If there are going to be more PC-DVD announcements this data on the PC market may be useful:
compint.com
COMPUTER INTELLIGENCE FINDS COMPAQ ON TOP FOR Q4 1996
Vendor Market Shares Now Tied to Specific Market Segments, Says Research Firm
LA JOLLA, Calif., Jan. 17, 1997 -- Compaq emerged at the top of the heap in U.S. PC sales for the fourth quarter of 1996, according to research just released by Computer Intelligence (CI), the leading source of fact-based market information for the computer and communications industries. The total PC sales volume market in the fourth quarter of 1996 was 7.7 million units, an increase of slightly more than 15% from the same period in 1995. However, CI data indicate that sales performance has become increasingly tied to the particular segments PC vendors have chosen as their focus. For Q4 1996, vendors with strong commercial presence and those selling to repeat (higher-spending) consumer buyers had the best showings. Vendors whose focus was first-time consumer PC buyers had difficulty. All channels showed significant jockeying for market share. "Unlike 1995, where every vendor and every channel did well, 1996 was tougher for vendors in some segments," noted Aaron Goldberg, CI Executive Vice President. "Though the commercial market was very strong and we saw excellent quarters from firms like Compaq, Toshiba, and Hewlett-Packard, vendors in the retail channels had a difficult time, and Packard Bell is barely clinging to third place in market share." In the race for first place, Compaq has become the clear leader in both the consumer and commercial sectors. IBM has risen back up into second position, based upon the firm's very strong position in firms with more than 500 employees and its decent showing in the consumer space. Packard Bell is still in third position, but weakness in the retail channels this year was strongly felt. Dell is the number four supplier overall - a noteworthy accomplishment for a company that has eschewed the retail channel, still the source of much Q4 volume, and concentrated on the most profitable business customers. Gateway 2000 completes the top 5: not only did that firm do well with repeat consumers, but it had success in smaller businesses as well.
The gap between the Top 5 and the Second 5 leading vendors has become very small. Toshiba is on the brink of becoming a Top 5 vendor, based on the success of its Infinia consumer product launch - the most successful consumer entry in some time, by CI's calculations. Hewlett-Packard also had an excellent year with both the consumer Pavilion line and the Vectra commercial models. Apple had a more difficult calendar Q4, with sales declining on a year-to-year basis. Acer and NEC round out the Top 10.
Top Ten U.S. PC Vendors' Sales/Market Share, Q4 1996VendorQ4 Unit SalesMarket ShareCompaq 1,080,00014.0%IBM 740,0009.6%Packard Bell 655,0008.5%Dell617,0008.0%Gateway 2000547,0007.1%Toshiba 530,0006.9%Hewlett Packard521,0006.7%Apple 400,0005.2%Acer325,0004.2%All others1,195,00025.9%Total7,700,000100%Source: Computer Intelligence, January 1997
CI's data on vendor results broken out by channels of distribution showed wide variations in Q4. In the Dealer Channel, which primarily serves the commercial market, Compaq and IBM had very strong results. CI's research data shows a strong share consolidation, as vendors who have been dogged by troubles, such as AST, give up market share to the larger firms.
4Q U.S. Vendor Market Shares, Dealer Channel
Vendor4Q 95 share4Q 96 shareYear-to-Year Unit GrowthCompaq26%35%63%IBM19%29%83%HP11%12%30%Toshiba6%9%74%Apple8%6%-13%All Others28%9%-61%Total100%100%22%Source: Computer Intelligence, January 1997
In the Retail Channel which more often serves the consumer market, CI's data demonstrate a similar shift in share, but not all the players are the same. Compaq, on the strength of lower pricing and aggressive programs, has achieved the premier position. Packard Bell is still a strong number two, and Toshiba, on the strength of the excellent Infinia launch, is rising rapidly.
4Q U.S. Vendor Market Shares, Retail Channels
(PC Superstores, Consumer Electronic, & Office Superstores) Vendor4Q 95 share4Q 96 shareYear-to-Year Unit GrowthCompaq18%23%21%Packard Bell28%18%-40%Toshiba6%15%114%IBM5%11%87%HP8%9%7%Acer12%8%-40%Apple11%5%-59%All Others11%11%-11%Total100%100%-8%Source: Computer Intelligence, January 1997
Computer Intelligence, a Ziff-Davis company, is the leading source of fact-based information for the computer and communications industries. CI's extensive research capabilities provide a wide variety of products and services that help computer and communications companies sell and market more effectively. All of the company's products and services are based on proprietary information databases built and maintained by CI specialists. Headquartered in La Jolla, Computer Intelligence has offices in Cambridge, Mass.; Farmington, Conn.; Sunnyvale, Calif.; and Europe. Samples of CI's extensive market data and research results, timely commentary from industry authorities and previews of upcoming technology events are available on the company's site on the World Wide Web, ci.zd.com.
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