5 of market share before the American 2

It is almost without sharing domination. According the firm IDC, Acer and HP have bolstered their grip on the French PC market, which remained stable in 2009 with 10.8 million units sold. For the first time, the two manufacturers hold even to them only more than half of the sales (51.7). The Taiwanese is for the second year consecutive number one in volume, with 2.86 million units sold ( 9.8 over a year) or 26.5 of market share, before the American, 2.71 million ( 6.9 over a year, 25.2 per cent). "It has a very high concentration, it must go back very far back to see two players hold more than half of the sales," analysis Karine Paoli, Associate Vice President in the firm IDC.

In just three years, Acer has more than doubled its sales in France. In addition to a very aggressive price strategy, the constructor has its good position on the distribution networks and of its position on the SFF PC or "netbooks", low-cost laptops. The manufacturer is number one, with about 35 of market share (PDM), an increase of 140 in one year! While the French rushed on these products in 2009 - SFF PC sales have doubled in 2009, to 1.5 million units-, the constructor relegates far behind Asus, another Taiwanese, but pioneer in the field: after monopolized 51.2 of the sales of SFF in 2008, Asus has more than 25 of this segment. Remains that this positioning has its counterparts: Acer is number two in value, with 1.15 billion euros of sales, or 20.8 of PDM, well behind HP (1.4 billion or 25.4). "HP takes advantage of the depth of its range and its positioning on high range products," said Karine Paoli. The U.S. remains the undisputed leader of sales of desktop PCs (32.8 of PDM) and became number one on the professional market major accounts (33.7 of PDM 25.1 in 2008). The Group took including the withdrawal of the manufacturer NEC of the professional market. And for 2010, the U.S. has put Overdrive on the segment of the laptops, with including the release of many "netbooks", while consolidating its positions on the desktop.

Competitors behind

This dominance is little space for the other challengers. Third on the podium since 2006, Dell is one of the few manufacturers to have registered a decline in sales (-13,28), while the French market remained stable. Since 2005, the U.S. market share fell more than 3 points. Particularly affected by the contraction of the market, the group is now second on the segment of large accounts, behind HP. "Dell finds himself in a delicate position, both to deploy a new strategy while being forced to cut costs to cope with the crisis," said Karine Paoli. The turnover of Dell in France is barely higher than Apple: the firm Apple, whose high range Mac are very well sold in 2009, to grants 9.9 of market share in value ( 2.6 points over one year) compared to 11 for Dell. But the Texas "should improve its positions in 2010, with the renewal of business computing".