3 percent growth, and worldwide shipments of 43 million units, according to preliminary results compiled by Stamford, Connecticut-based Gartner Inc, which also tracks sales.
The companies use slightly different measurement methods.
"Demand in Europe, supported by the strong euro and aggressive promotions, was the biggest driver of the quarter," said Loren Loverde, director of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.
PC shipments in the US totaled 14 millions units, an 11.4 percent increase over the year-ago quarter, according to Gartner.
Gartner attributed the growth to strong sales in the business market.
The top five worldwide vendors were the same for both companies, with Texas-based Dell Inc, retaining its spot as the top worldwide vendor during the quarter, according to both research companies.
Dell was followed by Hewlett-Packard Co, IBM Corp, Fujitsu Ltd and Acer Inc.
Acer showed the greatest growth from the year-ago quarter, of 30.7 percent according to IDC, and 30.9 percent according to Gartner.
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