Personal Computers Industry Description

Companies that design and manufacture desktop and portable PCs, Internet access appliances, and other personal computing devices.

Summary

Consolidation has altered the landscape of the PC market and the computer hardware industry as a whole in recent years. At the top rule an elite group of multinationals that maintain double-digit worldwide market share. In the personal computing segment specifically, two companies -- Dell and Hewlett-Packard -- dominate. They have significantly more share than their closest competitor on a worldwide basis, and in the domestic market they account for roughly half of US shipments. Smaller, second tier providers include companies with well-known brands, some with annual sales exceeding the billion mark. The bottom of the PC pyramid is comprised of companies ranging in size from regional systems integrators to single-owner shops offering built-to-order systems. Many of these companies sell non-branded, or “white box,” PCs. Some target niches such as high-performance systems for gaming or ruggedized computers for industrial and military settings.

Personal Computers Industry Resources

• CNET
  
• CompInfo: The Computer Information Center
  
• ComputingREVIEW.com
  
• HardwareCentral
  
• PC Magazine
  
• PC World
  
• Plunkett Research: Computers & Software
  
• The PC Guide
  

Personal Computers Industry Terminology

• TechEncyclopedia
  
• Webopedia
  
• WhatIs.com