Netbooks drive PC sales in Europe

Netbook sales have driven growth in the European PC market

An analysis of the European PC market has shown strong growth, despite fears of a recession.

Overall PC sales were up by 27 per cent on last year, with sales value growing at 11 per cent, according to Canalys. Third-quarter sales were also the biggest so far this year.

Consumer sales are driving growth, which increased by 46 per cent, but enterprise sales have not fallen away, recording 15 per cent growth. However, it is strong early sales of netbooks that are interesting analysts.

"To put the importance of this new product category into perspective, consumer PC market growth without netbooks would have been just 22 per cent," said senior analyst Adrian Drozd.

"So far, netbooks are not cannibalising notebook sales. But things will change as the market moves beyond the early adopter phase."

The sales of netbooks were good news for Asus, which saw its sales grow by 150 per cent, largely on the back of netbook sales. Acer had the most successful quarter, with 62 per cent market growth.

"On current growth, Dell’s position in the top three is under threat from Asus in Q4," said Canalys principle analyst Andy Buss.

"Dell’s initiatives to retake share have failed and it must look at its manufacturing and go-to-market strategies if it is to remain a top-three player in EMEA."

Buss noted that the market did see a slight drop off in sales at the end of the third quarter, and the rapidly appreciating dollar may also affect sales.