Lenovo close to grabbing PC supremacy from HP

12.07.2012
If Chinese-based computer manufacturer Lenovo keeps moving at its current pace, the company will surpass Hewlett-Packard as the world's largest PC maker by the beginning of 2013, industry analysts say.

That would represent a big shift for an industry that has long seen HP sit atop the PC business. represents the closest any PC maker has come to taking the lead position from HP since the second quarter of 2008, when Dell came within 2.7 percentage points.

Lenovo's climb also puts a spotlight on how rocky things have become for the company that once had an unyielding grip on its lead spot in the industry.

"If the current trends for both companies continue, Lenovo should surpass HP in Q3 or Q4," said Charles King, an analyst with Pund-IT, Inc. "On its face, it might not mean much to the industry. But Lenovo taking the top spot would be a huge boost for China's IT industry as proof they can play and win in the global big leagues."

Lenovo has been steadily moving up the ranks of the world's top PC makers in the last several years.

In the third quarter of 2011, to take the industry's second-place spot. It was an impressive move for a company that was in fourth place as recently as the first quarter of 2011.