For instance, former HP CEO Leo Apotheker prompted tumult and confusion last August when he announced that the company was considering the sale of its PC manufacturing business. Though HP later decided to hold onto the PC business, damage had been done.

Consumers and major corporate buyers were left wondering whether they should forgo buying from HP, while rival PC makers were reinvigorated.

Just last month, HP announced that .

While HP has been struggling, Lenovo has been surging ahead. In 2011, the Chinese PC company rose from being the world's fourth largest PC maker to pass Acer and Dell and grab the second spot behind HP.

Lenovo in May reported that the net profit for its fiscal fourth quarter , going from $42 million a year earlier to $67 million during the quarter ended March 31. Now Lenovo is .