Global PC shipments rose 2.3 percent in the last quarter in comparison to last year, according to beancounters at IDC.

It looks like the continuation of recovery from yearly declines of 6.8 per cent in the first quarter and 2.4 per cent in the second quarter of the year. Other than Japan, where sales tanked, sales either met or surpassed expectations. Most of the money is in portable PCs with mini notebooks (netbooks) still making a substantial contribution, IDC said.

An IDC spokesman said that the PC market continues to rebound quickly. It said that the competitive landscape, the transition to portables, new and low-power designs, growth in retail and consumer segments, and the impact of falling prices are all reflected in the gains by Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Acer, as well as overall market growth."

Despite declines this year, the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) PC market reported more improvements thanks to sustained consumer demand in Western Europe.