Apple's iMac grabs lion's share of all-in-one PC market
The iMac captured almost a third of all-in-one computer sales in the third quarter, placing first above Lenovo and HP.
Apple's iMac captured the biggest slice of all-in-one computer sales in the third quarter, according to data out this week from NPD DisplaySearch.
For the quarter, the iMac scooped up 32.9 percent of all sales of all-in-one (AIO) PCs, loosely defined as computers with their inside components squeezed into the monitor chassis.
Taking second place behind Apple in the third quarter was Lenovo, with 22.7 percent of all AIO sales, followed by HP with a 21.4 percent share.
Other PC players, including NEC, Sony, and Fujitsu, managed to eke out only 2 or 3 percent of the AIO market.
Apple refreshed its iMac lineup last May, introducing a 27-inch model to join its smaller 21.5-inch cousin. Powered by an Intel quad-core i5 processor, the new iMacs include support for the high-speed Thunderbolt interface.
Not to be outdone, HP has announced its own 27-inch AIO, dubbed the Omni 27.
Due to hit the U.S. in just a few days, the Omni 27 will offer a choice of processors ranging from Intel's Core i3 to the Core i7. The new 27-incher will join HP's 23-inch TouchSmart 610 as part of its AIO lineup.
Meanwhile, Lenovo is carving out its own niche in the AIO market with its IdeaCentre and ThinkCentre computers.
Though currently in second place, Lenovo could eventually surpass Apple as the top AIO seller, says NPD DisplaySearch. At the same time that Apple is de-emphasizing the desktop PC in favor of portables and mobile devices, Lenovo is gaining more traction in its home base of China, which is now the biggest market for AIOs.
Unit sales of all-in-one PCs likely hit 14.5 million last year, estimates DisplaySearch, a gain of 39 percent from 2010. Sales could climb as high as 23.3 million in 2014, although the annual growth rate is expected to drop this year and then level off over the next couple of years.