Laptop sales rising for first time in seven quarters

Research firm NPD DisplaySearch claims laptop shipments hit 45.1 million units in Q2 2014, a rise of 1 percent year-over-year. DigiTimes notes this is the first improvement in shipments after seven consecutive quarters of decline. The research firm notes notebook shipments in North America and Western Europa are now returning to double-digit growth, fueled by commercial PC replacement and the end of Windows XP's lifecycle.

After declining 20% in 2013, on-year growth for the top-5 notebook brands collectively reached 16% in the second quarter of 2014. With strong sales in Europe, China, and Latin America, the Lenovo Group overtook Hewlett-Packard (HP) to lead the market with an 18% shipment share. Asustek Computer claimed the number three position from Dell, due to increased shipments in Europe, China, and Asia. In contrast, shipments of tablets continued to fall in the second quarter of 2014, down 12% on year with shipments down for the top-5 brands.