Personal Computer Manufacturing
Description
Companies in this industry produce desktop and portable personal computers (PCs). Major companies include Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.
The annual worldwide PC shipments reached about 245 million units in 2024, according to Gartner. Global growth has been hindered by competition from mobile devices, especially in emerging markets where a consumer's first connected device is likely to be a smartphone.
The US electronic computer manufacturing industry includes about 300 establishments, with a combined annual revenue of about $9 billion.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand in the PC market is driven by technological advances, disposable income in the consumer market, and corporate spending cycles. The profitability of individual companies depends on supply chain efficiency and ancillary products and services. Large companies have advantages in leveraging extensive marketing budgets and sales channels, securing component discounts, and manufacturing efficiencies. Small companies can compete by offering unique products or localized service and support. The US computer manufacturing industry is highly concentrated: the top 50 companies account for more than 95% of industry revenue.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
PCs come in a variety of shapes and sizes and may be customized for specific applications. As computer and communications technologies have advanced, the PC product category has diversified. Manufacturing of host computers (multiusers), account for about 65% of the industry revenue. Manufacturing of large-scale computer systems account for about 15%, single user computers account for about 15%, while other computers account for about 5% of the industry revenue.
The popularity of smartphones and tablets has greatly influenced the trend toward lighter, smaller computers, and the integration of technologies such as touchscreens into personal computers has blurred the distinction between PCs and mobile devices. However, smartphones continue to represent a competitive threat to PCS, as many consumers opt to forego purchases of full-fledged PCs in favor of phones, particularly in emerging markets. This trend has led many PC manufacturers to develop their own smartphones, with varying levels of success.
In addition to physical design categories, PCs are commonly classified by the operating system (OS) or processor they utilize. Various versions of Microsoft's Windows OS dominate the industry; Apple's OS X is the only other operating system approaching double-digit market share. Other options include various Linux-based systems, including some mobile operating systems that have emerged as computing product categories have blurred. Intel similarly dominates the traditional PC microprocessor market, though the company has been less successful in the smartphone and tablet markets. The relationship between large PC vendors and leading component and software developers is crucial, as top companies can negotiate for the best prices and secure early orders.
The annual worldwide PC shipments reached about 245 million units in 2024, according to Gartner. Global growth has been hindered by competition from mobile devices, especially in emerging markets where a consumer's first connected device is likely to be a smartphone.
The US electronic computer manufacturing industry includes about 300 establishments, with a combined annual revenue of about $9 billion.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand in the PC market is driven by technological advances, disposable income in the consumer market, and corporate spending cycles. The profitability of individual companies depends on supply chain efficiency and ancillary products and services. Large companies have advantages in leveraging extensive marketing budgets and sales channels, securing component discounts, and manufacturing efficiencies. Small companies can compete by offering unique products or localized service and support. The US computer manufacturing industry is highly concentrated: the top 50 companies account for more than 95% of industry revenue.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
PCs come in a variety of shapes and sizes and may be customized for specific applications. As computer and communications technologies have advanced, the PC product category has diversified. Manufacturing of host computers (multiusers), account for about 65% of the industry revenue. Manufacturing of large-scale computer systems account for about 15%, single user computers account for about 15%, while other computers account for about 5% of the industry revenue.
The popularity of smartphones and tablets has greatly influenced the trend toward lighter, smaller computers, and the integration of technologies such as touchscreens into personal computers has blurred the distinction between PCs and mobile devices. However, smartphones continue to represent a competitive threat to PCS, as many consumers opt to forego purchases of full-fledged PCs in favor of phones, particularly in emerging markets. This trend has led many PC manufacturers to develop their own smartphones, with varying levels of success.
In addition to physical design categories, PCs are commonly classified by the operating system (OS) or processor they utilize. Various versions of Microsoft's Windows OS dominate the industry; Apple's OS X is the only other operating system approaching double-digit market share. Other options include various Linux-based systems, including some mobile operating systems that have emerged as computing product categories have blurred. Intel similarly dominates the traditional PC microprocessor market, though the company has been less successful in the smartphone and tablet markets. The relationship between large PC vendors and leading component and software developers is crucial, as top companies can negotiate for the best prices and secure early orders.
Table of Contents
- Industry Overview
- Quarterly Industry Update
- Business Challenges
- Business Trends
- Industry Opportunities
- Call Preparation Questions
- Financial Information
- Industry Forecast
- Web Links and Acronyms
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