Global PC Business Undergoes Changes in 2009
Year sees the arrival of netbooks, new operating systems—and Acer.
The year 2009 will go down as an eventful year for the global PC business, seeing the arrival of new operating systems, the rapid rise of an exciting new mobile platform and the emergence of a new No.-2 player in the market.
Smooth Operating Systems
Two new PC operating systems debuted: Apple Inc.’s Snow Leopard and Microsoft Corp.’s Windows 7, intensifying the competition among the two dominant computer platforms. The performance of the PC markets in the fourth quarter undoubtedly was boosted by Windows 7. It’s difficult to attribute a specific amount of PC shipment growth to Windows 7, especially for consumer sales. However, the PC market has benefited from Microsoft’s huge global advertising campaign, which has put the PC on center stage in the mainstream media.
One thing is for certain: PC users now have the most advanced and feature-rich operating systems ever at their disposal.
Will Chrome Shine?
In another major operating system development in 2009, Google unveiled its long-rumored Chrome operating system.
Chrome, which initially is targeted at netbooks, puts Google in a head-to-head battle with Microsoft in the PC operating system market—the biggest possible fight any technology company could pick. Google’s angle is that the PC needs an operating system tailored for the Internet age, a pitch that ties Chrome in nicely with the company’s current offerings, including a web browser, online personal productivity software and collaboration applications.
The major question for the Chrome OS is how it will operate when the network cable gets unplugged, and the wireless network is inaccessible. In other words, what does a web-based operating system like Chrome offer to the offline user?
Furthermore, Google must contend with Microsoft’s Office Web applications, free to any user with a Windows Live account.
Acer Takes the No.-2 Spot
While Hewlett-Packard Co. continued to quietly dominate the PC business, a rival PC OEM from Asia— Taiwan’s Acer Inc.—overtook Dell Inc. in the third quarter of 2009 to become the world’s second-ranked PC OEM. Acer’s rise to the No.-2 rank in the global PC business reflects not only its strong performance in the notebook segment, but also the historic rise of Asia as a primary force in the computer industry. Acer’s success is credited to its continued pricing, strong netbook shipments and robust regional performances in both the European and U.S. markets.
Asian PC OEMs such as Acer and Lenovo have made major gains in their market positions in recent years, with Acer rising from the sixth rank in 2003. The Asian manufacturers are a growing force in the global PC business due to their aggressive pricing, along with their capability to quickly react and embrace new developments, the netbook being a key example.
The Rise of the Netbook
Some have said that netbooks were not powerful enough to be useful. Others have argued that they were too powerful for their ideal usage.
Whatever your opinion on their raw computational performance one thing is for sure: the netbook performed very well in 2009. iSuppli estimates that netbooks exited 2009 with about a 15.5 percent penetration of worldwide notebook unit shipments. Not bad for a product that wasn’t on sale at the beginning of 2007.
Netbooks have been particularly beneficial for telecom providers, as a significant proportion of these tiny PCs are sold through network provider retail outlets, and use the cellular networks of the network providers for their Internet access.
In many ways, including their low prices and new channel to market, the netbook has rewritten the rules in the PC business.
The year 2009 will go down as an eventful year for the global PC business, seeing the arrival of new operating systems, the rapid rise of an exciting new mobile platform and the emergence of a new No.-2 player in the market.
Smooth Operating Systems
Two new PC operating systems debuted: Apple Inc.’s Snow Leopard and Microsoft Corp.’s Windows 7, intensifying the competition among the two dominant computer platforms. The performance of the PC markets in the fourth quarter undoubtedly was boosted by Windows 7. It’s difficult to attribute a specific amount of PC shipment growth to Windows 7, especially for consumer sales. However, the PC market has benefited from Microsoft’s huge global advertising campaign, which has put the PC on center stage in the mainstream media.
One thing is for certain: PC users now have the most advanced and feature-rich operating systems ever at their disposal.
Will Chrome Shine?
In another major operating system development in 2009, Google unveiled its long-rumored Chrome operating system.
Chrome, which initially is targeted at netbooks, puts Google in a head-to-head battle with Microsoft in the PC operating system market—the biggest possible fight any technology company could pick. Google’s angle is that the PC needs an operating system tailored for the Internet age, a pitch that ties Chrome in nicely with the company’s current offerings, including a web browser, online personal productivity software and collaboration applications.
The major question for the Chrome OS is how it will operate when the network cable gets unplugged, and the wireless network is inaccessible. In other words, what does a web-based operating system like Chrome offer to the offline user?
Furthermore, Google must contend with Microsoft’s Office Web applications, free to any user with a Windows Live account.
Acer Takes the No.-2 Spot
While Hewlett-Packard Co. continued to quietly dominate the PC business, a rival PC OEM from Asia— Taiwan’s Acer Inc.—overtook Dell Inc. in the third quarter of 2009 to become the world’s second-ranked PC OEM. Acer’s rise to the No.-2 rank in the global PC business reflects not only its strong performance in the notebook segment, but also the historic rise of Asia as a primary force in the computer industry. Acer’s success is credited to its continued pricing, strong netbook shipments and robust regional performances in both the European and U.S. markets.
Asian PC OEMs such as Acer and Lenovo have made major gains in their market positions in recent years, with Acer rising from the sixth rank in 2003. The Asian manufacturers are a growing force in the global PC business due to their aggressive pricing, along with their capability to quickly react and embrace new developments, the netbook being a key example.
The Rise of the Netbook
Some have said that netbooks were not powerful enough to be useful. Others have argued that they were too powerful for their ideal usage.
Whatever your opinion on their raw computational performance one thing is for sure: the netbook performed very well in 2009. iSuppli estimates that netbooks exited 2009 with about a 15.5 percent penetration of worldwide notebook unit shipments. Not bad for a product that wasn’t on sale at the beginning of 2007.
Netbooks have been particularly beneficial for telecom providers, as a significant proportion of these tiny PCs are sold through network provider retail outlets, and use the cellular networks of the network providers for their Internet access.
In many ways, including their low prices and new channel to market, the netbook has rewritten the rules in the PC business.
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