Apple‘s long climb back from the margins of the PC industry will culminate in world domination next year, according to one researcher — but only if you consider the iPad a PC.
Canalys is projecting that Apple will overtake Hewlett-Packard as the leading global PC vendor sometime before the second half of 2012. Canalys, however, lumps iPad sales in with PC sales, which makes Amazon a player as well. The researcher predicts that total “pad” sales will reach 59 million units by the end of 2011, a category that includes the Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet.
The entry of those two lower-priced tablets will dampen Apple’s growth somewhat, according to Canalys analyst Tim Couling. “Apple has seen its PC market share expand from 9% to 15% in just four quarters, though iPad shipments in its core market – the United States – are likely to come under pressure in Q4 due to the launch of the Fire and Nook at extremely competitive price points,” he wrote in a release from the company. “HP and Apple will fight for top position in Q4, but Apple may have to wait for the release of iPad 3 before it passes HP.”
Factoring in the growth of the tablet market, full-year global PC shipments for 2011 are expected to rise 15% to 415 million units.MORE
Computer Addicted 