Apple is now once again holding third place in the US PC market, sales figures from market watcher IDC have revealed. A return to form? Not quite, since its 5.6 per cent share is well below the double-digit share Apple commanded in the 1980s and early 1990s. Apple was also tied for third place with Gateway, which likewise took 5.6 per cent of the US PC market in Q2. Below them came Toshiba with 5.3 per cent and Acer with 5.2 per cent. No guesses as to which companies outsold these four.
Yes, Dell and HP continue to dominate, each outselling the Apple, Gateway, Toshiba and Acer combined. Dell took the lead with a 28.4 per cent share, while HP"s tally hit 23.6 per cent. Like Formula One racing, the interesting battle in the US PC business is not for first or second place, but who"ll get the remaining place on the podium and a share of the points. Here, Apple fans have plenty to shout about - for many, many years the Mac maker wouldn"t warrant lifting outside the blanket "Others" category, let alone get ahead of the likes of Acer and Toshiba.